Today (March 11) is Give Green Day! You’re invited to support the James Madison College Experiential Learning Fund, which allows more Madison students to study abroad and complete internships by covering essential costs like tuition, travel and housing.
Below JMC’s field experience coordinator, Dr. Lauren Michalak (PTCD & History, ’08), shares insight into the importance of these programs and how they connect to the broader Madison experience:
As a Madison alumna, I intimately understand the transformative impact of experiential learning.
During my time as a JMC student, I interned with the Michigan Townships Association, an experience that helped shape my career trajectory. My internship allowed me to explore local governance, research methodology, and the intricate relationships between government institutions and the communities they serve. Reflecting on the experience in my MC 401 analysis, I connected the experience to my Madison coursework, drawing heavily on Alexis de Tocqueville (shoutout MC 201!) and my PTCD readings. After graduation, I worked for the Michigan Senate for five years because my internship showed me first-hand the important work being done at the state legislature.
In 2023, I returned to the college as JMC’s field experience coordinator, where I assist and prepare students to undertake their experiential learning requirement. Through internships, studying abroad and independent research, our students explore how their Madison education has equipped them to engage in and with the world around them.
These are incredibly rewarding experiences, and we are working to ensure that they are available to all Madisonians, regardless of their financial backgrounds. Donations to JMC’s Experiential Learning Fund directly support Madison students who need financial support by covering tuition, travel, housing and other expenses. Last year alone, the college issued 70 experiential learning scholarships to our students, totaling more than $165,000 in financial support.
Your Give Green Day gifts will provide Madison students with transformative opportunities that can define their academic journey and launch their professional careers. Help us ensure that no talented student is held back from discovering their potential through experiential learning.
Go Green!
Dr. Lauren Michalak (PTCD & History, ’08)
Field Experience Coordinator
James Madison College
Learn more about Give Green Day and donate to JMC’s Experiential Learning Fund.