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ASCENDtials
Internship
and
Fellowship
Programs

Internship program

At ASCENDtials, our Internship Program welcomes students from all majors who want to expand their knowledge and gain meaningful, hands‑on experience. Our work reconnects students with the natural world, encouraging self‑awareness and a deeper understanding of our relationship with the environment. As our world becomes increasingly technology‑driven, maintaining balance with nature is essential for our well‑being—mind, body, and spirit.

If you’re ready to explore a holistic, nature‑centered approach to learning, we invite you to begin your internship journey with us.

Step 1 — Review Internship Tracks

Explore our available internship pathways to understand roles, expectations, and the skills you’ll develop. Each track supports our mission in environmental justice, community education, and organizational development.

Step 2 — Submit the Interview Interest Form

Complete the online form so we can learn about your background, interests, and availability. This step places you into our review queue.

Step 3 — Await Initial Review

Our team reviews submissions weekly. Eligible applicants attend interviews to discuss the role and alignment.

Step 4 — Create Your ASCENDtials Dashboard Account

If selected, you’ll receive instructions to create your Dashboard account. Your Dashboard is your central hub for:

• signing your agreement
• accessing onboarding materials
• receiving program updates

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Our ASCEND fellowship program annually selects up to 12 fellows from U.S. and international institutions to explore ancient Kemet’s decolonization through art. Participants engage in healing sessions, Kemetic Yoga, and climate-centered activities, focusing on environmental and human preservation. The program culminates in an exhibition where fellows share their experiences and the impact of their work.

If you are interested in gaining valuable experience in the African Arts as an ASCENDtials Fellow, then please reach out to us at info@ascendtials.org! The Fellowship program follows the school year and will begin accepting applicants for the 2027 program in early 2026. Stay tuned!

iNTERNSHIP PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

hOLISTIC EDUCATION

Our program offers a holistic view of education by connecting you with the elements—Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. This connection deepens your understanding of their role in preserving both the environment and humanity.

pRACTICAL eXPERIENCE

Interns will support research in their chosen field, participate in literacy workshops, and engage in activities that promote sustainable practices.

cOMMUNITY IMPACT

Your work as an intern will help bridge gaps in learning, offering a broader perspective on self-awareness and collective responsibility.

New - Vendor integration for our interns & fellows

As an intern and/or fellow, you have the opportunity to participate in our farmers’ markets!  Navigate towards the Become a Vendor Internship Integration page to learn more about the process of how you can be actively involved in one of our best forms of community.

Current Interns

Calypso Martellini 

Grant Researcher Intern

Khadija Mujahid

Publishing/Editorial Lead Intern

Alex Lee, Sarah Serrano

Graphic Design Interns

Aashwika Gupta

Data & Systems Intern

Nicholas Lennox, Sheng Huang, Drew Biagan, Tasnuva Rawshan, Yuting Li

Business Development Interns

Kaishuai Sun, Kevin Wang

Web Programmer Interns

monthly job fairs

ASCENDtials hosts monthly online Job Fairs, providing a wide range of internship and volunteer opportunities across various industries. Whether you’re interested in copywriting, fundraising, event support, grant writing, UX design, or web programming, there’s a place for you here. These virtual job fairs offer the convenience of participating from anywhere, allowing you to explore roles and connect with potential employers from the comfort of your home. 

Join the team and become one of our interns

available positions for interns

Event Coordinator and Social Media Lead

Poetry and Writing Club Intern

Book Club Intern

Videographer

Program Manager/Team Lead

Fundraising Coordinator

FAQs for interns

  • You are expected to be available Monday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. PST.
  • You can take your lunch and breaks when you need them.
  • Your work will be a combination of online and in-person workshops. If your internship is ten hours per week, then a minimum of 3 hours per month will be in workshops. If you attend in-person workshops, you can attend up 10 hours a month of workshops, and 70 hours of other ongoing programming duties. All hours must be documented weekly through the timekeeping app.
  • I need to request time off?

Notify your supervisor as soon as possible, at least a few days prior to the time you would like to take off. Please avoid notifying your supervisor with only one day’s notice. If this is unavoidable, please secure your own replacement substitute and inform your supervisor of the change

  • I’m having issues with a coworker?

Contact your lead or the Director

  • I don’t know what to do or how to do this type of task?

Contact your lead or the Director

These aren't paid positions. Students are able to receive credit and letters of reference in addition to valuable skills and tools lasting a lifetime.

  • Please do not spend time on social media during work hours.
  • Please refrain from posting about your internship and our organization on social media without prior approval. 
  • We do have events outside of the office.
  • The workshops and other events in San Diego are sanctioned as part of your hours. You are encouraged to attend online sessions if you are unable to attend in person; these still count as part of your required intern hours.  

We allow students to apply based on interest and experience in the role. Each role is different and will specify the requirement. We also require a resume and proof of enrollment. 

At least once a week. On your first day, you will be given a recurring meeting time with your team lead and the hiring manager. 

  • Ask coworkers if they need help on any projects.
  • Read the provided learning materials.
  • Ask your lead for something to do! 
  • Talk to your mentor to ensure you’re understanding the project expectations correctly.
  • Talk to your lead to reevaluate expectations or talk about your workload.
  • Our internship ends in June or after the semester ends (typically six months). 
  • When your internship is over, you will complete an evaluation process with your lead and the hiring manager assigned to you. Your lead will be able to discuss the next steps with you. Once you have completed your internship, you are encouraged to apply for any open positions. 
  • Dont worry. Everyone makes mistakes. Interpret any course corrections as constructive criticism. Your lead may inform you of a mistake, but this is a learning opportunity for you and you should not feel as though you are in trouble.
  • In extreme circumstances, you may have a meeting with the hiring team to discuss your understanding of organizational policies. 

Most interns are expected to work up to 20 hours per week, and according to the course or partner schools stipulations, and be available from 10 am to 2 pm PDT. They can apply directly on our website using the web application. They can schedule a call with us or show up during the job fair hours to meet with our hiring team, all through the website. We require a resume and proof of enrollment.

Internships follow school terms and are three to six months in length, follow a syllabus, have expected outcomes and regular check-ins with mentors, with presentations and learning sessions and deliverables.

Our Alumni

ASCENDtials considers all former employees and volunteers to be Alumni of the organization. We hope to continue building these relationships with community leaders, supporting them with access to our resources, and connecting them with our members and financial supporters.

Join our organization as a contributor, member, or employee. We offer benefits for future events, our newsletter, gifts, and discounts on gear and products. Thank you for your support!

2026

  • Ayden Halvorson
    Editorial/Publishing Intern – San Diego
  • Jocelyn Corona
    Editorial/Publishing Support – Monterey Bay
  • Kristina Montgomery
    Fundraising Intern – Monterey Bay
  • Koby Ngoy
    Program Support Coordination – Monterey Bay
  • Riho Maekawa
    Program Support Coordination Intern – Monterey Bay
  • Chad Goodwin
    Program Support Coordination – San Diego
  • Keri Bissette
    Community Partnership Coordinator – New Orleans
  • Monica Um
    Community Outreach Support – Monterey Bay
  • Josselyn Hernandez
    Copywriter – California
  • Yashvi Patel
    Web Developer Intern – New York
  • Ruhan Pandit
    Web Developer Intern – New York
  • Ananya Almeida
    Data & Systems Intern – New Jersey

2025

  • Carlotta Harold
    Editorial/Publishing Intern – New Orleans
  • Jhalla Edrisi
    Editorial/Publishing Intern – San Antonio
  • Margot Schiller
    Editorial/Publishing Intern
  • Kara Worrells
    Editorial/Publishing Intern
  • Indira Serna
    Copywriter/Editor Intern
  • Stephanie Tran
    Fundraising Intern – California
  • Harsha Sartandel
    Business Development Volunteer -- Atlanta
  • Anais Mardirosian
    Business Development Intern - Los Angeles
  • Dalal Harajli
    Business Development Intern – Michigan
  • Kailar Ahn
    Business Development Intern – New Jersey
  • Ameila Badamjav
    Business Development Intern – San Diego
  • Matthew Ross
    Program Support – California
  • Tina Hall
    Admin/Project Coordinator – California
  • Mikayla Ewing
    Admin/Project Coordinator – California
  • Liam O'Herlihy
    Social Media Volunteer – Los Angeles
  • Ruixi Zhang
    Social Media Volunteer – Boston
  • Linnea Sellers
    Grant Assistant
  • Vera Martinoska
    Executive Editor – Worcester
  • Kennadi Yates
    Copywriter Volunteer – California
  • Brennan Slate
    Web Developer Volunteer – California
  • Adrian Olivas
    Web Developer Volunteer – California
  • Ranya Ghali
    Web Developer Intern – New York
  • Jamie Ip
    UX Designer Volunteer – California
  • Priscilla Diaz
    Web Developer Intern – New York
  • Sam Numan
    Web Developer Volunteer – California
  • Shane Ritter
    Web Developer Volunteer – California
  • Gisselle Cortez
    Graphic Designer – Arizona
  • Esra Turhan
    Graphic Design Volunteer – Washington
  • Luna Su
    Graphic Design Intern – California
  • Shaurya Kapoor
    Graphic Design Volunteer – California
  • Stephen Tobin
    Graphic Design Volunteer – California

2024

  • Hao Luong
    Graphic Designer – San Diego
  • Grace Kim
    Graphic Designer – Seattle
  • Hanyi Wang
    Book Club and Graphic Artist – San Diego
  • Sara Asadiha
    Book Club Intern – Iran
  • Abraham Sanchez
    Graphic Designer Intern
  • Marina Asoskova
    Graphic Designer Lead – Israel
  • Rachel Ramirez
    Graphic Designer Intern – California
  • Adrian Palomino
    Graphic Design Intern – California
  • Amelia Keefer
    Copyeditor Intern – Ohio
  • Anya Kennelly
    Editorial/Publishing Assistant – Santa Barbara
  • Sonia Munoz
    Editorial/Publishing Assistant – Hemet
  • Mia Hounschell
    Editorial/Publishing Assistant – Miami
  • Hannah Stark
    Publishing/Editorial Volunteer – San Diego
  • Teagan Nathe
    Publishing Lead – Seattle
  • Samantha Bates
    Publishing/Editorial Intern
  • Stephanie Perrone
    Editorial/Publishing Agent – Las Vegas
  • Henry Song
    Editorial/Publising Assistant – New Jersey
  • Karen Edmond
    Editor/Copyright Lead – Oregon
  • Emily Davis
    Publishing/Editorial Intern – New York
  • Elena Filscher
    Copyeditor Intern – California
  • Mikaela Moran
    Publishing/Editorial Intern – Union City
  • Naomi Morrison
    Editorial/Publishing Intern Lead – San Diego
  • Nichakarn Kuphirun
    Graphic/UX Designer Intern – San Diego
  • Thomas Wood
    Social Media Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Cindy Lam
    Copy Editor – New York
  • Ye Khaung Htet
    Editorial/Publishing Assistant – Prague
  • Shileola Ambrose
    Climate Cares Volunteer – Shorewood 
  • Diana Keshavarshi
    Fundraising Assistant Intern – San Diego
  • Hejun Ruan
    Fundraising Lead – La Jolla
  • Cynthia Chu
    Business Development Intern – San Diego
  • Rumaisha Chowdhury
    Business Development Intern Lead – Toronto
  • Alexander Aghighi
    Business Development Intern – San Ramon
  • Preranaa Balasubramanian
    Fundraising Intern Lead – Livermore
  • Chinmay Madhusudhan
    Business Development Intern – New Zealand
  • Anthony Suvorov
    Business Development Intern – Monterey Bay
  • Reona Bowles
    Admin/Project Coordinator – San Diego
  • Ashley Arner
    Program Support – San Diego
  • Riya Pujara
    Volunteer Support Coordinator – Texas
  • Jacqueline Gamboa
    Event Support – Oceanside
  • Cledden Obeng-Poku Kwanin
    Volunteer Support Coordinator – Ghana
  • Karthik Sivaswamy
    Legal Support Volunteer Lead – La Jolla
  • Fungai Kahari
    Volunteer Support Coordinator
  • Povrotanak Cheatha
    Admin/Project Intern – Los Angeles
  • Maya West
    Admin/Project Intern – Bridgeport
  • Sneha Yadav
    Program Manager Volunteer – Union City
  • Laura Lin
    Legal Support Intern – Irvine
  • Easton Mahepaul
    Legal Support Intern – Texas
  • Poorvi Pujar
    Admin/Project Coordinator – San Diego
  • Sayantani Guha
    Volunteer Support Lead – San Diego
  • Jinghan Zhang
    Climate Cares Program Assistant
  • Amal Ahmed
    PR Assistant – San Diego
  • Jane Eo
    Market Assistant – San Diego
  • Caifen Smith
    Event Support Coordinator – San Diego
  • Lydia Price
    Garden Support Volunteer – San Diego
  • Michael Umhra
    Grant Researcher/Writer Intern – San Diego
  • Doris Santana
    Admin/Project Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Tyler Fregoso
    Social Media Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Teddy Croasdale
    Programs Assistant – Monterey Bay
  • Allison Evans
    Admin/Project Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Angela Cheng
    Social Media Lead Volunteer – Eastvale
  • Jennifer Chastka
    Copywriter Lead – Denton
  • Wesley Fields
    Videographer Volunteer – Spring Valley
  • Katherine Coster
    Copywriter/Editor Volunteer – Ramsey
  • Jaymes Abeloe
    Copy Editor Volunteer – Springville
  • Daniela Rivera
    Social Media Marketing Lead – Milwaukee
  • Ian McDaniel
    PR Assistant – San Diego
  • Kimberly Linares
    Social Media Copywriter – Los Angeles
  • Lana Oquendo
    Copywriter Intern – Riverside
  • Karina Oquendo
    Copywriter Intern – San Diego
  • Emma Forney
    Copywriter Intern – Texas
  • Casey Herrmann
    Copywriter Volunteer – California
  • Allison Vu
    Advertising Copywriter Intern – California
  • Maritza Tejada
    Advertising Copywriter Volunteer – San Diego
  • Prince Sanchez
    Social Media Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Yen Nguyen
    Grant Researcher/Writer – Washington
  • Melissa Prado
    Grant Researcher/Writer – San Diego
  • Lydia Li
    Researcher Intern – Chicago
  • Elliot Li
    Researcher Intern – Washington
  • Maria Turbi
    Grant Assistant Volunteer – Quebec
  • Sara Saif
    Researcher Intern
  • Sophia Van Ryswyk
    Researcher Intern – Hillsborough
  • Aina Habib
    Researcher Intern – San Diego
  • Syan Maity
    Grant Assistant Intern
  • Reiko Chillakos
    Grant Researcher/Writer Inter – California
  • Andre Mani
    Web Programmer Volunteer – Brazil
  • Mizuho Hasegawa
    UX Designer Volunteer – Michigan
  • Saeko Shinozaki
    UX Designer Volunteer Lead – Vancouver
  • Tatsiana Khurs
    Web Programmer Volunteer – Spokane
  • Marcus Barton
    UX Designer Volunteer – San Diego
  • Suhird Giri
    Web Programmer Intern Lead – Pullman
  • Ankur Singh
    Web Programmer Intern – Madison
  • Sarah Smith
    UX Designer Volunteer – San Diego
  • Sophia Ramirez
    UX Designer Intern – San Diego
  • Sabrina Duroseau
    Web Designer – New Jersey
  • Shriya Rasale
    Web Designer Intern – Georgia
  • Prajwala Shambulingappa
    UX Designer – Indiana
  • Alexander Seretese
    Web Programmer Intern – Seattle
  • Efrata Gebremichael
    Web Programmer Volunteer – Temecula
  • Evan Carey
    Web Design Volunteer – San Diego
  • Taylor Beimel
    Web Design Volunteer – Monterey Bay
  • Tyler Poyer
    Web Programmer Volunteer – Monterey Bay

2023

  • Kashvi Gera
    Poetry & Writing Club Volunteer – New Jersey
  • Mishal George
    Poetry & Writing Club Volunteer – San Francisco
  • Nick Saikley
    Graphic Artist Intern – Orange
  • Jason Taylor
    Garden Lead – Eastlake
  • Robert Neblett
    Program Manager – Houston
  • Symone Farmer
    Project Manager – Seattle
  • Vrattika Bindal
    Project Manager – San Francisco
  • Andrew Baum
    Event Coordinator – New York
  • Allison Pham
    Program Assistant – San Diego
  • Anya Tsirklin
    Volunteer Support Coordinator – San Diego
  • Ananya Karan
    Researcher/Social Media Intern – India
  • Anna Heim
    Copy Editor – Michigan
  • Diamond Tanner
    Social Media Copywriter – Las Vegas
  • Aliyah Young
    Social Media Marketing Lead – San Diego
  • Helena Rowland
    Copy Editor – Michigan
  • Austin Hatch
    Copy Editor Intern – Tampa
  • David Raad
    Copy Editor Intern – Bronx
  • Lizzie Harden
    Social Media Marketing Lead – Brandon
  • Corey Moon
    Student Researcher – New Jersey
  • Joel Chu
    Student Researcher – Singapore
  • Fatima Malik
    Researcher – Pakistan
  • Jackie Shang
    Researcher – Stony Brook
  • Chloe Huang
    Researcher Intern – Tacoma
  • Elise Lyon
    Researcher Intern – Chico

2022

  • Kayla Perry
    Poetry & Writing Club Intern – Raleigh
  • Aaliyah Phommasy
    Graphic Artist Intern – San Diego
  • Molly Percival
    Poetry & Writing Club Volunteer – Santa Barbara
  • Grisha Tamazyan
    Researcher Bio-Life Science – San Diego
  • Rachelle Suissa
    Development and Fund Manager – New York
  • Allison Hjelle
    Fundraising Coordinator – San Diego
  • Namie Yazaki
    Exchange Coordinator – San Diego
  • Sonam Singhal
    Project Coordinator – Arizona
  • Lauren Cazell
    Social Media Marketing Intern – New York
  • Zoe Broussard
    Communications Marketing Strategist – San Jose
  • Micah Adams
    Videographer – San Diego
  • Hosanna Balwani
    Copywriter – India
  • Sofia Joseph
    Copy Editor – St. Louis
  • Tyler Tucker
    Social Media Marketing Intern – New Jersey
  • Fatima Gavrish
    Grant Researcher/Writer – Illinois
  • Brian Gilb
    Writer and Researcher – Los Angeles
  • Wayne Chen
    Student Researcher – Atlanta
  • Kristina Grigoryants
    Researcher – Arizona
  • Tabitha Pennington
    Social Worker/Grant Researcher/Writer – Arizona
  • Wei Yew
    Researcher – Berkeley
  • Alexis Kirkpatrick
    Grant Researcher/Writer – North Carolina
  • Jada Alexander
    Web Developer – Arizona
  • Meghana Moodagopadi
    Web Developer – Rhode Island
  • Daniel Tang
    Web Developer Intern – Cornell
  • Moamel Hashim
    Web Programmer Intern – San Diego
  • Lance Cruzado
    Web Developer Intern – Carson

current fellows

Artist Fellows for 2026-2027

Details coming soon

former fellows

MONET NYREE PANZA

Monet Nyree Panza

Monét Nyree is a multifaceted creator from San Diego, California. She endeavors in graphic  design, photography, collaging, performance art, and muse work. She has experience uplifting youth as an art instructor and is excited to continue doing so with the ascendtials team.

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