Here's what a few of our recent interns had to say about their experiences:

Ellie Campbell Green, St. Andrews University

During my internship with ICCR, I worked with both the human rights/human trafficking program and with ICCR's communications staff. I was fortunate that for both departments I was tasked with delivering a project that was both challenging and also highly enjoyable. With my background in theology, I had never been exposed to the ICCR model of shareholder advocacy and corporate social responsibility. However the ICCR staff were fantastic and I feel that throughout the course of my eight week internship I learned an invaluable amount about the professional world and specifically about the varied and dynamic work being undertaken by ICCR.  Read Ellie's story.

Mario Ponsell, Columbia University

I was initially drawn to ICCR because of its 40+ years of leadership in the socially responsible investing (SRI) industry. ICCR’s relationship with executives from Fortune 500 companies – people who can affect real change using the scale of their companies and supply chains – delivers results that shape our society for the better. My interest in corporate social responsibility stems from the fact that not every environmental, social, or governance (ESG) issue can be efficiently addressed by government. Businesses have the opportunity to fill that void because of the impact they have on the everyday lives of consumers. Amidst climate change and increasing demands for socially and environmentally responsible business practices, it is only natural to look to our corporate leaders as difference makers in our communities. Read Mario's story.

Shuo Gao, Columbia University

During my internship at ICCR, I worked for Christina Herman, ICCR’s Program Director for Climate and the Environment. I conducted research on corporate progress on science-based greenhouse gas targets. Specifically, I created reports by reading company CDP reports, SEC filings, and corporate responsibility and sustainability reports. My reports include information about each company’s environmental performance (including current commitments, and GHG reduction targets), its attitude towards climate change, and a comparison with its peer companies.

Before joining ICCR, I had completed academic research about sustainable development and had an overall understanding of the current situation and corporate engagement in this area. However, my internship with ICCR has been my first opportunity to gain professional experience in this field. As I had the opportunity to participate in many corporate dialogues and conference calls with the help of Christina, I now understand more about how US companies deal with climate change, which is the great treasure for me. The staff members of ICCR are all experts in this field and are always willing to help, so I gained experience like a sponge absorbs water. I really appreciate the chance to be a part of ICCR, and I will keep on the path of environmental protection in the future.

Caitlin Cahalan, Binghamton University

My time at ICCR was spent researching food waste and water sustainability, focusing on the impacts of corporate supply chains on water quality and availability. Throughout my internship, I read and analyzed environmental disclosure reports, contributed to several ICCR reports, and prepared briefing memos on pressing water-related issues, such as pesticide use, deforestation and commodity goods production, food waste reduction initiatives, and the Dakota Access Pipeline construction. 

The research I conducted over the past few months allowed me to gain a much deeper understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility, and gave me hands-on experience seeing how companies work to reduce their environmental impacts. It was truly a pleasure to work with such driven and enthusiastic people at ICCR, and it really enhanced the organization’s mission of social change. Looking forward, I hope to continue my work in CSR, and I am grateful for the invaluable experiences I have gained here.

Addison Rothrock, Yale Divinity School

At ICCR, I conducted research in ethical labor recruitment policies over a wide range of industries to support ICCR's No Fees Initiative. That research took the form of surveying company codes of conduct, reading studies in the implementation of corporate policies in extended supply chains, and statistical analysis. I entered into this internship with little to no understanding of socially responsible investing. Now, however, I am exiting this internship with a much greater understanding of the mechanisms behind SRI, recognizing the value of religious community engagement and their operative, life-affirming language employed in this mission. In a lot of ways, I think that this internship has redefined my career goals – or at least expanded my imaginative capacity for how I can utilize my academic studies and varied skills. ICCR’s work proves that faith, and the system of values framing its tradition, can infiltrate the corporate world to cooperatively inhibit the abuse of those on the fringes of society. I hope to continue this important work in my future endeavors.

Mackenzie Clark, Columbia University

During my summer internship, I completed research on water sustainability, with particular attention to textile supply chains in China and Bangladesh, and the American meat and poultry sector. I was able to utilize the incredible domestic and international networks ICCR possesses to expand my understanding of my areas of focus, and engage with people at the local level to enrich my deliverables.

ICCR provided a unique and preferred working environment that strived to challenge me, support me, and truly valued the contribution I was making to the organization. My time with ICCR was nothing but incredible, not only because I felt the work I was doing was meaningful and interesting, but because of what I learned about myself and what I bring to the consistently evolving sustainability and CSR space. Working with such intelligent, impassioned and dedicated people was inspiring and reaffirms the legacy of ICCR and the work they have, and continue to do. Thank you again for such a wonderful experience!

E Zhao, Columbia University  

I came to ICCR with the goal of gaining hands-on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and socially responsible investment (SRI) experience, and to expand my knowledge related to these fields. I developed my interests in them when I was a student and wanted to work in the field as a young professional. However, most of the instruction I’d received back in school was very theoretical. Coming to ICCR and assisting with projects in CSR and SRI has helped me to gain experience in the real world, which is a meaningful treasure for me as I advance to become a professional. Read E's story.