Wooster student develops data research skills through interfaith outreach internship

Jessica Gapfizi ’26, a statistical and data sciences major with a minor in education at The College of Wooster, spent the summer before her senior year interning remotely with Building Bridges Together (BBT), a nonprofit organization aiming to create inclusive interfaith spaces for multicultural dialogue. During the Micro Fellowship, Gapfizi supported national outreach efforts by managing CRM systems, conducting digital research, and organizing contact data for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities across the United States. This experience allowed her to combine her background in statistical and data sciences in a social context, facilitating dialogue and connection between diverse communities and faiths.

“Through this Micro Fellowship, I realized how much I enjoy applying my skills in practical settings, especially in areas like project management, CRM systems, and working with diverse communities.”

—Jessica Gapfizi ’26

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES

I first learned about this internship through Justine Harrison, associate director of Career Planning at the College. She helped me secure my internship and told me about APEX Fellowships and Micro Fellowships. What interested me most about the opportunity was connecting research with its real-world impact. I enjoyed learning about different faith communities and seeing how diverse organizations could become a part of an interfaith dialogue.

LESSONS LEARNED

I found this internship rewarding due to the variety of responsibilities and skills. I would build a structured database that the organization could use for outreach. Every day, I entered verified data into the CRM system (Monday.com) and made sure records were complete and consistent. I gathered key information such as names, addresses, websites, and emails, and cross-checked it for accuracy. I searched for faith communities in priority regions using online directories, Google Maps, and official denominational websites.

EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE

At the College, my mentor was Qimin Huang, assistant professor of statistical & data sciences and mathematics. My other mentor was Bob Frankle, CEO and President of Building Bridges Together (BBT), and my supervisor during this experience. Throughout this project, I strengthened several skills that I know will benefit me in my career. I developed strong research and information-gathering skills by learning how to locate and verify reliable data across multiple sources. I also improved my attention to detail and data management skills, making sure that the information I collected was accurate, consistent, and properly organized in the CRM system. Using a CRM platform was a valuable experience, helping me in future roles that require customer or community relationship management.

GUIDANCE FOR GROWTH

This internship gave me a clearer picture of how research, data management, and outreach can intersect to support real-world community programs. I learned how structured information can be used to build stronger connections between organizations, which made me think more about how technology and data play a role in community engagement. This experience has influenced the way I see my career path. Before the internship, I mainly thought about my field of study in terms of theory and classroom work. Through this Micro Fellowship, I realized how much I enjoy applying those skills in practical settings, especially in areas like project management, CRM systems, and working with diverse communities. Seeing how data supports faith-based and community organizations showed me that good data practices are essential for almost any kind of work.

WHAT’S NEXT

Although this internship was remote, I really enjoyed learning how to manage my time and sharpen my skills. This internship confirmed for me that I want to pursue opportunities where I can combine research, organization, and technology to make a meaningful impact. I will continue to put my communication and other skills to good use in my future career.

Featured image: Jessica Gapfizi ’26 completed an APEX Micro Fellowship with Building Bridges Together (BBT) over the summer, collaborating with founders Bob Frankle and Diane Frankle ’75. Photo provided by subject.

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