Six University of Iowa students will complete internships abroad this summer with support from the Dr. Ken Magid Scholarship, a fund that was established by Linda Baker (BA ‘68), in memory of her former mentor, author and child behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Magid.
The scholarship is designed for UI undergraduate students who intend to pursue an academic internship while embracing the cultural nuances and complexities of life abroad. The fund, originally created in 2005, began to provide financial awards for credit-bearing experiential learning programs in fall of 2022.
Meet the recipients:
Razan Babikir is a third-year public health major (minor in Arabic) originally from Madinat Zayed, UAE, but now calls Iowa City home. Razan is interning through the CIEE Seville Summer Global Internship program.
"The Ken Magid Scholarship has helped me travel and opened me up to a wonderful opportunity that I would have otherwise missed because I simply couldn't afford it."
“I chose this specific location because of its long and deep-rooted history, and because of how different Spanish culture is from the U.S. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and explore a beautiful place with interesting history, and Sevilla is just that.
Interning abroad will not only broaden my opportunities for work, especially in global public health, but it will teach me many valuable lessons about cultural humility and cultural competence.
The Ken Magid Scholarship has helped me travel and opened me up to a wonderful opportunity that I would have otherwise missed because I simply couldn't afford it. I will always be thankful for this scholarship and the many things I will be able to achieve in the future because of it.”
Guadalupe de la Rosa is a fourth-year public health major from Washington, Iowa. Guadalupe will be interning through IES Internships in Santiago, Chile.
"The Ken Magid Scholarship...allows me to remain focused on my studies and progress easier through my academic career, helping me continue my education and contribute to society."
“I chose Chile as my internship site based on its predominantly Spanish-speaking population and its fascinating cultural practices, and I hope to improve my Spanish speaking skills during my time abroad. I look forward to immersing myself in the local community, deepening my understanding of the intersection between public health and Latino/a/x cultures.
Interning abroad will have a significant impact on my future by broadening my perspective and enhancing my cross-cultural communication skills. I am thrilled to engage with professionals and fellow interns from different countries, allowing me to foster connections with diverse individuals. The opportunity to form meaningful connections with these individuals will greatly impact my future endeavors.
The Ken Magid Scholarship holds significant importance to me because of the academic aid it provides. The scholarship allows me to remain focused on my studies and progress easier through my academic career, helping me continue my education and contribute to society. It has allowed me the incredible opportunity to pursue my aspirations of interning abroad.”
Yamam Hussien is a fourth-year neuroscience major (pre-med track) from Des Moines, Iowa. Yamam will be interning through the SIT Jordan Counseling & Humanitarian Action Internship program.
"Being a recipient of the Ken Magid Scholarship has opened a door for me to experience a journey that I have been dreaming to do in pursuing a career in medicine and helping others."
“I decided to pursue an international education in Jordan because of my Middle Eastern ancestry to feel more connected to my heritage. Having this chance will also help me improve my native language. I am excited to learn how to make certain Jordanian dishes from my host mom as well as make memories with my classmates.
Studying abroad is essential to me because it will allow me to network with individuals from across the world, acquire personal experience that I would not otherwise have in the U.S., and learn about a new culture.
Being a recipient of the Ken Magid Scholarship has opened a door for me to experience a journey that I have been dreaming to do in pursuing a career in medicine and helping others. I aspire to one day offer comparable assistance to students pursuing a career in a healthcare field and experience the impact the scholarship will have for me.”
Mazvita Makoni is a fourth-year interdepartmental studies major on the health sciences track from Naperville, Illinois. Mazvita will be interning through the SIT Kenya Internship: Public Health in the Tropics program.
"This scholarship is helping me immensely with funding for the trip and being able to travel. I am very grateful for the support this scholarship is providing me."
“I chose the public health in the tropics internship because I am hoping to pursue a career in global public health, and I felt it was in line with my interests.
I'm hoping this experience will help me see and understand all of the different career paths that are available to me after graduation.
This scholarship is helping me immensely with funding for the trip and being able to travel. I am very grateful for the support this scholarship is providing me.”
Amber Matthews is a third-year interdepartmental studies major on the health sciences track (minors in Arabic and Spanish) from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Amber will be interning through the SIT Jordan Counseling & Humanitarian Action Internship program.
"The Ken Magid Scholarship has decreased the financial burden of interning abroad for my family. It will allow me to focus solely on making a positive impact on the lives of refugees in Jordan."
“The School for International Training (SIT) provides an internship in Amman, Jordan, focusing on counseling and humanitarian action to help aid the Syrian refugee crisis. I applied for this internship because I wanted to learn about the emergency and post-emergency humanitarian health response, contribute to the relief efforts supporting Syrian refugees, and increase my Arabic fluency and cultural competency.
After graduating from the University of Iowa, I plan to attend medical school and become a physician. I am passionate about working with disadvantaged populations and providing them with equitable healthcare. I aspire to become a physician who actively works to reduce linguistic and cultural barriers to healthcare access with underserved populations in the United States and worldwide. Interning in Jordan with a humanitarian organization will allow me to gain new perspectives while working alongside medical professionals with similar interests. I am confident that these new perspectives on the world will help shape me into a better, well-rounded person and future physician.
The Ken Magid Scholarship has decreased the financial burden of interning abroad for my family. It will allow me to focus solely on making a positive impact on the lives of refugees in Jordan. I greatly appreciate the Dr. Ken Magid Scholarship fund for this generous award and opportunity to fulfill my educational goals. Thank you very much!”
Lesley Trujillo is a fourth-year global health studies major on the pre-physician assistant track, minoring in human physiology. Originally from Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, Lesley is interning on the SIT Kenya Internship: Public Health in the Tropics program.
"As a first-generation student and a daughter to immigrant parents, many experiences and opportunities felt out of reach for me such as studying abroad... This scholarship has given me the chance to apply my knowledge from the classroom to the real world."
“I chose this specific internship and location because I thought it was the perfect place to challenge myself by being in a different environment and culture apart from my Salvadoran American roots. I have learned and read countless articles based on health disparities across the globe, however I think it will be a challenge to see it head on.
It is easy to sit in a classroom and read, but this experience is something that cannot be matched in the classroom. As a future healthcare worker, I believe it is important to understand the environment, culture, and language as much as possible to provide the best healthcare.
As a first-generation student and a daughter to immigrant parents, many experiences and opportunities felt out of reach for me such as studying abroad. My freshman self never would have thought that I would be going to Kisumu, Kenya, and have an internship with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Red Cross. This scholarship has given me the chance to apply my knowledge from the classroom to the real world. This is what I have always wanted to experience, and I want to give a big thanks to everyone that has helped and encouraged me along my journey! So excited for what is to come!”
To help more University of Iowa students go abroad, make a gift today!
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.
