Summer 2015 Interns
Javier Flores
Economics | Finance Minor: Mathematics Javier is a third year international student from Mexico. He is double majoring in Economics and Finance and is interested in development economics and economics of education. Last summer he worked as a field team leader for Columbia University´s research project on Hispanic Community´s Political Opinion. He plans to do research on the effects of teachers´ labor union on student achievement in Mexico for his senior honors thesis 
Lily Hayes
Dance | Geography Lily is a double major in BFA Dance and BA Geography with a minor in Geology, a BDP Certificate in Environmental Studies and an Energy Management Certificate from the Energy Institute of the McCombs School of Business. Lily has traveled abroad to study climate change in Botswana, Africa and Australia. She is interested in natural resource management and in the ways GIS can be used in assessing climate change and environmental justice across the world. 
Joyce Jiang
Geography | Education Joyce is a fourth year Geography major student with a minor in Education. She is interested in human-environment relations, particularly around questions of local community involvement in conservation efforts, specifically those living within Sub-Saharan Africa. She also studies the application of GIS and remote sensing to natural resources management and disasters. In summer 2015, she starts her internship at the Air Quality Program in City of Austin. 
Casey McMahan
Spanish | Geography Minor: Applied Statistical Modeling Casey is taking all the courses he can involving GIS because he finds great value in its power to create understanding. He is an associate with the Student Organization Center where he assists a very diverse array of student clubs peruse their passions. His interests include health, conservation, data literacy, and spirituality. He will be serving as treasurer for The Geography Society and be on the service committee for Brother Under Christ fraternity. |
Christle Nwora
Humanities | Urban Studies Christle is double majoring in Humanities and Urban Studies, with a focus on the cultural and social context of healthcare in western Africa. She is interested in how cultural consciousness can address health disparities at home and abroad. After her time at The University of Texas at Austin, Christle plans to pursue a dual degree in Medicine (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH). 
Gabrielle Torres
Plan II Honors | Government | Spanish Gabby is a junior studying Plan II, Government, and Spanish language. On campus, she writes academic legislation for the Senate of College Councils. Gabby also edits nonfiction prose for an honors literary journal, mentors at KIPP Collegiate Austin, and volunteers with KUT public radio. She is eager to research humanitarian issues, and is currently crafting her thesis on human rights abuses during the Guatemalan Civil War. Her scholastic and professional interests include international diplomacy and conflict resolution. 
Matt Tiritilli
Plan II Honors | Business Honors | Finance Matt is currently a junior Business Honors, Plan II and Finance major interested in both international political and economic development. He also volunteers as a mentor at KIPP charter schools in Austin, Texas and is a member of the Tejas Club. After graduation, he hopes to work internationally in some form of economic development. 
Santiago Vallejo
Geography Santiago is a Geography major with a focus on sustainability. His academic interests include food security, food sovereignty, and smallholder agricultural practices. Due to his family’s small plot farming background in Mexico, he hopes to eventually conduct participatory research in the region. He is a member of a co-ed service fraternity that conducts volunteer projects throughout the Austin area. He plans to get his Master’s in Global Policy with a specialization in Energy, Environment, and Technology. |
Kolby Vidrine
Neuroscience | Human Development and Family Sciences Kolby’s interest with international development and foreign aid originated when accompanying the NGO: Water is Basic to South Sudan, where she worked in a local clinic, and assisted Starkey Hearing Foundation in the first phase of their initiative to provide hearing aids to those in need. She plans to attend graduate school for her Masters in International Affairs, and hopes to work for the UN on their humanitarian assistance campaign. 
Hao Zhang
MA, Economics Hao is pursuing a master’s degree in Economics as an international student from China. He graduated from Beijing Institute of Technology in 2014 with majoring in International Economics and Trade. His primary research interesting fields include: financial economics, energy and environmental economics. In his undergraduate thesis, he studied about the impact of international trade on China’s environment with STIRPAT model. Besides, he is also a member of UT Red Cross and willing to do volunteer jobs after class. 
Yefan Zhou
Economics Yefan is an Econ major with a focus in Economics of education and Industrial Organization, and minors in Accounting. He is a research assistant in Government Department, studying native American’s financial status. Yefan also works as a mentor in Econ Department. In 2014, Yefan spent the summer interning with Bank of Communications, China, as a financial analysis assistant. |