Cici Pandol, '14

It was a connection with her Leadership and Humanities professor during the spring semester of her first year on campus, that led Cici Pandol, ’14, to Washington, D.C. for a summer internship.

“Professor Kaufman mentioned some things about his life that intrigued me so I sent him an email,” said Pandol, who plans on applying to the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. “We went for coffee one day, and I visited him during office hours a few times since then.”

During their meetings, Pandol talked about her interests, specifically in relation to nonprofit organizations. By using his connections, Kaufman put Pandol in touch with the founders of Global Giving, an online fundraising platform that connects grassroots nonprofits with donors.

“He sent them an email and wrote me a recommendation letter,” Pandol said. “Then I had two phone interviews and submitted an application. I was in Gottwald studying when I learned I got it, and I literally jumped out of my chair and immediately emailed Professor Kaufman to share the news.”

As a project team intern with the Washington, D.C.-based organization, Pandol works with nonprofits that are part of the Global Giving website.

“Global Giving provides this dynamic website to help small organizations improve their fundraising,” Pandol said. “We’ll run contests, hold webinars and create online giving portals for corporations.”

By working in the headquarters of a nonprofit, Pandol has been able to see an entirely different side of the industry, apart from serving in a volunteer capacity.

“This internship let me explore what is out there in the nonprofit world beyond the on-the-ground service that I had done a lot of in high school,” she said. “I found that I really enjoy the business part of the work I’m doing — it’s all about problem solving and thinking outside the box.”

As she prepares to return to campus after her summer internship experience, Pandol approaches her sophomore year with excitement and a new perspective.

“When I go back to UR this fall, I feel ready to get the most out of my time there because I’ve realized the valuable opportunities that I have sitting in front of me,” she said. “I want to get more involved in the city of Richmond and find my little service niche and pour myself into it. I hope to continue to explore what is out there in the nonprofit world to see if it’s what I want to do with my life.”