Learn about two of our Community Building interns, Emily & Megan!
At the end of January, four interns joined our Community Building team for the spring semester. We sat with them to learn more about where they’re from, what they like to do in their free time, and what their dream job looks like. Today we’ll hear from two of the interns, Emily Lang and Megan Andera.
Emily is currently a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Iowa (and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do). Her dream job includes good people, good culture, and waking up after 8 AM.
Megan is in her last year of undergrad at Mount Mercy University. She’ll graduate with a degree in social work and will head to the University of Northern Iowa to start her MSW this summer. Who inspires her? Her grandma, who she described as a “strong, stubborn woman who never gives up and always knows the right thing to say in any moment.”
Take some time to learn more about Emily and Megan.
Tell us about where you’re from, where you grew up, etc.
Emily: My family built (mother designed blueprints and father constructed) our houses, so we moved around a lot when I was younger but always stayed in Iowa, but the majority of my childhood was spent outside in the woods around our homes.
Megan: I grew up on my family’s farm in NE Iowa. Many of my childhood days were spent riding alongside my dad in the tractor or getting into trouble with my brother. One of the best parts was how close we lived to family—I got to see all of my grandparents almost every day.
What’s your all-time favorite movie or what show(s) are you currently watching?
Emily: Titanic.
Megan: My favorite movie is Age of Adeline and I am currently re-watching House.
Why did you want to work for United Way?
Emily: I wanted to engage in policy work, grant writing, and research while working in my practicum. United Way is a unique place to have access to these initiatives in addition to communicating with donors and direct-service agencies that we serve.
Megan: United Way offers a unique learning experience where I’m able to see all levels of practice. We have the ability to influence change in the community and I think this is valuable to learn and experience as a student.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far?
Emily: The access to projects across the board I’m interested in, as well as the employee availability and open-door policy to discuss ideas and current concepts happening in the field.
Megan: It’s a fast-paced environment, but it’s super relaxed and team-focused which has been fun to experience.
