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Giving
USF Student Internships Shape Career Paths
At the University of San Francisco, every student is encouraged to put their values into action — to think critically, lead with purpose, and change the world from here.
For many students in the College of Arts and Sciences, that transformation begins with hands-on learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.
Through the Changemakers Initiative, Career Services provides financial support for undergraduate students who complete unpaid internships — offering a limited number of $1,000 taxable stipends to help make these formative experiences possible.
This support opens doors for students who might otherwise face financial barriers to pursuing unpaid opportunities. It ensures that passion and purpose — not financial means — determine access to valuable career development experiences.
This year, psychology majors Ariana Zhao ’25 and Jade Fakuade ’26 were among the Changemakers. As volunteer lab interns at the Teng Lab at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, they gained firsthand experience in vision science research, neurolinguistics, and accessible literacy.
Zhao first discovered the internship through her professor — a moment that connected her past experience as an ophthalmologist’s assistant with a growing interest in vision research.
“Dr. Teng presented in one of my classes, and I was able to learn more about his research in-depth,” she said. “His study on Braille gave me new insight into language literacy. After taking a course on neurodiversity, equity, and ethics, I was motivated to help blind and low vision people.”
In the lab, no two days look alike. Zhao and Fakuade work together to support different stages of the research process — from recruiting participants and collecting data to cleaning EEG recordings for analysis. They designed promotional materials for studies, prepared for conferences, and contributed to ongoing conversations about the lab’s future projects.
For Fakuade, the internship affirmed her long-term goals. “I plan to pursue a career in medicine. Specifically, psychiatry,” she said. “Research has always been a passion of mine. This opportunity to work hands-on in a real research setting not only confirmed but extended my love for research. I now feel significantly more committed to conducting research while simultaneously seeing patients as a psychiatrist.”
Both students emphasized the critical role the Changemakers stipend played in making their experience possible. “As college students living in San Francisco, finances heavily impact our quality of life,” they shared.
The stipend helps reduce our financial burden — covering daily necessities, groceries, and allowing us to add to our savings. This support directly contributes to our future careers as we plan for graduate and medical school.”
These student experiences embody USF’s Jesuit mission of educating minds and hearts to create a more just and humane world. By investing in students’ professional growth and real-world opportunities, programs like the Changemakers Initiative ensure that all Dons, regardless of background, can follow their call to serve, lead, and innovate.
As the program continues to grow, the Changemakers Initiative reflects a powerful truth at the heart of a USF education: when students are supported to pursue their passions, they become agents of change in their communities, their professions, and the world.
Learn more about how you can support student access to life-changing internships through the Changemakers Initiative.
