Spelman College Students Selected as 2026 Douglass Frederick-O’Connell Global Interns

Ponds and Wade to Travel to Ireland for Immersive Internship Experience

Spelman College students Hayley Ponds, C’28, and Sophia Wade, C’28, have been selected for the 2026 Frederick Douglass–O’Connell Global Internship. Both Ponds and Wade will join a distinguished cohort of 14 students for the eight-week program in Dublin, Ireland.

Co-sponsored by CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), and the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship program honors two iconic leaders in the global movement for freedom, equality, social justice, and economic mobility by preparing young professionals for future and career success.

Thanks to sponsorship by the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, four spots in the cohort were dedicated to students attending colleges in Georgia's 5th Congressional District, which Congressman John Lewis represented for more than 30 years. Ponds and Wade are among the students sponsored by the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation and are known as Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Global Interns.

“Being selected for the Douglass-O’Connell Internship program is truly an honor. As a Health Science major, pursuing a career as an OB/Gyn, I am passionate about serving women and families. I want to be an advocate for marginalized communities that have been victimized by the disparities ingrained into the healthcare system,” said Ponds. “Having the opportunity to do health care work outside of the country will be a great way for me to understand the differences between the U.S. and Irish health care system! It will also give me a stronger understanding of global customs, differences, and overall experiences that I am not used to!”

More than 500 students applied from hundreds of institutions of higher education, including Ivy League schools, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), private colleges, and flagship public universities. Wade was selected for her academic excellence and dedication to using storytelling as a force for change, while Ponds was selected for her academic dedication and leadership potential.

“I am so incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Douglass-O’Connell Global Internship. International internship opportunities like this are very competitive and hard to come across, so I do not take this lightly. Being selected is affirming and brings me back to the “why” behind my work at Spelman--cultivating spaces for Black women to learn and grow as leaders,” said Wade, a political science major. “Empowered by my Spelman education, I feel prepared to engage fully with my professional placement while also learning about the history of social change in Ireland. I want to give major credit to the Spelman College Speech and Debate Team for grounding my academic background in Black women’s scholarship and sharpening how I think and advocate. I’m so excited to take what I’ve learned here to Ireland and continue growing.”

During the program, students will intern with Ireland-based companies, attend lectures on Irish history and culture, and participate in extracurricular and networking activities in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast. Students choose from dozens of internship placement opportunities, including roles in media, technology, transportation, and human rights advocacy. Each student receives an internship placement, academic lectures, housing, airfare, and a living stipend.

“The Douglass-O'Connell program introduces a new generation of young leaders to today's diverse and vibrant Ireland," said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., President and CEO of CIEE. "It's a privilege to partner with AAIDN, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, and the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation to help increase diversity abroad as we also help unite the diverse and global Irish diaspora."

“Congressman Lewis believed in the power of young people to advance justice and build the beloved community,” said Michael Collins, Chair of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. “We are proud to support four exceptional students in this year’s program. By expanding their global perspectives and leadership skills in Ireland, this experience helps equip the next generation to carry forward Congressman Lewis’ legacy of creating ‘Good Trouble’ and making the world a better place.”

Learn more information about the
CIEE’s Frederick Douglass-O’Connell Global Internship