IES Abroad’s Partnership with the Posse Foundation

IES Abroad's Access & Strategic Partnerships team just wrapped up hosting their third summer of internship opportunities in partnership with the Posse Foundation, marking another successful chapter in our shared commitment to empowering an inclusive group of student leaders. We're proud to be Posse's only international-education career partner, allowing Posse Scholars to gain global experience and professional development in the field of study abroad.

As part of this exciting partnership, we’re spotlighting our Summer 2025 interns who made a lasting impact on our mission. These talented individuals played key roles in advancing our inclusivity initiatives and ensuring that our programs remain accessible and welcoming to all students. Today, they’re pursuing paths in international education, advocacy, and beyond—continuing to champion the values they helped foster during their time at IES Abroad. 

1. Key Responsibilities: Yara and Paul provided crucial administrative support for the Access & Strategic Partnerships team and the President’s Office. Working cross departmentally, they aided in administrative support, assisted in the planning and development of inclusion-based projects, developed research and data analysis, and provided logistical and operational support on key strategic initiatives and events for prospective students, current students, and alumni.
2. Notable Projects: They met with colleagues across the organization to learn more about IES Abroad and the field of study abroad. They provided thoughtful feedback to the Financial Aid team, learned from the Institutional Research team about how to gather data on our student populations, and used lessons from the Marketing team to update and refresh our team's materials, including a web audit. The summer culminated in them presenting a strategic recruitment plan for the Access & Strategic Partnerships team.
3. Skills Gained: Through editing, writing, and presenting research findings, they strengthened their communication skills and enhanced their public speaking and presentation abilities in team meetings and project reviews. They also gained technical expertise in key administrative support such as data analysis, database management, and logistical coordination.

Be sure to learn more about everything we do to further our mission and foster inclusivity in the field!