Eleven summer interns worked with research teams of faculty, postdocs, and graduate students on the transdisciplinary SOCKS research program. Read more about this year's interns below!

Team: Indigenous Voices in Global Environmental Governance
Mentor(s): Kemi Fuentes-George

My name is Diego Barea Ramirez. I am currently 23 y/o and I am from San Germán, Puerto Rico. I am currently majoring in History, with aspirations to study Anthropology in graduate school. I love sports (basketball, football and others) and currently play pickleball for fun. I have 3 pets (2 cats and 1 dog), but I also like a lot of animals.
 

Team: Indigenous Voices in Global Environmental governance
Mentor(s): Kemi Fuentes-George

Kimberly Benson is a Computer Science & Innovation undergraduate student at Champlain College. Originally they lived in Massachusetts, but they moved to Vermont after falling in love with the state. Their focus is on using technology to help push for representation of voices that are underrepresented throughout history.
 

Team: Analysis of Local News Stories and Programs
Mentor(s): Hannah Kirkpatrick and Richard Watts

Hi! I'm Pauline, I go to UVM and I'm majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Art. I'm super passionate about environmental justice, and currently hope to go into the field of environmental journalism/humanities or illustration. I love music and DJ for the UVM radio station, as well as play bass. I love making art and crafts in my free time, as well as baking. I'm from Fitchburg, Massachusetts and I have a cat in Vermont with me named Enya!
 

Team: Health and Conversation Narratives
Mentor(s): Dave Jangraw

I'm an incoming Junior at Northwestern University, majoring in Human Communication Sciences and Global Health. I am hoping to become an audiologist and I have an interest in exploring the how to strengthen health communication resources utilizing AI models.
 

Team: Health and Trauma Narratives
Mentor(s): Matt Price

Sarah Garfield is a rising junior at the University of Florida double majoring in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and English, with a minor in Statistics. Her research interests include the manifestation of violence and the prevention of criminal behaviors through clinical care. This summer, she is working on a project with Dr. Matthew Price on trauma and recovery narratives in health. She plans to pursue a career in Clinical or Forensic Psychology, pursuing a PhD in these fields. In her free time, she loves reading, writing, riding horses, collecting records, and talking about all things 60s/70s.
 

Team: Indigenous Voices in Global Environmental Governance
Mentor(s): Kemi Fuentes-George

Hello! My name is Angela Kakaruk, and I'm a rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society. On campus, I'm actively involved in Indigenous Scholars Organization (ISO), an organization for Pacific Islander/Alaskan Native/American Indian students at Vanderbilt. I also work as a Research Assistant in the Reproductive Politics Lab, where I study what factors play into young adults' views on abortion. In my spare time, you can catch me beading, dancing, playing the piano, or listening to music!
 

Team: Analysis of Local News Stories and Programs
Mentor(s): Hannah Kirkpatrick and Richard Watts

Lauren Knopp is a rising sophomore at the University of Vermont studying Mathematics and Computer Science. Her interests are in data structures, optimization, and operations research. In her free time, she loves to write and do yoga.
 

Team: Analysis of Local News Stories and Programs
Mentor(s): Hannah Kirkpatrick and Richard Watts

Growing up twenty minutes outside of Burlington, Craig Rettew has always had a deep love for Vermont's community and natural majesty. He studied classical vocal performance at the University of Michigan, and is now pursuing a degree in philosophy at the University of Vermont.
 

Team: Indigenous Voices in Global Environmental governance
Mentor(s): Kemi Fuentes-George

I'm a 2nd year at UVM majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Zoology and Law. I grew up internationally and graduated high school on O'ahu, Hawai'i, which I miss a ton and try to go back to at least once a year. When I'm not studying or working, I'm usually doing something outdoors: snowboarding, running, backpacking, bouldering, or consuming obscene amounts of vegetables and petting every dog I run into. I'm super stoked to be a part of SOCKS this year and can't wait to get started :)
 

Team: Data Ethics and Narrative Bias
Mentor(s): Juniper Lovato and Randall Harp

Franklin Udensi is a student from Vanderbilt University pursuing a double major in Computer science and Cognitive studies, with minors in Creative writing and Data science. With a deep-seated fascination for the convergence of artificial intelligence and storytelling, Franklin is eager to explore how AI can be leveraged to create new narrative experiences and enhance human creativity. His research interests are diverse, ranging from developing AI systems capable of producing engaging stories to the ethical implications of AI in content production. Beyond academia, Franklin is an avid storyteller, channeling his imagination into writing.
 

Team: Data Ethics and Narrative Bias
Mentor(s): Juniper Lovato and Randall Harp

My name is Max Wang -- I'm currently a rising junior at Clarkson University studying Computer Science with a humanities minor. I'm on my school's varsity diving team (was a walk-on my Freshman year!), I work as a tutor at my school's writing center, and in my spare time I love to learn new music, solve crosswords, read up on history, and explore the outdoors! I'm overall interested in joining the conversation about how we can reconcile the challenges technology poses to sustaining human rights and civil liberties.