College students everywhere spend their summers building up their resumes. For rising WashU senior Huda Abdesumad, that also meant building community within St. Louis.
Abdesumad, an architecture student at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts with minors in computer science and urban design, is one of eight Pershing Fellows in Nonprofit Leadership. Supported by the Center for Career Engagement in the Division of Student Success, the 10-week paid internship program matches WashU students with local nonprofits to drive impact in the St. Louis region.
This summer, Abdesumad is serving Great Rivers Greenway, the Missouri public agency that builds a network of greenways, trails and parks throughout the St. Louis region. A greenway, or a shared-use path, aims to preserve a strip of nature in the midst of the city, providing accessible routes for recreation and travel.
Abdesumad has worked on multiple projects, including an updated regional planning process which will provide an overview of the work Great Rivers Greenway has accomplished and map out the agency’s goals for the future. She also has gathered research on approved bike and pedestrian paths throughout St. Louis County to help understand potential connections to the greenway network. While some of her work takes place in the office, she frequently gets outside to check out current and planned greenways.
“I’ve found a lot of purpose this summer. Even if the work you’re doing on the day-to-day feels small, it will eventually lead to greater impact in the community,” Abdesumad said.
The placement is a natural fit for Abdesumad, who grew up in nearby Florissant, Mo., where she first discovered her passion for architecture. She hopes to one day work in nonprofit housing for low-income and refugee residents. Abdesumad says the internship with Great Rivers Greenway has allowed her to bridge her local roots with her future aspirations.
“I’ve learned so many valuable lessons here, and I have a clearer vision of how I can proceed on this path in nonprofit work,” Abdesumad said.
How does the program help students prepare for careers?
As a public agency, Great Rivers Greenway works in partnership with the community, prioritizing local feedback and operating with transparency. Abdesumad said one of the most important parts of summer has been the relationships she has developed in the St. Louis community.
“Having relationships with the people you’re serving is important, and being transparent about what you’re doing is what really makes nonprofit work stand out,” Abdesumad said.
Mara Perry, senior project manager for planning at Great Rivers Greenway, said Abdesumad has been an instrumental part of team conversations, gathering research and working with local governments on current planning projects. Great Rivers Greenway has hosted Pershing Fellows for the past three years.
“Great Rivers Greenway is one of many organizations in the region that benefit from a summer Pershing Fellow,” said Perry, who earned graduate degrees from the Brown School and the Sam Fox School. “For those of us in the organizations, we get to showcase how we work with the community and beyond. The students get to see how they can make their mark through work with a nonprofit organization and how that mark impacts the local communities we serve.”
In addition to work experience, Abdesumad also found a community within her Pershing Fellowship cohort. The Fellows visited their peers’ placements and engaged in professional development and networking events, including one memorable program where Abdesumad found herself in conversation with several local CEOs and industry leaders.
“Meeting all these people based in St. Louis who are successful and having the chance to ask them questions and make that network is really important. I’ve been learning a lot,” Abdesumad said.
When Abdesumad applied to WashU four years ago, she was impressed not only by the academic opportunities available to her, but also by the university’s investment in the region. Her time as a Pershing Fellow has only reinforced that early impression.
“WashU has a deep commitment to the community, and they really provide for their students,” Abdesumad said. “I’ve always just been amazed by all the work that comes out of the architecture program and all the opportunities that have come my way just by being a WashU student.”
Career Catalysts is a series about WashU interns, by WashU interns. WashU funds paid internships across the St. Louis region, providing students invaluable job skills while helping local startups, small businesses and nonprofits meet their mission.
Laurel Wang is a news intern in University Marketing & Communications at WashU. This summer, she wrote articles highlighting outstanding leaders at WashU, spoke with experts on how making doctor’s appointments is a sign of independence, and profiled undergraduates making an impact across St. Louis. She is a rising senior majoring in economics and an editor at Student Life newspaper.
