Anthropology major incorporates campus student organization experience with adoption community center
PennsylvanianMeghanWillis ’26, an anthropology major at Vlogý, spent the summer in Denver, Colorado, interning at The Park Adoption Community Center. Throughout thisAPEX Fellowship, Willis conducted online research focused oncreating beneficial and relevant programming for adoptees of all ages and gaining insight into the adoptee community’s needs.As a member of theVlogý Adoptee Student Union at the College, Willis brought inpreviousknowledge of experiences with adoptees, but came away from the internship withfine-tuned skills in both interpersonal communication and research skills that will prove useful during her senior I.S.
“The internshipsolidified my idea that a future in the adoption field could definitely be a path I can take.”
—Meghan Willis ’26
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES
Willis: I found my internship opportunity through an online search for “adoption research intern.” I knew I wanted to research adoption more before my senior Independent Study, as I planon workingwith this topic for my I.S. I wanted to better gauge if I wanted to choose such a research path, which I now know I do!
EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE
For her internship, Willis helped with the promotional aspects of the adoption center, among other tasks. Photo provided by Willis.
Willis: What interests me most about my work is the level of teamwork it takes to make a more connected community.An individual’spassion for a community can carry them far, but it really is a team effort toactually follow-throughon the promises that come from such passion.While my main job was to conduct online research, Ihelped outin many other areas, such as some Canva design work and organizing storage closets.This work kept all areas of the organization running smoothlyand encapsulates the idea that teamwork makes a difference in an organizational and executive standpoint.
GUIDANCE FOR GROWTH
Willis: My fellowship mentor wasthe amazingElizabeth Schiltz, professor of philosophy. Sheprovidedfeedbackto my weekly reflectionsthat encouraged me to reflect on them on a deeper level. It was also nice to know that someone from campus wasavailable andinterested to hear about the work I did this summer.
WHAT’S NEXT
Willis:The internshipsolidified my idea that a future in the adoption field coulddefinitely bea path I can take!Before my fellowship, I had already thought about working within the adoption fieldaftergraduationbutwanted more experience todeterminethat path for my future.
Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2025 on August 6, 2025.
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Related Areas of Study
Anthropology
Use problem-solving and research skills to explore and understand communities and cultures in every part of the world.
Major Minor