Part of the Civic Innovation Center (CivIC)’s mission is to get students involved in the civic square. This year, CivIC brought onboard eight paid interns tolearn from top-notch faculty and bring their perspectives to projectson voting, civic education, community engagement and civic-related research. The interns support CivIC's mission of strengthening democratic institutions in an earnest effort to build a resilient, inclusive and cross-identity democracy in Maryland and beyond.
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Mario Santo Domingo
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERN
Mario is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate specializing in Environmental Policy from Catonsville, MD. For his internship, he will be working on Prince George's County’s “We Want” project, a community-focused project on the county's civic health metrics. He will also provide administrative support to the Vote16 Research Network, an initiative that explores the potential outcomes of allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.
On the importance of his work with CivIC, Mario reflected: “Civic engagement is what determines the direction of our country and voting is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans.
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Emily Dimond
ASSOCIATE COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
Emily is a third-year Public Policy major with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership & Social Innovation from Bethesda, MD. In addition to an internship with CivIC, she also started the Dual BA/MPP Degree Program at the School of Public Policy in the fall of 2021.
“I am so grateful and excited to be working with CivIC because civic engagement in one’s community is such a crucial, urgent message to spread to students, and I want to be a part of that mission,” shared Emily
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Krystal Daniel
MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATE INTERN
Krystal is a second-year Master of Public Administration candidate from Upper Marlboro, MD. She primarily works with CivIC to expand membership for the Vote 16 Research Network, a community-led collaboration between campus and community leaders and young voters that pursues new knowledge about lowering the voting age.
On why she wanted to work with the CivIC team, Krystal said: “I believe that civic education and engagement is the catalyst for creating change and empowering community voices.”
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Catelyn Middlebrooks
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE INTERN
Catelyn, a first-year Master of Public Policy student, will be acting as the CivIC liaison with the Maryland Student Voting Network to support civic innovation on campuses across MD and conduct administrative and research work to create a Big10 program on Democracy in the 21st Century.
“I am excited to dive into the Big10 Civic Innovation,” shared Catelyn. “I believe it is so important to collaborate with other universities to spread awareness of Americans’ voting rights.”
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Sydney Neal
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERN
Sydney is a second-year undergraduate policy student minoring in Black Women’s Studies with a concentration in Race and Gender Studies. She will be working alongside Mario to develop and implement the “We Want” project and will serve as a liaison with the Maryland Student Voting Network.
“Civic engagement to me is the strongest and most direct way to center the voices of those who have been marginalized,” Sydney explained. “Transformational justice is rooted in civic engagement, and I could not be more excited to join the CivIC team.”
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Michael Schull
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERN
Michael is a senior public policy major, who will conduct research for the Vote16 Research Network and Big 10 Civic Innovation teams.
“Civic engagement is a critical aspect of participatory democracy,” said Michael. “It is how we ensure that the needs of the people are met.”
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Makenna Wilson
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERN
Makenna is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate specializing in Social Policy from Severna Park, MD. In her role, she will act as the liaison between CivIC’s leadership and interns and conduct research for the Maryland Civic Education Coalition (MDCEC).
“Civic engagement means so much to me because it is a chance to help others discover the power of community action,” shared Makenna. “Civic programs that I encountered growing up shaped me into the civic-minded individual I am today, leading me into a career in public policy with the goal of helping others. My CivIC internship gives me the chance to ensure that Maryland school children are afforded the same opportunities that I was lucky enough to have.”