Principal's Summer Student Internship Program

Sabrina Bernard (she/her) is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student with a major in English Literature. She possesses a diverse background in public speaking, media, and student leadership. As a respected conference speaker, Sabrina has addressed audiences alongside Queen's Alumni, shedding light on Canada's hidden narratives at the event "Beyond the Headlines." She has also contributed as a writer for Her Campus Media, focusing on Canadian perspectives to promote understanding and representation within the media landscape. Additionally, Sabrina has played pivotal roles in her faculty's orientation programs and department student council, fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Her work reflects her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion.

Jonathan Bueckert (he/him) is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts Honours student. He is majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, with a specialization in Politics. He is committed to making education more inclusive, as reflected in his position as the Co-Director of the Perspectives on Gender, Equity, and Politics Journal - a journal that allows for both informal/artistic pieces of work and more formal/traditional pieces. He also is a Social Media Intern at the Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP), where he works on increasing student engagement and making the produced content accessible to all viewers (e.g. adding subtitles on YouTube videos). At the CIDP he also works as a Research Assistant for three research projects, with specific focus on knowledge mobilization - a position that allows him to make difficult concepts digestible for public consumption.

In his personal time, he enjoys writing poetry, discovering new musical artists, thrifting, and hiking - his favourite spot being the Point Pelee National Park.

Karina Haverluck (she/her), a second-year nursing student at Queen's University, possesses extensive experience in student leadership and healthcare. She has adeptly championed initiatives aimed at cultivating inclusive and supportive environments within the school community, with a specific focus on raising awareness about mental health and addressing microaggressions. Karina's unwavering dedication to advocating for the health and wellness of everyone resonates deeply with Queen's University's values of excellence and community engagement. Her determination and visionary leadership position her as a catalyst for driving positive change within the nursing field, while also serving as a valuable member of the Principal's Summer Student Internship Program.

Xen Blackwood (they/he) is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce honours student. They are committed to creating a space where QTBIPOC folk have a voice to be heard on campus. They have helped build a group with the Yellow House centred on reporting QTBIPOC students' issues on Queen's campus. Furthermore, he has been engaged in orientation week and showed dedication to ensuring the class of COMM '26 can integrate into their new lives at Queen's. As a member of the Smith Black Business Association, they are dedicated to creating a space for black students at Queen's to explore careers in business. 

Their other interests include helping local communities, creating art, creating short stories, and learning coding languages like Python. 

Mairin McCabe (she/her) is a fourth year Applied Science student in the Computer Engineering program.  

Nivitha Muralitharan (she/her) is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts honours student. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Employment Relations.

Bio pending.

Leo Yang, Arts Sci '25 is an exceptionally driven and motivated student leader, who has enthusiastically engaged in a myriad of responsibilities within an extensive array of university offices and student organizations across the campus. These organizations encompass not only influential bodies like the student government (AMS and ASUS) and Smith Business School, but also prestigious clubs such as Queen’s International Affairs Association, TEDx, Pre-Law Society, and more. Within these dynamic settings, Leo's notable contributions have predominantly revolved around the realms of primarily Marketing & Communication portfolios.

Moreover, Leo's unwavering commitment has extended to encompass ten executive teams of various student organizations. Through these invaluable experiences, he has cultivated an expansive network, which he now aspires to leverage as a pivotal bridge for and between divergent parties. By effectively connecting and fostering collaboration among different stakeholders, Leo seeks to ignite the creation of engaging initiatives and foster optimal communication practices, all aimed at nurturing and enriching the vibrant Queen's Community and revive declining student engagement.

In addition to his multifaceted involvement in university offices and student organizations, Leo holds a pivotal role in the University Senate as the sole two-year student senator representing the expansive and diverse Art and Science student community, encompassing over 13,000 students. Within this position, Leo wholeheartedly dedicates himself to advocating for the interests and concerns of his fellow students, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.

Furthermore, Leo's commitment to student representation extends to his recent election as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Student Caucus. This prestigious role positions him as a prominent advocate and leader within the broader Senate community. In this capacity, Leo tirelessly strives to champion the rights and aspirations of students, actively working towards the betterment of their academic experiences and overall well-being. With his unyielding dedication and effective communication skills, Leo serves as an influential force in shaping policies and initiatives that positively impact the lives of students at Queen's University.

bio pending

Brian Seo is an experienced student leader with a background in student activism, administration, strategy and advocacy. He is graduating from Queen's University with a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Economics in the winter of 2023. Read Brian's testimonial below: 

Having come from an extensive background in student government, I was extremely eager to learn more about the inner workings of the university and understand the role students play in the operations of the university.  This position has been an extremely enriching experience, being slotted into departments I did not know existed that were in fact essential in the day-to-day operations of the university. I was able to contribute to a variety of interdisciplinary institutional projects around campus, all aimed at improving the student experience and campus a more inclusive space for all stakeholders. Having had the chance to talk to various members of the Senior Leadership Team of the university and the opportunity to get a glimpse of the various aspects of the university, I am extremely thankful to have had this opportunity to work for the Office of the Principal under the Principal’s Summer Student Initiative this summer.

Grace Zhang is in her third year (‘24 BHSc) at Queen's completing a program in Health Sciences and the Certificate in Business. 

Read Grace's testimonial below: 

I had such a fantastic time working in the Office of the Principal as an intern and supporting the Senior Leadership Team on various projects. I mainly worked with the Office of the AVP (Teaching and Learning) on various academic initiatives ranging from student experiential learning to cyclical program reviews. Another project I worked on was focused on digital communications and the Principal’s social media presence.

Kesha Ongagna is a third-year undergraduate student, majoring in Philosophy. Read Kesha's testimonial below: 

During the summer, I had the opportunity to work as an intern for the Principal’s Office, providing my skills to benefit multiple on-going projects of the university.  We were given a chance to develop many skills while broadening our knowledge and understanding of the institution’s structure. This program’s environment and dynamic allowed me to learn and take risks which permitted me to discover much of my own strengths. Our team of students was supported by supervisors and team leaders and given the space to grow. I recommend any student take a chance in the upcoming years to apply for this summer internship!

Purity Watiwat (she/her) is a third-year Bachelor of Science student with a major in Chemistry and Health Studies. 

Read her testimonial below: 

In the summer of 2022, I was one of the Principal’s Summers Student Initiatives Interns where I assisted on various projects. The three projects I worked on involved accessibility, public safety, and employee engagement. While assisting on these projects, I was able to build and further develop new hard and soft skills as I needed to learn new software, applications, and tools, but also, needed to further improve my communication, organization, and collaboration skills. In addition, the program taught me the inner workings of a university which I would have never gotten to do in any other setting. My role cultivated a new way of looking at the world around me as I now incorporate principles of universal design to ensure that my work is accessible to a wide range of audiences. This program also gave me the opportunity to present a student’s voice and opinion so that there is no disconnect between faculty, staff, and students. 

Solyana Gedlu

Dennis Liao

Pourousha Marandi

Camila Mercado

Robert O’Connor

Amaiya Walters