Students have spent the summer working in local civic-based nonprofits
August 2026 – Three Drew University students secured internships through Elevate+ following Drew’s spring career fair.
Elevate+ is a nonprofit organization that addresses inequality by connecting underrepresented young adults to internships and professional development programming. After meeting with Elevate+ representatives, Ritha Charles C’28, Nyiera Eliscar C’27, and Sana Godwin C’27 landed positions that have greatly impacted their resumes and their futures.
Charles, a political science and Spanish double major, is interning with GrassRoots, a glass art center in Newark, NJ.
“My internship has made me more confident about my post-Drew plans of becoming an immigration lawyer and foreign language teacher,” said Charles. “Every day I improve my leadership, communication, and networking skills, which are all essential for my future career. I feel like I am getting one step closer to my goals. As a first-generation college student, these opportunities mean a lot to me, and I am very grateful for everything Drew has done to help me succeed.”
Eliscar, a psychology major and teaching minor, is working as a community liaison at GRACE, a nonprofit rooted in helping underserved families in the Summit, NJ, community.
“This experience is helping me understand what it means to work in a professional environment,” said Eliscar. “The transition from college to post-grad life can be daunting, but with this internship, it feels like I’m getting a head start on interacting with the real world. Drew has taught me what it means to be responsible. I have made many commitments to be a leader on Drew’s campus and this internship has only expanded my realm of responsibility from a campus to an entire community.”
Godwin is a media and communications major interning at the Summit Housing Authority in Summit, NJ. Godwin’s experience has helped her improve in technical aspects of professional life as well as developing problem solving and communication skills. It has even opened up new career considerations.
“As I consider my post-Drew plans, this new experience has made me reconsider what kind of field I want to work in,” said Godwin. “I am now considering a role in administrative work that still ties together my media and communications degree. In addition to my internship, Drew has prepared me for post-college life by making me independent and confident in my ability to utilize the things that I’ve learned and apply it to a job. And through the Center for Career Development, Drew has definitely prepared me for interviews and networking outside of my major.”
