When the last final was turned in and campus grew quiet last May, a different kind of learning began. Scattered across cities and countries, Pomona students found themselves in environments as varied as research labs, nonprofit offices and creative studios. They weren’t just doing tasks—they were solving problems, making connections and discovering what sparks their passion through summer internships, made possible through the Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP).
The Career Development Office oversees the internship program which provides funding, resources and mentorship for students to pursue low-paid or unpaid internships. This summer, nearly 100 students benefited from the program.
Maggie Avey ’27
Maggie Avey ’27 returned to her home state of Idaho to get an understanding of state politics as a legislative intern for State Representative Chris Mathias. Originally from the Boise area, she found her way to this internship through her passion for civic engagement. In high school, she was involved in voter advocacy work, which led her to attend a House Judicial Committee meeting where she first heard Rep. Mathias speak.
“He was amazing,” she says. “So last summer, I just reached out to him via email. He didn’t have an internship posting or anything. We grabbed coffee, and I told him, ‘I need to be your intern.’ It worked out. I was his first intern ever.”
Avey studies public policy analysis with a concentration in economics, and the work has been a natural extension of her academic focus.
“It’s been very eye opening to see all the research that goes into preparing legislation and all the stakeholders you talk to,” she says. “I’ve found an appreciation for state and local politics because it’s very impactful. Local and state governments can be way more responsive to people’s needs, and you also see more collaboration across party lines.”
A meaningful part of the experience for Avey was contributing to legislation that directly affects her home state.
“When I’m helping draft a resolution or bill, every word matters,” she says. “It’s taught me to think not just about the goal of legislation but also the unintended consequences. When it’s your neighbors, friends and family who will feel the impact, you want to be as thoughtful and purposeful as possible. It feels like a big responsibility but also an incredible opportunity to give back to the community I grew up in.”
Matthew Chang ’27
Matthew Chang ’27, a neuroscience major and music minor from Los Angeles, spent his summer conducting research at Loma Linda University’s Center for Perinatal Biology. Working in Dr. Christopher Wilson’s lab, his main project investigated the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on neuroinflammation resulting from necrotizing enterocolitis in a rat model.
Over the course of the internship, Chang gained hands-on training in advanced laboratory techniques such as immunohistochemistry staining, cryosectioning, microscopy, stereology, and tissue collection from mice. He also participated in weekly journal clubs and lab meetings, where he engaged with current topics in neuroscience and shared updates on his team’s progress.
Chang says the internship gave him a clearer picture of what scientific research looks like, from planning and troubleshooting experiments to analyzing results and staying current with the literature. While he learned many new technical skills, his biggest takeaway was developing a deeper appreciation for the scientific process itself.
“Research is rarely a straight path,” he says, noting how setbacks often became opportunities for problem solving, creative thinking and resilience.
“Instead of just being told the answer, I found myself genuinely excited to figure things out on my own.”
For Chang, the summer experience further strengthened the connection between his studies at Pomona and his future goals. As an aspiring physician-scientist, he found it deeply rewarding to see how laboratory discoveries can shape approaches to real-world health challenges.
“This experience showed me how research at the bench can eventually inform what happens at the bedside,” he says. “It reinforced my interest in both medicine and research and made me excited to hopefully be part of that process in the future.”
Grace Zheng ’26
Grace Zheng ’26 spent the summer at the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. A politics and economics double major with a philosophy minor from Hong Kong, Zheng has long been interested in pursuing a legal career. But opportunities for undergraduates in law are rare since most positions are designed for law students which made her placement in the county’s Environmental and Consumer Protection Unit even more significant.
The internship program gave her the chance to work in the office daily while also participating in educational tours that introduced interns to different aspects of law enforcement. She visited the sheriff’s aviation division, the coroner’s office and the fingerprint identification lab. She was also able to join operations targeting illegal marijuana cultivations in the High Desert.
“It’s different seeing it in person versus just looking at photos,” she says.
In the District Attorney’s Office, Zheng’s responsibilities ranged from drafting statements of fact and legal memos to building databases that tracked workplace injury and death cases. She assisted with tolling agreements, conducted outreach to nonprofits about court-mandated community service, and helped with evidence management. She also participated in a mock trial exercise, gaining valuable experience with oral arguments and courtroom preparation.
One of Zheng’s biggest takeaways was seeing what she described as “ethical prosecution.” She learned that the role of a prosecutor isn’t simply about pursuing the harshest outcomes but about deciding when not to prosecute and ensuring fairness for both victims and defendants.
“It’s not always about seeking the highest sentence,” she says. “It’s about balancing justice.”
Zheng credits PCIP with making the opportunity possible.
“As an international student, I don’t have family here, and public interest offices don’t have the budget to pay interns,” she says. “Without PCIP, I wouldn’t have been able to afford rent, food or transportation for the summer. It was very practical support, but it made all the difference.”
On Thursday, September 25, from 4-6 p.m., students who participated in Pomona College-funded summer research and internships will share their experiences at the Intensive Summer Experience Symposium.