Originally Published as AAP Student Spotlight Posters Spring 2026
Melaina Thompson ’26, Fine Arts, Artists Image Resource Inc. Student Assistant
This past summer, I worked as a studio assistant at a community print shop called Artists Image Resource Inc. AIR focuses primarily on screenprinting, and helps complete beginners to professional artists make screens, print, and develop images. Being a studio assistant at AIR helped me to see what a day-in-the-life at a printmaking studio looks like. I really enjoyed being surrounded by the local artists coming in and out of the studio who were preparing for upcoming exhibitions. I saw how important it is that communities have a resource to make art, outside of the college setting because it gives
people a space to get to know each other, grow as artists, and produce work for local galleries. I was lucky enough to be a part of a great team of studio assistants and I learned so much from working with them. The four of us came from different colleges, with different levels of experience in printmaking. I benefited from seeing their approach to different techniques, especially while we worked collaboratively to produce a series of protest posters as a part of the
studio’s body of work.
“Now that I have experience working at a
very large cultural institution and a small
non-profit is that employers with different
levels of resources will teach you very
different things! There are pros and cons to
both kinds of arts organizations and I’m
grateful that I experienced both of these
environments as an intern in college.”
Lauren Noll ’27, Urban & Regional Studies, Schuylkill County Planning and Zoning Department Intern
Helping neighboring areas around me to implement municipal policies is one of my driving motivations in life. This summer, I had the chance to have that motivation turn into an internship at the Schuylkill County Planning and Zoning department. Here, I was able to interview municipal officials, collect data through research methods emphasized here at Cornell, and write a report to county stakeholders as to what can be improved to help implementation of current hazards, such as blight and flooding, through various approaches. In this internship, I strengthened my skills related to
gathering data, writing an insightful report, and working as a team with four other interns to give methods to fix hazards block by block.
“Looking back on my summer, my
advice to fellow students is to seek
out their passions in internships. It
is a great way to gain valuable
experience, and for me, is so much
more than lines on a resume.”
Kanika Bhagat ’26, Architecture, Cannon Design Architecture Intern
During my summer internship at CannonDesign, I gained firsthand insight into how a large, multidisciplinary AEC firm operates in practice. Team meetings often brought together professionals from different departments and global offices, reinforcing the importance of coordination, communication, and collective problem-solving in contemporary practice.While architectural education often emphasizes conceptual and design-driven work, this experience strengthened my technical foundation. I developed new skills in software and documentation, learned how to draw and coordinate construction details, and participated in site visits and user group meetings that revealed how healthcare architecture responds directly to operational needs and user experience. This interdisciplinary approach was further reflected in the intern design project, where interns from multiple disciplines collaborated on a shared proposal, mirroring real-world practice. Overall, the
experience strengthened my ability to communicate across diverse disciplines and backgrounds, while also developing my leadership skills through leading the intern design project.
“Working within a collaborative
office environment, I learned how
architecture interfaces with
structural engineering, interior
design, lighting, sustainability, and
healthcare planning, all
contributing to a shared design
vision.”
Mandira Pai ’26, City & Regional Planning, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
Keithley Fellow, Neighborhood Investment Planner
Spending the summer in Cleveland through the Keithley Fellowship was both energizing and eye-opening. At CNP, I worked on the Shaker Square Housing Plan, where I explored how vacant and underused parcels could be transformed into new housing. I conducted zoning analysis, created 3D design studies, modeled financial feasibility, and developed architectural renderings to test real-world possibilities. I also engaged in stakeholder meetings with the local CDCs and the city, learning how governance, policy, design, and lived experience must come together to create change. I am grateful to the Keithley Foundation for the opportunity to experience Cleveland. Living and working there instilled a deep appreciation for the city, its people, and the work being done there.
“My advice to my peers is to really
dive into the community context,
and never underestimate the value
of listening closely to local voices,
they often hold the insights that
data alone cannot reveal.”
