Patrons of designer Diane von Furstenberg’s New York City flagship store have access to the first-floor retail space, where all her signature brightly patterned wrap dresses are displayed. However, the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors of the Washington Street structure house a completely different operation—the production studios and staff offices that drive the brand’s success. Kyra Nielsen ’27 spent her summer on those upper floors, gaining valuable insights into the fashion industry and potentially making her mark in the future.
Nielsen’s passion for fashion was ignited by her grandmother, May Kwok, who left her a chest of vintage 1960s pieces from Hong Kong in her will.
“Being able to share all of her clothes and beautiful pieces with the city, show them to a fashion studio, and share them with my friends is simply amazing,” Nielsen expressed her excitement.
At Wesleyan, Nielsen’s interest in fashion evolved into a serious consideration. Initially, she had considered it a hobby but believed she would pursue a career in finance due to her triple major in IDEAS, art studio, and economics. However, a product design class with Assistant Professor of Design and Engineering Studies Yu Nong Khew changed her mind.
“Upon joining Wesleyan, I came to understand the tangible nature of design,” said Nielsen, who is still exploring a career in finance. “I delved deeper into this field, participating in the IDEAS program’s design spaces and learning from Yu Nong Khew through product design courses. This exposure solidified my belief that fashion could be a more practical path for me.”
Nielsen envisions herself as the person behind the runway curtain, ensuring the smooth execution of fashion shows. As an intern, she serves as the utility infielder of the operation, appearing wherever needed on a moment’s notice. Her duties include setting up clothing racks for models during shoots, assisting with casting and re-styling mannequins in the retail space for visits from major magazines. Throughout her internship, she actively makes connections that could potentially lead to meaningful opportunities beyond Wesleyan.
Madison Macalintal, a sophomore at Wesleyan University, rarely has downtime during her social media internship at Warner Brothers Television Group. Her days are filled with various tasks, including capturing social media content, researching and curating engaging show clips, and even constructing sets for podcast recordings. Recently, she spent a day on the set of The Pitt, a modern-day hospital drama set in Pittsburgh, to record the cast’s reactions to the release of this year’s Emmy Award nominations.
Macalintal explained that they are currently building a podcast studio and assisting with a YouTube studio. As part of this role, they may construct shelves or change the backgrounds for certain videos. However, the most exciting aspect is that they will be able to attend some of the shoots and interact with the talent, which she finds incredibly exciting.
Macalintal’s journey began with a workshop organized by Wesleyan through the T. Howard Foundation, an organization that connects students of color to media positions. Additionally, she received a summer grant from the Gordon Career Center to cover her housing costs during her summer internship in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on her experience, Macalintal expressed gratitude for the information session provided by Wesleyan. It played a crucial role in connecting her with the right community and individuals who ultimately led her to this internship, providing her with a valuable opportunity to gain experience in the media industry.
Isaac Moss ’25, one of 11 students whose internships were funded through the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism, is currently working as a talk show production intern on WNPR’s talk shows this summer. Moss, who graduated with a degree in physics and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies this past spring, spent his days booking and producing programs such as “The Colin McEnroe Show,” a popular show on state culture, and “Where We Live,” a local interest show. He has also produced shows on the future of farming in Connecticut, after working at Long Lane Farm at Wesleyan, and on professional sports mascots this summer.
“Having the opportunity to help curate those voices and write about topics that ignite my passion, and I hope will ignite the passion of others, has been incredibly fulfilling so far,” Moss expressed.
While Moss, a Maryland native, chose to stay in Connecticut for the summer, Noah Lim ’27 of Lexington, Massachusetts, embarked on an exciting journey to Hawaii, where his parents grew up. There, he interned at Makai Ocean Engineering, a company that specializes in underwater technology. During his internship, Lim immersed himself in designing parts and conducting fiber optic work.
“The actual experience of working in an engineering company has been truly eye-opening,” Lim reflected. “I was amazed by the precision required for real-world problems and the meticulous steps involved in creating a fully functional design. It was a revelation that I had never encountered before.”
Maze Labowitz ’26, a computer science major, is currently interning in the game development division of Fundamental Research Labs on the West Coast. During their summer internship, Labowitz worked on various games, but their most significant contribution was to the company’s games on the Roblox platform. They developed a feature within the company’s Roblox game AI Friend Zone, which enables players to form friendships with AI characters through different activities. Labowitz created a checkers mini-game with the AI character, which the company hopes will serve as a model for developing skills in other types of games.
Labowitz expressed their learning experience, stating, “I’m gaining valuable insights into how teams approach diverse design challenges, as well as the technical architecture and organizational structure of games.”
Vansh Kapoor ’26, an art history and art studio double-major, is currently researching and delivering gallery talks during his internship at The Frick Collection in Manhattan. The Frick Collection is a museum located at the Fifth Avenue home of former steel magnate Henry Clay Frick. Kapoor, an education intern, focuses on giving talks about Rembrandt’s self-portrait from 1658.
Kapoor described the painting, noting that Rembrandt is depicted in velvet and fur, holding a scepter-like stick with his eyes lost in shadow. Kapoor explained that the entire painting feels performative, as if Rembrandt is imagining himself in a higher social class. Kapoor revealed that Frick, who owned the painting, shared a similar sentiment. When his dealer presented him with the painting, Frick remarked, “It will dominate the room, just as you dominate everyone you meet.” Kapoor further explained that Frick’s decision to hang the painting was deliberate, as it was installed on newly reinstalled silk brocade wallpaper manufactured by a small business in Lyon, France, which also supplies Buckingham Palace.
Emerson Jenisch, a senior at Emerson College, is interning in the Community Engagement Department at Jacob’s Pillow, an annual international dance festival, for the upcoming 2025 festival season. During her internship, she has participated in movement workshops with children and community dance classes. Jenisch expressed her admiration for the Community Engagement Department at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, highlighting its unique opportunity to foster connections, promote collective movement, encourage active listening, and facilitate spontaneous conversations.