Iona College Students Covet Prestigious Lipper Internship at the Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

Contributing Writers: Valerie Morris, ’13 and Andrea Santini, ’13 MarCom student interns

New Rochelle, NY (January 4, 2013) The Lipper Internship at the Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is a prestigious educational opportunity for college students of all backgrounds and academic majors.  Two Iona College students garnered internships in 2012 and 2013 spring semesters.

Senior Ashley Scully, ’13 who is majoring in international studies, was the first Iona College student to receive this impressive internship in the spring of 2012.

After an intensive nine-day training program, Ashley and a partner were able to teach middle school and high school students about the Holocaust.  Ashley stated, “My most valuable experience was meeting a Holocaust survivor and a Rwandan survivor. Not a lot of people can say they’ve met a Holocaust survivor.”  She also appreciates the Museum’s efforts to connect the Holocaust with current events such as the Rwandan genocide. The Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust provides interns with a generous stipend as well as reimbursement for travel expenses.   

In March, Ashley will engage in another service-learning experience when she participates in the study abroad Religious Studies Department course in Poland.   She is ready to visit Auschwitz and learn more about the Jewish culture and Holocaust history.  Ashley’s future aspirations include working at the Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.

Ashley recommended her positive experience to her classmate Caitlyn O’Toole and directed her to Dr. Procario-Foley who assisted Caitlyn in the application process.  Caitlyn, a junior from Rochester, NY is majoring in English and political science. This will be Caitlyn’s first internship and she looks forward to this unique experience and being able to share it with others. “I am thankful to Dr. Procario-Foley for her guidance and confidence in me to represent Iona by attending this prominent internship,” said Caitlyn.

Elena Procario-Foley, Ph.D., chair of Iona College Religious Studies department said, “The Lipper Internship for college students at The Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is a very prestigious and competitive internship to win.  Having worked on different projects with the Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust since the late 90s, I was thrilled to be able to mentor, both, Ashley Scully, ’13 and Caitlyn O'Toole, ’14 through the application process.  Both Ashley and Caitlyn are superior students.  I knew that the Lipper experience would enrich their education immeasurably.  The interns become trained in a curriculum titled "Meeting Hate with Humanity."  Ashley and Caitlyn are equally eager learners and eager natural teachers.  I was confident that after training they would make tremendous contributions to the education of middle and high school students as they went out in the field preparing classes for their visits to the Museum as well as guiding groups through the Museum.  The relationship between Iona College and the Museum is very strong.  I look forward to more Iona students applying and winning the Lipper.  Iona College places a high value on both internship experiences and on using New York City itself as a classroom.  The Lipper Internship offers students a chance to work and to learn in one of the most important areas of Manhattan - Battery Park.  Since the study of the Holocaust is a multi-disciplinary effort, students of any major are encouraged to apply.”

Founded in 1940, Iona College is a four-year private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs.

For questions or more information please contact:
Dawn Insanalli
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
Office: (914) 637-2726
Fax: (914) 637-2711
dinsanalli@iona.edu