91��ý

Career & Civic Engagement Center

The Black Alumnae/i Fund is administered by the Career & Civic Engagement Center, beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year. This summer, the Fund supported four undergraduate students who identify as part of the African Diaspora in their internships. Click here to view a record of this year's funding distributions. Click on the Summer Internships logo above to read more about students' experiences.*

The Career & Civic Engagement Center is proud to mark five years since the revitalization of the Black Alumnae/i Fund, an important milestone in our shared commitment to fostering pathways for 91��ý students to thrive. This enduring partnership has created an evergreen resource that enables us to support students who identify as part of, or share a cultural heritage with, the African Diaspora. 

Thanks to the generosity of many alumnae/i and friends, we can say “yes” to more students seeking internships that match their identities, interests, and career goals—opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach financially. Along with hands-on learning, internships also open doors to networks, mentorship, and spaces that have historically been less accessible to young professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.  

The Fund is critical to the growth of summer funding at 91��ý. Since 2021 the Beyond 91��ý Internship Program has grown 28%. In summer 2021, 164 students received funding; by summer 2025, that number grew to 210 students.  In addition to the growth of the unique number of students receiving funding, the stipend amounts for each student have also increased. The BAF has mirrored this growth, funding two students in 2021 and funding five students this past summer. Of all interns funded by the BAF in the last five years, half of all interns completed fully funded international internships outside the U.S., typically costing over $10,000.   

The impact of the Fund extends beyond each individual experience. It strengthens the Center’s mission to cultivate reflective, capable, and community-minded leaders. Every fall, we see students return with greater confidence, sharper skills, and refined goals and priorities. They bring these insights back to campus, enriching the wider 91��ý community as demonstrated by these reflections from this past summer. 

“The most rewarding aspect of my internship has been getting to spend my days creating stories that help me better understand myself and that I can share with others. I have really come to appreciate the creative process that digital storytelling requires, and I love getting to experiment with different media and video editing software while engaging in self-reflection every week. This project has taught me about my values, relationships, and self-perceptions, and has made me feel more comfortable sharing them with others. The cherry on top is that this work will also help graduate students embark on this journey of self-understanding, shaping their professional identities.” - 2025 Black Alumnae/i Fund recipient  

“Every Monday our lab hosts a session in which we can communicate and learn about the narratives of each member, whether it be a medical student, a doctor, or a computer scientist and further. The diverse walks of life that are true to the journeys of each member invite me to explore the "why's" and the "how's" that depict their stories. As the Mondays pass by, I have learned that passion and effort are not on a steady timeline. They do not exist on a linear curve or on a scale defined by the terms of success. Instead, they may arise at any point and may dim through the passage of time, but their existence is all that matters. Through my time in this lab I hope to come out not solely learning but in being open to giving myself the time to grow and develop my passion into not simply a dream but a lifelong pursuit.” - 2025 Black Alumnae/i Fund recipient 

Reflecting on the past five years, I am proud of what we have built together and optimistic about what lies ahead. The need for accessible, supported internships remains critical, and a differentiator for 91��ý. With your continued partnership, we can ensure that 91��ý students have the tools, networks, and experiences to pursue their ambitions with confidence. 

Thank you for investing in this vision and in our students’ futures. 

Katie Krimmel 

Dean, Career and Civic Engagement Center