For many college students, the idea of moving to a new city, starting a demanding internship, and living independently for the first time is as equally thrilling as it is terrifying. That is exactly the territory that the EMU Washington Semester is designed for.
The EMU Washington Semester places students in Washington D.C. for a full semester that blends three things that are not often combined so intentionally: a full-time internship, academic coursework, and community life with a cohort of peers. The result is less of a study-abroad-style detour and more of a trial run at adult professional life with built-in support. Internship placements match each student’s academic background and career interests, rather than being assigned off the shelf.
Summer 2026 EMU Washington Semester students took three interactive classes that took them all over the city—as well as deep within themselves: La Lucha Latina, their internships, and a career exploration course. This cohort was “extremely thoughtful and kind in their approach to their studies, their work, and each other,” according to Associate Director Ann Butwell. “They created quite an impact and left a positive impression on everyone they encountered.”
While the coursework is a crucial half of the program, it is not the full story. The other half is everything else that happens while in D.C.: learning a new metro system, figuring out how to dress for an office where nobody tells you the dress code, and building a professional network without the built-in scaffolding of a campus.
It can be uncomfortable. It’s also, by most accounts, where the real transformation happens. Students who arrive unsure of themselves tend to leave with a sharper sense of who they are and where they’re headed—not because someone told them, but because they had to find out on their own.
None of it happens in isolation. Students in the program live alongside a cohort of peers who are working through the same disorientation—new city, new job, new independence—at the same time. Those shared dinners and post-work debriefs turn into something more durable: a network of people scattered across fields and, eventually, across the country, who remember exactly what it was like to start out together.
This summer’s group is a reminder of just how broad that range can be. Eight students from three different schools completed the program, representing eight fields of study: nursing, engineering, accounting, digital media, political science and history, biochemistry, computer science, and marketing. A future nurse and a future software engineer, sharing a house and comparing notes on their internships, is exactly the kind of unlikely overlap the program is built to create.
By the end of a term in D.C., most students have more than a completed internship to show for it. They have a stronger read on the kind of work they want to do, a set of practical skills that a classroom alone can’t teach, and a group of people who knew them before any of it was certain.
The EMU Washington Semester was never really about one city or one internship. It’s about giving students a running start—and letting them figure out, on their own terms, what they’re capable of.
Read on to learn more about the internship experiences of our Summer 2026 students.
Barry Muluneh, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is an engineering major. This summer, Barry was an intern at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital working with their clinical engineering department. Some of Barry’s main duties at his internship were shadowing clinical technicians, inspecting equipment, and maintaining and fixing critical hospital devices. During his time in D.C., Barry’s main focus was on developing strong professional connections and building the practical skills needed to become a great engineer. Instead of strictly relying on classroom theories, Barry learned to adapt through hands-on troubleshooting and navigating informal workplace interactions. One of the biggest highlights of Barry’s time in D.C. was the dedicated mentorship from his supervisors, through which he enjoyed learning complex engineering processes, and he has truly cherished bonding over house meals and watching the awe-inspiring July Fourth fireworks on the National Mall.
Senper Teferi, from Goshen, Indiana, is a nursing major. This summer, Senper was an intern at MedStar Washington Hospital Center working with their patient experience department. Some of Senper’s main duties at her internship were serving as an emergency department liaison, conducting patient comfort rounds, restocking unit supplies, and supporting nursing staff with non-clinical duties. During her time in D.C., Senper’s main focus was on becoming comfortable in emergency healthcare environments while learning to thrive in a new city. Instead of staying isolated in a massive hospital setting, Senper learned the value of seeking out positive working relationships with supportive colleagues. One of the biggest highlights of Senper’s time at the EMU Washington Semester was making meaningful connections with diverse patient populations, through which she enjoyed applying her nursing coursework, and she has loved immersing herself in the city by visiting museums, attending an Ethiopian church, and going salsa dancing.
Kai Johnson, from Gainesville, Virginia, is a marketing major. This summer, Kai was an intern at DC SCORES working with their marketing and youth programs department. Some of Kai’s main duties at his internship were helping run daily soccer camps and creating digital promotional graphics on Canva. During his time in D.C., Kai’s main focus was on gaining new perspectives for his future career and building lasting professional connections. Instead of a rigid corporate environment, Kai learned that professional settings can still be fun, lighthearted, and playful. One of the biggest highlights of Kai’s internship has been spending direct time with the kids at soccer camp, through which he enjoys making them happy, and he has thoroughly enjoyed biking everywhere around D.C. as a fun way to stay active.
Donovan Arnason, from Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a digital media, photography, and design major. This summer, Donovan was an intern at Washington Digital Media working with their video production and instruction department. Some of Donovan’s main duties at his internship were editing full graduation ceremonies and podcast episodes, managing production gear, and teaching digital media skills to youth in the Summer Youth Employment Program. During his time in D.C., Donovan’s main focus was on gaining the insights needed to run a digital media business while enhancing his technical skill set. Instead of stressing about not knowing enough, Donovan learned that his campus training fully prepared him for industry demands. One of the biggest highlights of Donovan’s time in D.C. was earning real industry credits as an actor and location manager, through which he enjoyed mastering full production workflows, and he has really valued expanding his culinary horizons by learning to cook brand-new recipes during shared house dinners.
Treshawn Oliver, from Burkeville, Virginia, is an accounting major. This summer, Treshawn was an intern at Latin American Youth Center working with their finance department. Some of Treshawn’s main duties at his internship were processing accounts payable, depositing checks, managing invoices, entering journal entries, and tracking cash position charts. During his time in D.C., Treshawn’s main focus was on gaining hands-on guidance for his future career and discovering more about himself. Instead of being micromanaged, Treshawn learned to take full ownership of his daily schedule and build time-management skills across city transit. One of the biggest highlights of Treshawn’s internship was working closely alongside experienced financial professionals who have walked his path, through which he enjoys gaining real-world industry knowledge, and he has had a blast exploring the capital and bonding with housemates on their retreat to West Virginia.
Quinn Larsen, from La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a biochemistry major with a minor in Spanish. This summer, Quinn was a summer fellow at Interfaith Power and Light DMV working with its climate advocacy and community outreach department. Some of Quinn’s main duties at their internship included writing fact sheets on AI data centers, lobbying congressional offices, teaching creation care at youth camps, and translating appliance resources from English to Spanish. During their time in D.C., Quinn’s main focus was on exploring big city life, building life skills in community living, and understanding Latino immigrant experiences. Instead of fearing complex advocacy work, Quinn learned to embrace clear communication and adapt quickly to shifting daily agendas. One of the biggest highlights of Quinn’s internship was leading a congressional lobbying meeting with the Jewish Earth Alliance, through which they enjoyed advocating for environmental policies, and they had an incredible time going on a late-night, stay-up-all-night road trip to New York City with housemates.
Chloe Knight, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a history and social science major with minors in pre-law and political science. This summer, Chloe was an intern at College Park Aviation Museum working with their curations and archives department. Some of Chloe’s main duties at her internship were cataloging, digitizing, and archiving historic aircraft parts, documents, and photographs, maintaining aircraft and exhibits, and conducting research on historic figures at College Park Airport. During her time in D.C., Chloe’s main focus was on finding motivation for her career path and embracing the monumental opportunities of city life. Instead of being overwhelmed, Chloe learned to appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and empowering professional setting. One of the biggest highlights of Chloe’s time at the Washington Semester was working directly with vintage airplanes, radios, and aircraft parts, through which she enjoyed applying her history passion, and she loved the freedom of riding the Metro to effortlessly explore every corner of the city.
Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should go here for more information or to apply today! Be sure to also check out the EMU Washington Semester Instagram account to see what our students are up to.
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