Anthropology major incorporates campus student organization experience with adoption community center

Pennsylvanian Meghan Willis ’26, an anthropology major at The College of Wooster, spent the summer in Denver, Colorado, interning at The Park Adoption Community Center. Throughout this APEX Fellowship, Willis conducted online research focused on creating beneficial and relevant programming for adoptees of all ages and gaining insight into the adoptee community’s needs. As a member of the Wooster Adoptee Student Union at the College, Willis brought in previous knowledge of experiences with adoptees, but came away from the internship with fine-tuned skills in both interpersonal communication and research skills that will prove useful during her senior I.S. 

“The internship solidified my idea that a future in the adoption field could definitely be a path I can take.” 

—Meghan Willis ’26 

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES 

Willis: I found my internship opportunity through an online search for “adoption research intern.” I knew I wanted to research adoption more before my senior Independent Study, as I plan on working with this topic for my I.S. I wanted to better gauge if I wanted to choose such a research path, which I now know I do! 

EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE 

For her internship, Willis helped with the promotional aspects of the adoption center, among other tasks. Photo provided by Willis.

Willis: What interests me most about my work is the level of teamwork it takes to make a more connected community. An individual’s passion for a community can carry them far, but it really is a team effort to actually follow-through on the promises that come from such passion. While my main job was to conduct online research, I helped out in many other areas, such as some Canva design work and organizing storage closets. This work kept all areas of the organization running smoothly and encapsulates the idea that teamwork makes a difference in an organizational and executive standpoint.

GUIDANCE FOR GROWTH 

Willis: My fellowship mentor was the amazing Elizabeth Schiltz, professor of philosophy. She provided feedback to my weekly reflections that encouraged me to reflect on them on a deeper level. It was also nice to know that someone from campus was available and interested to hear about the work I did this summer. 

WHAT’S NEXT 

Willis: The internship solidified my idea that a future in the adoption field could definitely be a path I can take! Before my fellowship, I had already thought about working within the adoption field after graduation but wanted more experience to determine that path for my future.

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2025 on August 6, 2025.