1. society

Society for Experiential Education
Brittanie Albera
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Internship
Covidien
Brittanie Albera
“I interned in the R&D Testing Services
department this past summer. I was able
to apply what I learned in school to most
of the testing that I did. We used what are
called Instron tensile testing machines
and they basically break things. I broke a
lot of different features on medical
devices for engieers to see what kind of
forces it took to break.”
Society for Experiential Education
Turki Alomairi
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Internship
Hyperion Systems
Turki Alomairi
“The experience really took me into the
field. This experience was really great
since it made me apply what I learned
in classes.”
Society for Experiential Education
Rebecca Andreucci
Major
Sustainability Studies
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The Issues with the National
Organic Program
Rebecca Andreucci
“Doing this research as part of the SURF
program has opened so many doors for
other opportunities. This experience
has exposed me to the world of
research and prepped me in giving
poster presentations and doing
scientific writing. These skills will follow
me for the rest of my college career, in
addition to my future career.”
Society for Experiential Education
Avery Appleton
Major
Forensic Science &
Biology (pre-med)
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Obliteration of Sharp Force
Trauma Artefact by High
Particulate Water Wash
Avery Appleton
“To many students, pursuing a career in a
scientific field can seem a daunting or
tedious undertaking. The purpose of
partnering with the students from the
Engineering and Science University
Magnet School (ESUMS) was to not only
provide additional help for those
struggling in science classes, but also to
promote continued interest in the field of
science.”
Avery Appleton
“It showed me that ideas can be put into
action and used for an important purpose.
My proudest moments were when I was
selected to present my work at the
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
2015 Conference and when I met the
author of one of the references I used for
my poster and he asked for a copy of my
work!”
Society for Experiential Education
Christine Battle
Major
Forensic Science &
Biology (pre-med)
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Christine Battle
“This experience was very different for
me. It was great to know that by
completing this lab, I would be
helping high school students who
otherwise would not have a way of
learning the labs and materials
needed to pass the AP exam the
coming spring”
Society for Experiential Education
Brittany Bauch
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Internship
The Milford Rape Crisis Center
Brittany Bauch
“After this experience I can confidently say that I
have grown in knowledge and developed a
deeper understanding of my majors as well as
developed better skills to use in the work force
when I graduate. I have gained better
interpersonal skills, strengthened my problem
solving ability, developed an ability to think on
my feet, better listening skills, public speaking
skills, and better organization, time
management, and computer skills.”
Society for Experiential Education
Matthew Belletete
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
President's Public Service
Fellowship
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Connecticut Judicial BranchAdult Probation
Matthew Belletete
“This summer I felt that I was fulfilling my
civic duties and working under the Mayor
allowed me to gain unmatched
experience. I also truly learned how
strong of a tie UNH has with the city of
West Haven. There are so many
opportunities for students to get involved
in the community where they reside and
if it wasn’t for the Fellowship, I would not
have known they existed.”
Matthew Belletete
“Studying abroad was the best
experience in my life. The things that I
learned while abroad have made me
the person I am today. I was able to
grow as a person, become more
independent, and develop new
strategies for adapting to new
environments.”
Matthew Belletete
“I got a first hand look into the other
side of the criminal justice field and
was able to use what I had learned in
school in real-life contexts. My
proudest moment was when my
probation officer trusted me enough
to cover his desk and meet with his
clients for the week that he went on
vacation.”
Society for Experiential Education
Zoe Bellio
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The Synthesis of Mesoporous
Metal Oxides
Zoe Bellio
“This experience has given me a better
insight on how to perform duties in a
lab in a professional setting. It has
also helped me improve my data
recording and time management
skills. I’ve also become more
knowledgeable and interested in the
field of chemistry that focuses on
nanoparticles.”
Society for Experiential Education
Mark Berretta
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
Secret Service
Mark Berretta
“I accompanied agents on protective
visits (Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton). My
experience was positive and it
solidified my desire to become a
police officer. This experience was
important to me because I was able
to interact with law enforcement
professionals and see how they
operate.”
Society for Experiential Education
Lauren Bourque
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
Canton Police Department and
Social and Senior Services
Lauren Bourque
“It has furthered encouraged me to
want to have a career that helps
people, and give back to a community
that has given me so much over the
years. My proudest accomplishment
was simply putting myself out of my
comfort zone, and adapting to
change. “
Society for Experiential Education
Eric Brundage
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Internship
Sikorsky Aircraft
Eric Brundage
“This experience was very important to me
because I have always wanted to become
more proficient using modeling software.
My proudest accomplishment was being
able to look at something, measure its
dimensions, and then re‐create it digital
form. This is something that I’ve always
wanted to do. It sounds nerdy, yes, but
nerdiness is good in engineering.”
Society for Experiential Education
Hayley Bryden
Major
Interior Design & Psychology
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Kellie Burke Interiors
Hayley Bryden
“My proudest accomplishment was the
fact that I was able to live in a room
with two girls I barely knew and
ended up becoming friends with
them. Since I have always commuted
to school I have never had the “dorm
experience” and I felt lucky to be able
to learn what it was like, even if it was
only for a short amount of time.”
Hayley Bryden
“After interning, the company offered me a
job to work part time with them while
finishing up school. This was both a
surprise and a major accomplishment to
me. This has allowed me to continue to
learn about the design business and
prepare myself for a career in the field I
am majoring in before I even graduate.”
Society for Experiential Education
Stefanie Bunyea
Major
Chemistry & Forensic Science
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The Synthesis and
Characterization of Leveler
Compounds with Electrochemical
Functional Testing
Internship
Enthone Inc.
Stefanie Bunyea
“I hope to inspire these students to
continue into the Science and
Engineering fields, that ESUMS focuses
on. I want to keep showing them the
magic of science and how it impacts
our world today. It's always amazing to
see how much these students know,
and how much they want to learn and
experiment with science.”
Stefanie Bunyea
“The R&D department was an
incredible source of information and
help throughout my learning process.
They were also extremely generous to
help me find a project I could report
information for, as well as letting me
use their resources and equipment as
funding towards this research.”
Stefanie Bunyea
“This experience has given me valuable
industry knowledge that can not be
learned in a classroom. I have also
made amazing connections that will
directly impact my future career, and
developed a skill set for the chemical
field of this specific industry. It is
incredible to see my learned school
skills be applied in practical ways.”
Society for Experiential Education
Rebekah Butler
Major
Business Management
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Management and Organization
Rebekah Butler
“I enjoyed being able to work within
the community and use my schooling
to help those who needed it. I also
learned a lot about leadership, and
learning to work with a group of
people; it was challenging at first, but
we learned to use our combined
talents and skills to successfully work
together.”
Society for Experiential Education
Kasey Cargill
Major
Major
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The Identification of Controlled
Substances by TLC-SERS
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Determineing the Effect of Histone
Variant H2A.H on Nucleosome
Stability and Transcription in
Arabidopsis thaliana
Internship
Yale University/Morgue and Autopsy
Kasey Cargill
“My biggest accomplishment with this
research, other than it was successful, is
that I had the opportunity to present my
research at the American Academy of
Forensic Sciences 66th Annual Meeting in
Seattle, WA. The conference in Seattle
allowed me to meet many important
people in forensic science as well as learn
about new advancements and techniques
in the field.”
Kasey Cargill
“This experience helped me realize my
passion for research and gave me
guidance for deciding and planning
my future goals. As a follow-up to my
research, I was named as a second
author on a continuation project
presented at the American Academy
of Forensic Sciences 67th Annual
Meeting in Orlando, Florida.”
Kasey Cargill
“This internship was important to me
because it gave me insight into the
career of a pathologist as well as the
rigor of being a student in medical
school. I was proud at how this
internship made me grow personally
and allowed me to witness medical
procedures that I had not previously
been exposed to.”
Society for Experiential Education
Nicole Celauro
Major
Interior Design
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Kate Singer Home
Nicole Celauro
“This experience was very important to me
because I have always wanted to travel,
especially to Italy. Also, being an interior
design major and being able to see all the
amazing architecture firsthand was
breathtaking. This experience contributed to
my learning because I was able to see the
architecture that I learned in class through
pictures now in person, so I was able to
appreciate it a lot more than I did before.”
Nicole Celauro
“This experience was very important to
me because besides being able to get
a hands on experience in the field, I
also got to experience real life
problems that happen during projects
since we only get to work on
hypothetical projects in the
classroom.”
Society for Experiential Education
Cassandra Champagne
Major
Civil Engineering
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Cassandra Champagne
“I overcame many obstacles during my four
months abroad. I have never had to do so
much real-life problem solving before,
especially without the assistance of my
parents. This experience made me so much
stronger as a person, and helped me mature so
much faster than if I had simply started my
college career at the West Haven campus.
Also, I came out of the experience with such an
amazing appreciation for the Italian culture.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sabrina Church
Major
Environmental Science
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
In the process of another GIS study
involving types of building material
suitable for areas prone to geologic
hazard
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Application of GIS to Prioritize
Brownfield Sites for Green Building
Construction Based on LEED Criteria
Sabrina Church
“This experience was important to me
because I will be able to apply my
research for the safety of others. It
directly relates to my field of
Environmental Science and
Sustainability and it was nice to see
all of my subjects come together into
one study to help others.”
Sabrina Church
“This experiment was important to be
because it helped me to help others. The
paper got accepted into an international
conference in England and I will be
speaking about it there in July after
graduation. It makes me proud to know
that my hard work is helping others and
the environment and it makes me feel
great that people want to listen to my
ideas.”
Society for Experiential Education
Matthew Ciarletto
Major
Computer Science
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The Feeling of Sound: A Study of
the Use of Haptic Technology
with Audio
Internship
Timex
Matthew Ciarletto
“It was my first real experience with
research, which made me realize that
I might like to follow a more researchoriented career path than I had
previously considered.”
Matthew Ciarletto
“It was my first real experience in the
industry and further confirmed that
I’m interested in research/R&D.”
Society for Experiential Education
Courtney Crossgrove
Major
Nutrition and Dietetics
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Study Abroad
CEA Global Campus Paris, France
Courtney Crossgrove
“The experience helped me to realize
the pride and sense of accomplishment
with finishing something you worked so
hard on, especially when you get to
share that finished product with others
to help them.”
Courtney Crossgrove
“Studying abroad helped me to
become a more independent
individual. I was so surprised with my
confidence to test my newly found
French skills and thrilled with my
success. I gained a lot of cultural
awareness as well as confidence in
myself and my independence.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sara Dampf
Major
Chemistry & Forensic Science
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Foundations of Public Service
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Recovery of Trace Evidence by
Use of Peelable Films
Sara Dampf
“This course gave me an appreciation
for people that are different than
myself. My proudest accomplishment
was getting through to my mentee
and helping him realize the value of
his education. The lessons learned in
this course will stick with me for
much longer than just a semester”
Sara Dampf
“This experience taught me a lot of
things about myself and the future
path that I wanted to take. I learned
that research requires patience and
lots of time but can be one of the
most rewarding experiences to
accomplish so much by working
independently.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jessica Davis
Major
Legal Studies, Public Affairs
Experience
Internship
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Internship
The Law Offices of John T.
Walkley
Jessica Davis
“After my internship, I feel well
prepared for a job as a paralegal.
Through my experience here, I
learned that I am not as enthused
about working in a small firm,
because it is usually always the same
stuff everyday.”
Jessica Davis
“This experience was important to me
because it taught me a lot about my
potential career. I was glad to see
beyond the typical work that you
would think a paralegal would do.”
Society for Experiential Education
Valeria Diaz
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Yale Child Study Center for
Anxiety Disorders
Valeria Diaz
“This experience was important to me
because it allowed me to step out of
my comfort zone and become
acculturated to the Italian way of
living. It instilled confidence in me
knowing that I could participate in a
variety of different settings with
limited Italian.”
Valeria Diaz
“My proudest accomplishment was
being able run the majority of
appointments. I felt as if I was an
essential part of the Anxiety team. It
is amazing how far training advanced
me from one semester to another.”
Society for Experiential Education
Timothy Dowding
Major
Fire Science
Experience
Internship
Maryland State Police
Timothy Dowding
“By participating in this internship I was able
to gain first hand knowledge and insight into
the world of policing. Most importantly, I
was able to place the knowledge I had
received in the classroom into practice.
During this internship, I was most surprised
by the respect displayed to me by the
Troopers with whom I worked. At all times I
was regarded as a colleague, not a
subordinate .”
Society for Experiential Education
Brianna Eccleston
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Social Inequality
Internship
New Haven Police DepartmentVictim Services
Brianna Eccleston
“This experience was important to me
because it gave me the opportunity to
connect with a population I haven’t come
in contact with since high school. I overall
enjoyed my time volunteering at the boys
and girls club because not only could I see
that I was truly beneficial to the students I
helped, but that the things I was
witnessing there did directly relate to the
material we discussed in class as well.”
Brianna Eccleston
“This experience was important to me
because for the first time I was able to get
first hand real world experience in the
field I plan to go into. My biggest surprise
during my internship was the different
things I was exposed to. I was fortunate
enough to have a very encouraging
supervisor. By completing this internship, I
was able to reinforce my career goals.”
Society for Experiential Education
Cassandra Ellison
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
South Burlington Police
Department
Cassandra Ellison
“The connections with the people
within the agency are what led to
them seeking me out when a position
became available. My work during
my internship showed me what it will
be like to be a local police officer and
also what it would be like if I chose to
do some kind of work in crime
analysis.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jeneane Frias
Major
Graphic Design
Experience
Study Abroad
Gerace Research Center, San
Salvador, Bahamas
Jeneane Frias
“Living in a place where facilities
(medics, emergency transport, ATMs,
internet, etc.) are still very limited
made me aware of how good we have
it back home. This limitation only
aided my experience and allowed me
to focus more on my studies and my
classmates whom I was sharing this
incredible experience with.”
Society for Experiential Education
Miranda Garcia
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
United States Marshals Service
Miranda Garcia
“Studying abroad was an incredibly important
experience for me. I was completely
immersed in Italian culture during this trip,
and being able to experience their culture
first hand was really important for me. Not
only did I come back with more knowledge
about where some of my ancestors came
from, but I also have a new appreciation for
different cultures and ways of living in
general.”
Miranda Garcia
“I was surprised at how much hands-on
work they let me assist with and how
down to earth the deputies were.
They all genuinely cared about my
experience there and about my
future. This internship put a whole
new meaning to learning and
experiential education.”
Society for Experiential Education
Ashley Gomez
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Genocides of the Twentieth and
Twenty-First Centuries
Internship
Office of Adult Probation
Ashley Gomez
“I wanted to learn as much as I could about
other approaches that could be taken in
order to prevent what was going on with
ISIS from escalating even more and if
peace can ever be found in Darfur. I am
currently working on my thesis but what I
have learned so far is that it truly takes
effort from the international community.”
Ashley Gomez
“This experience was important to me
because it allowed me to explore an
area of law enforcement that I was
not sure of entering. It was a good
test to see if this was an area I was
interested.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sara Haney
Major
Graphic Design
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Clear Vision Production
Sara Haney
“This experience was important to me
because I was able to experience a
different culture and travel to places I
have not been to before. My biggest
surprise was how much Prato started
to feel like home to me.. This
experience changed my view on
different cultures. It also taught me
on how to adapt to other places.’
Sara Haney
“This experience helped me realized
how much I had learned in school
over the past few years. I was also
able to learn new things at the
internship that were out of my major
such as marketing and advertising
skills.”
Society for Experiential Education
Gabrielle Hartley
Major
Forensic Science & Biology
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Gabrielle Hartley
“Living abroad, even for only a semester,
was one of the most life-changing
experiences imaginable. You go into the
experience thinking that the gigantic
differences between living environments
are going to be the most influential
moments, but what really impacts you for
a lifetime are the nuances of the specific
place you are living in.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jennifer Hesselbach
Major
Graphic Design
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Knock Media
Jennifer Hesselbach
“My proudest accomplishment was not
a singular experience but more broad
of my entire time in Italy. I learned to
keep myself calm, try my hardest to
ask for help and try to really pay
attention to my surroundings in order
to help myself and be resourceful.”
Jennifer Hesselbach
“Even just the interview process was very
eye-opening for me and a very proud
moment that I got offered the position.
The professional setting of an interview
was very exciting and interesting for me to
have the platform to bring a portfolio of
my work that I have worked hard on and
discuss the work, my intentions and my
interests during the interview.”
Society for Experiential Education
NyAsia Hightower
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
CEA Seville Campus, Sevilla, Spain
Internship
United Airlines
NyAsia Hightower
“As a group we were involved in different
things, one thing we all did though was
teach English at a elementary school. This
was a very interesting experience. I
learned that children no matter what
nationality are children. Finding a fun way
for 9 year olds to learn a foreign language
was challenging but very worth it. And it
was a lot of fun to see their reactions.”
NyAsia Hightower
“The internship was just as much about
helping United as it was about us
learning something new. It was
important to me because it was in a
field that I had never even thought
about. The entire internship was an
accomplishment and a wonderful
experience.”
Society for Experiential Education
Ellen Himmelstein
Major
Forensic Science
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Philadelphia Police Department
Forensic Science
Ellen Himmelstein
“This experience gave me a whole new
perspective on my own life and the
cultural differences in Italy. It was also
a huge learning experience for me
both academically as well as
personally.”
Ellen Himmelstein
“This internship provided me with
extensive hands on knowledge and
experience in the field of Forensic
Science. I also established
professional connections in both
forensics and law enforcement in the
Philadelphia area.”
Society for Experiential Education
Joshua Howard
Major
Economics
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Climate Change Supply Response
of Kansas Wheat Yield
Internship
Motorola Solutions
Joshua Howard
“I am proud of the fact that I will be
able to apply my analytical skills to
create a tool that uses historical
evidence to predict the future. The
experience gained through this
research is useful in helping me to
develop practical skills crucial to the
business world.”
Joshua Howard
“Working for a Fortune 500 company gave
me invaluable experiences that helped me
to develop my business acumen. I worked
with an excellent team who challenged
me to learn and overcome challenges
independently. Relationships were
developed with a wide variety of team
members as we worked together to
implement lasting solutions that
improved operations.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jessica Imperato
Major
Forensic Science &
Biology (pre-med)
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Detection of Mutations in the
PAH, NF-1, and BRCA1
Jessica Imperato
“This experience was important for me
because I got to see a child’s love for
science bloom and grow right before my
eyes. You could see just how much
enjoyment the student we were helping
were getting from this experience from
the huge smiles on their faces and the
excitement in their voices when they were
talking about their projects.”
Jessica Imperato
“This experience was important to me
because it was the first time I felt like a
real scientist. I was completely
surrounded by like-minded people who
were just as passionate as I am was. I
realized just how much I love the idea of
experimenting and gathering and
analyzing data, and how there is still so
much for me to learn.”
Society for Experiential Education
Caitlin Izzo
Major
Forensic Science & Biology &
English
Experience
Study Abroad
Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenyang,
China
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Analysis of drugs in thin films using
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
to evaluate their detection in latent
fingerprint residues
Caitlin Izzo
“My study abroad trip was the first
time I traveled to another country. It
was a great opportunity to be
immersed in the Chinese culture,
which is very different from American
culture. Additionally, I attended the
Asian Association of Police Studies
Conference, which was a valuable
learning experience.”
Caitlin Izzo
“This experience has provided me with
invaluable knowledge of the processes
involved in constructing and carrying out my
own research project. This research project
has allowed me to experience an
instrumental technique I was originally not
familiar with. As well, the project has
allowed me to combine both practical
laboratory research with theoretical
conclusions backed by literature research.”
Society for Experiential Education
Emily Kanadanian
Major
Forensic Science
Experience
Internship
ZeptoMetrix Corporation
Emily Kanadanian
“It also game me the opportunity to be exposed to
and learn how to use laboratory equipment and
technology I had never seen or used before, but
will most likely experience in my future laboratory
career. I have already used some of my newly
acquired skills, especially that of using micropipets,
in the college laboratory courses I have taken so far
this year, which affirmed the fact that I will
definitely be applying what I learned at
ZeptoMetrix to what I will hopefully be doing in the
future.”
Society for Experiential Education
Stephen Kando
Major
Management of Sports Industries
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Management and Organization
Stephen Kando
“This experience was important for me because of
the fact that I was able to both provide a benefit
to myself and the members of the community
that is my second home. It was nice to be able to
get out of the classroom and both learn and apply
skills that will be useful in the real world. It also
felt great knowing that the work that my group
and I were doing was making a positive impact on
the young children of the community as well as
making a positive impact on the West Haven
Community House and their future programs.”
Society for Experiential Education
Danielle Keller
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Danielle Keller
“I learned to be more open to new ideas
and new cultures. Now, when there is
something that I do not agree with or
understand, I try to look at it from the
other person’s point of view and
recognize how they may see it. This has
helped me in my learning because it has
made me more open to suggestions and
unbiased by things I previously thought,
which is important in forensic science”
Society for Experiential Education
Lauren Kircher
Major
Marine Biology
Experience
Study Abroad
Gerace Research Center, SanSalvador,
Bahamas
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Site fidelity and circatidal activity of Atlantic
fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax)
Internship
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Fellowship through the National Science
Foundation hosted by University of Southern
California and Wrigley Institute for
Environmental Studies
Lauren Kircher
“I learned a lot about the flexibility and
problem solving involved in research.
We ran into several roadblocks along
the way and the only way to keep
going is to adapt your project to fix or
circumvent the problems. I highly
enjoyed all of the time spent in the
field in the salt marsh”
Lauren Kircher
“I was able to push myself a lot. I met
many new people from different
backgrounds. I became a stronger
scientific writer. I was very proud of
the data I got because I was involved
with the whole process of data
collection.”
Society for Experiential Education
Heather Konish
Major
Interior Design & Theater
Experience
Internship
Facility Design and Development,
LTD.
Internship
University of New Haven Theater
Dept.
Heather Konish
“This internship was really important
for me, because while I already
decided that theater was the path for
me, being able to experience an
interior design internship allowed me
to be confident in my choice. Knowing
that my ideas and skills were valued
by a professional and award winning
architect, is my proudest moment.”
Heather Konish
This internship really helped shape the
course of my future, and I couldn’t be
more happy to have done it. I was
able to see my work being
represented and used to create a
beautiful piece of theater. As stated
earlier, this internship turned out to
be much more than just a learning
experience, it was a life altering event
Society for Experiential Education
Alexandra Krinickas
Major
Forensic Science &
Chemical Engineering
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Detection of Neurotransmitters
in Urine Using HPLC
Alexandra Krinickas
“This class strived to show the fun side of
science while simultaneously showing
that science is not necessarily a male
dominated field. As a class of all
women, we mentored and created
demonstrations for current ESUMS
students to show them what science at
the college level can be like and
hopefully maintain their interest in the
science.”
Alexandra Krinickas
“This experience was important to me
because it was the first practical
application of the skills learned in
class. I was presented with many
unforeseen challenges throughout
this process that required me to
figure out and trouble shoot the
instruments I was using.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jenny Lam
Major
Finance & Accounting
Experience
Internship
Aetna
Jenny Lam
“This experience is very important to
me because it put everything that I
learned in class into perspective. In
addition, I learned a lot at Aetna that
I did not learn in school, so working
there is an amazing opportunity.”
Society for Experiential Education
Benjamin Laplante
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Benjamin Laplante
“Studying abroad was one of the
greatest experiences in my life to date
because of all the benefits I took
away from it. I learned so much about
myself including the fact that no
problem is to big to overcome and a
solution can always be reached if I
just stop to think about it rather than
panic or ask for help.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sean Lawless
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Internship
Sikorsky
Sean Lawless
“This experience in essence showed me
how engineering works in the real
world. One of my biggest
accomplishments was creating an
excel tool that in essence captured
missing drawings from one database
and added them to Sikorsky’s Matrix.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jennifer Lee
Major
Biology & Forensic Science
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
The effects of oleuropein on
SKBR3 cell viability and activation
of apoptotic proteins
Jennifer Lee
“This experience was very important to
me because it taught me how to
really develop and design a research
project on my own. This project really
helped to solidify my decision about
my future plans and made me realize
that I have what it takes to follow
through on a complex research
project.”
Society for Experiential Education
Philip Levine
Major
Psychology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Adolescent Development
Philip Levine
“My proudest accomplishment during
this experience was just knowing that
I helped my mentee make the
decision to go to college, when many
of his relatives did not and peers will
not.”
Society for Experiential Education
Mengyan Liu
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Mengyan Liu
“I planned my October break by myself
and learned to interact and
participate in cultural activities with
local peoples. I was really happy to
use what I learned in the classroom in
my everyday interactions with people
in my host city. I was also using my
own experiences with locals in
classroom discussions and activities.”
Mengyan Liu
“I listened to the different perspectives
the locals had on Italian politics, on
Italian criminal justice, and on
American culture. It was a great
experience for personal growth and
inspired me to learn more about
international justice.”
Society for Experiential Education
Joey Loos
Major
Art
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Joey Loos
“I learned valuable cultural information
from my Italian Culture and Food
Quality courses. I gained valuable
experience through hands on visits to
pasta factories and pastry making
factories in which I have witnessed
the process of production.”
Society for Experiential Education
Katherine Lovallo
Major
International Security &
Global Studies
Experience
Study Abroad
London, England
Internship
Bridgeport Superior Court State’s
Attoney’s Office Geographical
Area 2
Katherine Lavallo
“This study abroad experience opened
my eyes to everything the world has to
offer outside of New Haven, CT. My
heart longs to travel the world in hopes
to gain further global perspectives from
different cultures. As an international
relations focus in my studies, traveling
abroad has not only made me a better
person, but also a better student.”
Katherine Lavallo
“This experience confirmed that
attending law school is the right path
for my future. I had the pleasure to
work with many wonderful people
who helped me to learn as much as
possible in such a short time span.
Nothing feels as rewarding as
knowing that you have found the
right career path.”
Society for Experiential Education
Courtney Lussier
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Courtney Lussier
“I gained social skills, talking to strangers
in languages of which I knew only a few
phrases. I learned confidence, as I had
to trust myself to be a leader at times.
Most importantly, I now have
independence, and I am not afraid to
take a train by myself, or go out on my
own. This opportunity had impacted
me for the rest of my life.”
Society for Experiential Education
Alyssa MacKinnon
Major
Legal Studies
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Alyssa Mackinnon
“This experience was important to me
because I was given the opportunity to
experience the Italian culture in an
academic setting with my peers. The
experience was enriched by the
instructors who ensured our love of the
culture and history and introduced us
to a way of life and educational topics
we would not have had.”
Society for Experiential Education
Kaitlin Mahar
Major
Communications
Experience
Internship
The New Paradigm Theater
company (NPT) and After School
at the Klein (ASK)
Kaitlin Mahar
“Given this experience, I learned from all
of the instructors, whether I got to
personally partake in their classes or
not, but I also learned from the
students themselves. Interning with
ASK and NPT was easily the most
humbling, unforgettable experience I
have ever had in my life, and I feel so
thankful that I was able to be a part of
it.”
Society for Experiential Education
Michelle Marks
Major
Communications
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Oskar Schindler Humanities
Academic Service Learning
Community Work Study
Internship
The New Paradigm Theater
company (NPT) and After
Michelle Marks
“This experience was so important to
me because I really felt like I was
making a difference in the lives of the
students and in my community. I had
a lot of proud moments every time I
was there, even if they seemed like
they were minor accomplishments.”
Michelle Marks
“This experience was important to me
because it was my first corporate job
relative to my major. I am gaining a
lot of real world experience and it is
really preparing me for a career in the
industry I want to be in.”
Society for Experiential Education
Reilley McGee
Major
Hospitality and Tourism
Management
Experience
Internship
Hazell Nut Café
Reilley McGee
“When asked what I like most about
the University of New Haven, my
answer is always the experiential
learning. Students can only read so
much about a subject. Only when
they are actually experiencing it, does
their learning come full circle.”
Society for Experiential Education
Paola Mendoza-Rivera
Major
Psychology & Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
University of Virginia, Semester
at Sea
Internship
Aibonito’s Criminal Investigation
Division
Paola Mendoza-Rivera
“Sailing aboard the MV Explorer with
Semester at Sea has been the
highlight of my life! It was a unique
experience that contributed both to
my academic career as well as
personal growth. My experience with
Semester at Sea taught me to be
more aware of global issues and to be
more culturally sensitive.”
Paola Mendoza-Rivera
“I met great co-workers and learned
many things about Puerto Rico’s legal
system as well as what it means to
actually work in the field of criminal
justice. I learned about the sacrifices
that the people working within said
field sometimes have to make for the
safety of others.”
Society for Experiential Education
Andrea Meyers
Major
Forensic Science &
Biology (pre-med)
Experience
Study Abroad
University of Verona: College of
Medicine and Surgery-Institute of
Forensic Medicine
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Detecting KCI Poisoning in
Intravenous Equipment Used in
Homicide Cases Committed by Nurses
Andrea Meyers
“I felt this experience gave me more of
an appreciation for cultural
differences and the advantages and
disadvantages of those differences. I
chose this program because it was
very important to me to have a
cultural experience as part of my
education.”
Andrea Meyers
“This experience has contributed to my
learning because it exemplifies the
benefits of international
collaboration. It demonstrates the
importance of working with your
peers worldwide in order to further
the field by developing new scientific
methods and applications.”
Society for Experiential Education
Anton Mgushi
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
Fairfield Police Department
Anton Mgushi
“This experience introduced me to a
whole new meaning of “police work”.
This experience has contributed to my
learning tremendously because I
experienced the “police work” first
hand. This was a great opportunity
for me to be involved in.”
Society for Experiential Education
Samantha Miceli
Major
Hospitality and Tourism
Management
Experience
Internship
Bee & Thistle Inn and Spa
Internship
Hazell Nut Café
Samantha Miceli
“Gaining technical cooking and baking
experience will help me to hire my
own kitchen staff one day. This
experience helped me gain
confidence in myself every time a
dish sent out was complimented.”
Samantha Miceli
“Switching roles throughout this
experience made me more
accustomed to how the hospitality
field works. I was proud to learn more
about operating my own restaurant
one day.”
Society for Experiential Education
Lindsey Michaels
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Foundations of Public Service
Internship
Stonington Police Department
Lindsey Michaels
“This experience was much more than
a class requirement to me. It was me
volunteering, giving back to a
community and individuals who need
help, who have no one else to turn to.
It is experiential learning that will be
completely applicable and valuable to
my future and those in it.”
Lindsey Michaels
“I was actually out in the community
and constantly communicating with
the police officers, doing almost
exactly what I will be doing in the
future. These are real life experiences
that I know I will face again as a police
officer, so experiencing them now
really demonstrates the value of
experiential learning”
Society for Experiential Education
Maegan Moran
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
INLAC, Fez, Morocco
Internship
Homeland Security Investigations
– Immigration Customs
Enforcement (ICE)
Maegan Moran
“This experience was very important to
me because I have been studying
Arabic for two years now and I enjoy
not only the language but also the
Arab Culture. On this trip I was able to
improve my language skills, although I
still need to do a lot more work to be
as proficient as I hope to be one day.”
Maegan Moran
“To be honest the biggest reason why
this internship was so important to
me is because I was considering going
into Federal Law Enforcement. One of
the best things that I was able to do
while at my internship was using the
non-governmental computer to
search open sources.”
Society for Experiential Education
Danielle Morgan
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Franklin County Jail
Danielle Morgan
“This experience was important to me
because I wanted to learn to be able
to adapt to a foreign situation. The
biggest surprise that I encountered
was that I do well in situations that I
have not been in before and am very
adaptable. This has taught me to not
be scared of change, and to embrace
new and different situations.”
Danielle Morgan
“This experience was important to me
because it showed me that I am able
to work in an environment that is
foreign to me. It also showed me that
in the future I may want to work in
Corrections with a treatment
department.”
Society for Experiential Education
Erin Murphy
Major
Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Foundations of Public Service
Internship
Norfolk District Attorney’s OfficeSexual Assault Unit/Victim
Witness Advocates’ Unit
Erin Murphy
“This course gave a philosophical
explanation for public service while
also providing real service experience.
The co-op helps people rebuild their
lives after they have been homeless
or living in a shelter, and being a part
of that gives students experience that
the classroom doesn’t offer.”
Erin Murphy
“This experience showed me the
human aspect of the legal profession.
The office I worked in advocated for
people who had been hurt and
helped them to regain control over
their own lives after being
victimized.”
Society for Experiential Education
Alyssa Nielsen
Major
Forensic Science
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Alyssa Nielsen
“This experience was important to me
because I was once in the same place
that these ESUMS students are now,
preparing for Advanced Placement
tests. I wanted to help them
understand experiments and
concepts that they did not have the
equipment to perform and witness
firsthand.”
Society for Experiential Education
Cheyenne Payette
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Adolescent Development
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Cheyenne Payette
“This experience was important to me
because it gave me an opportunity to
become more involved in the
surrounding area. This experience
contributed to my learning because I
was able to apply what I was learning
in the classroom to a real-world
experience.”
Cheyenne Payette
“This experience was important to me
because I learned how to adapt to an
entirely new culture. While originally
nervous and excited to travel to Italy
for a study abroad program, I quickly
learned how to navigate foreign cities
and communicate with people
despite a language barrier.”
Society for Experiential Education
Stefanie Perillo
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
NYPD Chief of Department:
Domestic Violence Unit
Stefanie Perillo
“This experience opened my eyes to
the different options and
opportunities I would have working
with the NYPD. I have a strong desire
to work with and help special victims
and victims of domestic violence and
this internship reaffirmed this and my
dream to become a police officer.”
Society for Experiential Education
Martha Petzoldt
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Viability of maple seeds for
biofuel
Martha Petzoldt
“This experiment is very important to
me because it allowed me to work
individually with only a small amount
of guidance. It greatly increased my
confidence in the lab.”
Society for Experiential Education
Ashley Piecewicz
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Community Work Study
Internship
Middlesex Sheriff’s Office,
Billerica House of Corrections
Ashley Piecewicz
“This experience really helped shape
my skills as a counselor and gave me
hands on experience I could never
have gotten within the walls of a
classroom. I was able to network with
people in so many different fields
from hospital staff to police officers to
court officials.”
Ashley Piecewicz
“I am now looking to go into some aspect
of corrections after graduation in May.
My proudest moment was being able
to be confident and capable enough to
actually perform specific evaluations on
inmates completely on my own. It gave
me a sense of accomplishment and
pride that definitely encouraged me to
pursue a career in the correctional
field.”
Society for Experiential Education
Allison Ponte
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Exploring Gender Difference in the
Decision to Pursue a Policing Career
Internship
Department of Emergency
Services and Public ProtectionConnecticut State Police- Troop H
Internship
Plainville Police Department
Allison Ponte
“My research study is important to me
because I am studying representation
of females in law enforcement. As a
prospective police officer myself, I
feel that my work may shed some
light on the low percentage of female
police officers in the United States.”
Allison Ponte
“My experiences with the Connecticut
State Police, coupled with my second
policing internship, made me decide
that I would like to become a police
officer after graduation. Working as
an intern allowed me to make
connections, learn the ropes of the
job, and gain confidence that I am
capable of being a part of this field.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jean-Philip Precourt
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
Eastern District Major Crime Unit
Troop E, Connecticut State Police
Jean-Philip Precourt
“The internship really opened my eyes.
Since the very beginning, I knew that
the internship was going to be a great
experience and that it would reinforce
my drive to work in the law
enforcement field. I really enjoyed
applying what I have learned in my
courses at the University of New Haven
to help me understand better certain
concepts.”
Society for Experiential Education
Jeffrey Regester
Major
Legal Studies & Psychology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Adolescent Development
Internship
New Jersey Office of Legislative
Services
Jeffrey Regester
Being involved in the mentoring program
encouraged me to seek out new things
outside of my comfort zone. I realized
that you don’t always have to know all
the answers to guide someone;
sometimes when they see you struggle
through a problem, it helps them see
that you’re human and gives them a
pattern to discovering their own
answers to things.
Jeffrey Regester
“I got to learn a lot about the New
Jersey legal system while working on
my research and writing skills. I was
also able to work primarily on my
own but with some collaboration
involved, so I was able to foster some
individual and group dynamics with
time management.”
Society for Experiential Education
Brandon Reyes
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Study Abroad
University of Verona's Medical
School, Verona, Italy
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Effects of Ethanol of Morphine
Glucuronidation
Brandon Reyes
“My experience at the University of
Verona’s Medical School helped me
decide what I want to do for the rest
of my life, Forensic Toxicology. I think
this was the experience that I needed
to complete my journey at UNH.
Overall, this experience impacted me
in many areas.”
Brandon Reyes
“Being able to truly apply what I have
learned in the classroom is the most
important part of the research I have
been pursuing. Not only is the hands
on experience with instrumentation
that I will be working with in the
future great, but also getting the oneon-one attention of working with a
faculty member.”
Society for Experiential Education
Zachary Rivers
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Selective Oxidation of Glycerol, a
Biodiesel By-Product, for
Synthesis of Value Added
Chemicals
Zachary Rivers
“The most important part, to me, was
being able to use the instrumentation
more in-depth than I did during my
various laboratory courses. Research
gave me hands-on experience with
the instrumentation and allowed me
to perform experiments without the
limitations of a laboratory course
setting.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sierra Rocco
Major
Marine Biology & Biology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Genetic variation of Crepidula
fornicata in Long Island Sound
Sierra Rocco
“This experience was important
because I was able to help foster a
young child’s love of the sciences.
This experience contributed to my
learning in that it helped me develop
my communication and leadership
skills, which aided me in giving
presentations and enhanced my skills
in working with a team.”
Sierra Rocco
“This experience was/is important
because it helped me realize all the
work that is required of a research
scientist, and that not everything is as
cut-and-dry and pretty as it is
presented to us in lecture. that I was
able to work intimately with my
research, from literary research to trial
and error with experimental methods
and ending with final presentations.”
Society for Experiential Education
James Sagherian
Major
National Security Studies
Experience
Internship
The Institute for the Study of
Violent Groups
James Sagherian
“The experience was important to me
because it provided valuable
knowledge in an area which is
important to my future career.
Working with ISVG provided the
opportunity to learn more about
terrorist and violent groups, as well
as, transnational crime.”
Society for Experiential Education
Sabrina Schell
Major
Legal Studies, Public Affairs
Experience
Study Abroad
Webster University, Leiden ,
Netherlands
Internship
Connecticut General Assembly
Sabrina Schell
“I was able to visit the International
Permanent Court of Arbitration, at the
Hague, which was my primary reason
for choosing the Netherlands in
selecting study abroad locations. I
broadened my ideas of future career in
law to include international business,
and international law.”
Sabrina Schell
“I gained such a valuable insight into the
workings of state government, that not
only enhanced my studies in law and
political science, but also contributed to
my interest in the governing in my
home state, which I believe makes me a
better citizen. I gained valuable
contacts in the government, and
enhanced my skills in working in
professional settings.”
Society for Experiential Education
Melissa Scott
Major
Communications
Experience
Internship
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT)
Melissa Scott
“My experience with PBT allowed me
to apply knowledge that I had learned
in the classroom into a real-life
setting. It also reassured me that I
made the right decision to pursue a
degree in Communications.”
Society for Experiential Education
Rachel Seggerman
Major
Dental Hygiene
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Dental Hygiene Advanced
Concepts Clinic
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Legalities of Dental Charting for
UNH Dental Center
Internship
UNH Dental Center
Rachel Seggerman
“I was able to experience hands-on
learning of dental hygiene concepts
through this course in everything
from seeing patients in a clinical
setting, as well as educating patients.
It was important to learn how to treat
many different patients based on
their needs, and how to make
patients happy.”
Rachel Seggerman
“This experience helped me as a
professional as I use this information
in my daily life working in private
practice. I always follow legal
standards for dental charting, and
know what I need to ask and assess
on each patient to include all the
necessary information for legal
charting.”
Rachel Seggerman
“This was important to me because it
helped me realize that I wanted to do
teaching along the road. By assisting
faculty members in the dental
hygiene clinic, I was able to see how
much I love helping students learn,
and learn how to effectively teach
these students.”
Society for Experiential Education
Katherine Seggerman
Major
Electrical Engineering
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Table Top Computer Interface
Using a Depth Sensor
Katherine Seggerman
“This experience was important to me
because this was my first hands on
research which I have already
benefitted from through the
knowledge I gained. My proudest
accomplishment during SURF was
writing the calibration function from
the depth sensor coordinates to the
computer projection coordinates.”
Society for Experiential Education
Danielle Semp
Major
Interior Design
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Linda Blair Interiors
Group/Barbara Bell Interiors
Danielle Semp
“I believe the most rewarding experience
from our trip to Italy was climbing the
famous Duomo in Florence, Italy. In our
History of Architecture class we had
learned about the time and thought
that was required when building the
Duomo especially the hard labor and
mathematical thought of putting it
together.”
Danielle Semp
“Receiving this internship was such a
great kick start to my career, although
I have not been home to work for
either company they both expressed
deep interest in hiring my after I
complete my degree. I met many
important people in my field through
their connections and power in the
world of Interior Design.”
Society for Experiential Education
Ali Shapiro
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Morris County Youth Shelter
Ali Shapiro
“The experience I had abroad helped me
grow both personally and
professionally. I gained a great deal of
independence from living in an
unknown city with an unknown
language. I also gained confidence
from adapting to this newly developed
independent lifestyle and embracing
the obstacles I faced with an openmind.”
Ali Shapiro
“This internship has a lot of importance
to me because it helped shape my
future education and career goals. I
had little knowledge of the social
work field prior to this internship, so I
was forced to learn about the entire
childcare system very quickly.”
Society for Experiential Education
Stephen Shepherd
Major
Forensic Science & Chemistry
Experience
Academic Service Learning
President's Public Service
Fellowship
Academic Service Learning
Honors General Chemistry II Lab
Stephen Shepherd
“This experience helped reaffirm my
belief that a scientist can still be very
sociable and engaging with what
they're engaged in. This experience
also helped me realize that I'm not
that bad at teaching basic lessons to
young children.”
Stephen Shepherd
“This academic service-learning
experience was my first, real-life,
professional work experience, and for
that I am very grateful. It improved so
many of my professional skills, and
allowed me to have a lasting, positive
impact on the New Haven
community.”
Society for Experiential Education
Gina Shulick
Major
Nutrition and Dietetics
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Community Nutrition
Gina Shulick
“I chose to participate in Cooking Corps
because I feel it is critical to start
educating children about nutrition at
a young age so that they can carry
healthy habits throughout their lives.
I feel the children really benefited
from the activities and lesson plans
we completed with them.”
Society for Experiential Education
Walter Shunaula
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
A comparison of the effect of
humpback whale inspired
“tubercles” on a propeller
Internship
Proton OnSite
Walter Shunaula
“This experience taught me how to
work independently on a project. The
procedures and testing methods were
something that I chose with the help
of my advisor. This experience gave
me a heads up for how it would be to
work in an industry where you have
to figure things out on your own.”
Walter Shunaula
“This internship gave me a good idea of
how engineering operates in industry
rather than the classroom. It was
helpful for me as I graduate soon. My
proudest accomplishment was the
ability to work independently to test a
component for the company’s
product.”
Society for Experiential Education
Celina Strong
Major
Nutrition and Dietetics
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Community Nutrition
Celina Strong
“Volunteering at W.H.E.A.T was an
extremely rewarding experience. It
showed me the importance of giving
to others who are in great need. The
experience also reinforced my
understanding of Community
Nutrition since I was able to see an
assisted food program in person and
get a feel for how they operate.”
Society for Experiential Education
Emily Sullivan
Major
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Adolescent Development
Emily Sullivan
“This experience was important to me
because it allowed me to connect
with the children at the Boys and Girls
Club weekly. This was the first
service-learning class that I had been
involved with, and it was one of the
most memorable classes for me.”
Society for Experiential Education
Paul Taylor
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Internship
State of Connecticut Judicial
Branch – Juvenile
Internship
Ipswich Polic Department
Paul Taylor
“I gained a lot of valuable experience in
the professional community, and my
time at the Probation Office bolstered
my confidence in my abilities as a
Criminal Justice professional. I would
definitely be interested in pursuing a
career in the Juvenile Justice field – I
think it’s incredibly important to extend
a helping hand to the youths of our
community.”
Paul Taylor
“I made the internship my own, forged
my own path and crafted something
that will be my legacy whether or not
I return to work for the Ipswich Police
Department. If that isn’t something
to be proud of, I don’t know what is.”
Society for Experiential Education
Bronte Torres Pagan
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Bronte Torres Pagan
“This experience allowed me to step
out of my comfort zone in a very
challenging and eye-opening way. I
gained insight into a completely
different culture, and was able to see
the world from a different
perspective.”
Society for Experiential Education
Alyssa Turgeon
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Social Inequality
Study Abroad
INLAC, Fez, Morocco
Alyssa Turgeon
“To me this experience was important
because it was another way to learn,
outside the classroom. We got to
experience the topics we discussed in
the classroom, in the real world. We
had the opportunity to piece what we
were learning together with what we
were experiencing at the boys and
girls club.”
Alyssa Turgeon
“This experience was a humbling and
satisfying one because we were
immersed in another culture. We got to
experience the struggle of learning a
new language, the barrier between two
people who speak different languages
and the beliefs and thoughts that
foreigners have about us and vice versa.
It was an experience that I will never
forget.”
Society for Experiential Education
Erika Vargas
Major
Electrical Engineering &
Theater Design
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Photovoltaic Solar Array
Implementation and
Performance Tracking on Campus
Erika Vargas
“This project really opened my eyes to
see beyond the idealistic viewpoints
of solar panels, and develop a higher
understanding of the challenges
engineers face in the attempts to
optimize the solar power conversion
and storage.”
Society for Experiential Education
Emily Walker
Major
Major
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Community Work Study
Academic Service Learning
Juvenile Justice
Internship
Plymouth Police Department
Emily Walker
“This experience was extremely
important to me because it allowed
me to observe the behaviors and
actions of inner city children. I think
this whole experience opened my
eyes to what it would be like to live in
an inner city environment.”
Emily Walker
“This experienced allowed me to see
law enforcement from the
perspective after arrest and before
court proceedings. I was able to
observe the job of a police
department prosecutor and
understand how a defendant is
transferred from a holding cell, into
the court system.”
Society for Experiential Education
Harrison Walker
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Academic Service Learning
Adolescent Development
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
United Airlines
Harrison Walker
“I enjoyed this experience much more
than I thought I would. It made me
realize that I enjoyed working with kids.
This experience made me start looking
at different careers in the criminal
justice field, such as juvenile probation
or parole. I think that this would be a
fulfilling career.”
Harrison Walker
“My proudest moment was when I
returned to Italy after October break.
During the break I decided to travel. I
spent my first semester of my
freshman year across the Atlantic. I
gained a level of independence from
this experience.”
Harrison Walker
“My biggest surprise about this
experience was the behind the scenes
parts of the airports. The baggage area
of the airport is much like a small
underground city with each area
specializing in certain areas. It was an
amazing thing to witness. I am also
proud to say that this experience led
me to my current job with Project
Longevity.”
Society for Experiential Education
Nicholas Wereszczak
Major
Computer Science
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Virtual Reality Visualization with
the Oculus Rift
Nicholas Wereszczak
“This experience was important to me
because it contributed to my learning.
It introduced new libraries and how to
implement them in my project. It also
helped me develop a deeper
understanding about creating my own
Algorithm and then implementing it.”
Society for Experiential Education
Brittany Wienclaw
Major
Forensic Science &
Biology (pre-med)
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
Assessment of the antiproliferative effects of the olive
oil metabolite hydroxytyrosol on
SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells
Internship
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brittany Wienclaw
“This experience is important to me
because through this research I am able
to hone the skills that I’ve learned in my
biology courses at UNH and apply them
in a laboratory setting. As an aspiring
pediatric oncologist, this research in
cancer biology is intriguing to me, and I
am excited to complete the project and
assess the data.”
Brittany Wienclaw
“This internship was particularly
important to me because it was my
first professional research experience.
Although I utilized many of the
laboratory skills I learned in the
classroom, I gained a wealth of
knowledge about disciplines of
biological research that I was
previously unfamiliar with.”
Society for Experiential Education
Robin Willick
Major
System Engineering
Experience
Faculty Mentored UG Research
UNH Energy Benchmarking
Internship
United Illuminating
Robin Willick
I chose to participate in SURF because the
program enabled me to gain first hand
experience in research and energy
consulting as well as complemented my
minor in sustainability studies. Protecting
the environment is something I am very
passionate about, so when the
opportunity to work on a sustainability
project arose I decided that I wanted to
help the university further develop our
environmentally-friendly agenda.
Robin Willick
“This internship furthered my experiences
with energy benchmarking practices, and
it was fulfilling to see how it is done
beyond the scope of my previous
research project, which focused solely
on the UNH campus. These have all been
wonderful experiences that have helped
me realize what I am passionate about,
and what I’m looking for in terms of a
career.”
Society for Experiential Education
Shannon Young
Major
Criminal Justice
Experience
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Internship
Glastonbury Police Department
Computer Forensic Unit
Shannon Young
“This experience was very important to
me because it allowed me to learn
more about myself and become more
independent. While studying abroad
you make decisions on your own and
travel on your own. Being on my own
and making all of my decisions for
myself allowed me to realize that I
can be independent.”
Shannon Young
“This experience was important to me
because it allowed me to apply my
knowledge I learned in classes, and
now continue to use the experience
during my classes. Internships are the
best thing that can prepare you for
the real world, and suggest that you
do as many as you can before you
graduate.”
Society for Experiential Education
Kara Zavaglio
Major
Graphic Design
Experience
Study Abroad
Gerace Research Center, San
Salvador, Bahamas
Study Abroad
UNH Tuscany Campus
Kara Zavaglio
“This experience was important to me
because I wanted to experience
another study abroad program
specifically for my photography passion.
I really learned how to connect writing
to my photography. I really struggle
with writing creatively going into the
trip, but as the days passed, I felt it was
easier to write and describe how I felt.”
Kara Zavaglio
This experience was important to me
because it helped me better understand
a completely different culture. I have
more of an appreciation for how people,
living in different countries live their
daily lives. I was given the opportunity to
travel and continue my hobby of
photography in a completely new
setting.