News
2026 Nancy Chin Community Impact Internship Award Recipient Announced
The Undergraduate Public Health Program is pleased to announce that third-year Health, Behavior, and Society student Ciara Johnson-Corwin has been awarded the 2026 Nancy Chin Community Impact Internship Award to support her summer internship at Best Buddies International headquarters in Boston.
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During her internship, Ciara will rotate through several program areas, with a particular focus on jobs and transitions, helping individuals secure employment, partnering with businesses, and supporting participants as they navigate the job search process.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Johnson-Corwin shared: “Best Buddies has done so much for the disability community, and I couldn't be more excited to spend my summer working with the Boston office! Being able to rotate through program areas and dive into jobs and transitions, I hope to help create real opportunities for people who have too often been marginalized. This internship will give me a deeper understanding of how a large, established nonprofit drives lasting change, and I know everything I learn this summer will stay with me long after. I'm so grateful to Professor Chin and the University of Rochester for making this incredible opportunity possible!
The internship award was established by Nancy Chin’s former and current students, colleagues, community partners, friends, and family to honor her work as an anthropologist, public health practitioner, educator, and social justice advocate. Reflecting the community-engaged and action-oriented approach that defined her career at the University of Rochester, the award seeks to sustain Chin’s vision of public health as both politically engaged and deeply rooted in community partnerships.
The internship supports students pursuing internships in public health, anthropology, and social justice organizations, with preference given to those serving under-resourced communities. Its purpose is to reduce financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from accepting unpaid or low-paid internships that align with their academic interests, professional goals, and commitment to social change.