Intern Updates
Past Institute interns share updates about where they are now
Each semester, the Institute welcomes several interns into our teams. Our interns go on to accomplish a range of amazing things in their careers. We are proud to be a part of their career journeys. We invite you to read on and meet some of our past immigration interns at the International Institute of Minnesota!
When interning at the International Institute of Minnesota, you’ll support immigrant and refugee communities while gaining hands-on work experience with an esteemed non-profit. We value our interns as a vital part of supporting New Americans through resettlement, immigration processes and citizenship.
“As a senior at Macalester College majoring in Political Science and Environmental Studies, I am currently preparing for law school while dedicating time to LSAT study and application submissions. In addition to my academic pursuits, I am continuing my role as a Volunteer Attorney Program Assistant at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services for the second year.
My internship experience was profoundly rewarding. At the institute, I had the invaluable opportunity to observe the citizenship process firsthand and actively support individuals striving to improve their lives—an experience that deeply resonates with me, given my family’s own journey through this process. Through this role, I honed essential skills in communication, attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex information with precision—skills that have proven vital across all my internships and professional experiences.
Working with Corleen was particularly inspiring; her positivity and uplifting presence made even the most challenging tasks feel manageable. Her unwavering support and warm demeanor provided a comforting and encouraging environment, which greatly enhanced my experience and growth during the internship.”
─ Alexis Prathammanon, 2023 intern
“My time at IIMN impacted me greatly and helped set me on a path toward my current work as a public interest attorney. While assisting individuals with their citizenship applications, I learned so much about our immigration system – the good and the bad – met many wonderful clients, and developed an interest in direct services and the legal field. In the years since, I have served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, attended law school and now work at Manhattan Legal Services in New York City, where I represent low-income tenants in eviction proceedings.”
─ August Leinbach, 2014 intern
“I work remotely from Minnesota as a Sr. Director, Sales and Customer Operations at AlertMedia, which is a small software company based out of Texas. My favorite part of my career so far has been working on acquisition integrations, especially with teams in Latin America and Turkey. I still love to connect with people from different cultures and walks of life. I look back at my summer at the International Institute fondly, as it gave me insight into the lives of our neighbors. Thank you for your continued work in our community.”
─ Jen Rolfes, Summer 2012 intern