Executive Overview
In an era defined by a youth mental health crisis and a simultaneous renaissance in digital connectivity, the organizations shaping the future of wellness must be as dynamic as the populations they serve. Enter Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Each semester, Active Minds recruits a dedicated cohort of student interns who serve as the operational lifeblood of the organization.
The Summer 2024 intern cohort represents a remarkable cross-section of academic excellence, lived experience, and visionary ambition. Hailing from institutions ranging from Duke University and Johns Hopkins to the Kansas City Art Institute and UCLA, these emerging leaders bring diverse perspectives to the table. Whether they are analyzing postsecondary policy, designing accessible digital graphics, managing institutional development, or spearheading K-12 initiatives, this group is united by a single, powerful mandate: to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure that no young person feels alone in their struggles.
This article provides an in-depth look at the Summer 2024 cohort, exploring who they are, the departments they powered, the inspirations that drive them, and why the mission of Active Minds remains more urgent than ever.
Detailed Chronology: The Summer 2024 Journey
The Summer 2024 internship program was structured as an intensive, immersive dive into nonprofit operations, advocacy, and strategic communications. From day one, the interns were integrated into various departments—ranging from Chapters and MarComm to Development, Operations, and Policy—allowing them to gain hands-on experience while contributing meaningfully to Active Minds’ overarching goals.
The journey began with orientation, where interns were introduced to the scale of the mental health landscape across high schools, colleges, and communities nationwide. Throughout the summer term, these students transitioned from observers to active contributors.
- June: The cohort focused on foundational training, departmental onboarding, and aligning individual skill sets with ongoing national campaigns. Design interns began reshaping digital toolkits, policy interns dove into legislative frameworks impacting student well-being, and chapters interns mobilized resources for campus leaders.
- July: Midway through the term, interns took ownership of core mid-summer initiatives. Development and fundraising operations ramped up individual giving strategies, while K-12 and higher education teams analyzed emerging youth mental health challenges to inform upcoming school-year programming.
- August: The program culminated in comprehensive project presentations, strategic evaluations, and a collective celebration of the advocacy milestones achieved over the summer months.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Faces Behind the Mission
To truly understand the impact of the Summer 2024 cohort, one must look at the individuals who comprised it. Below is an exhaustive profile of the interns who drove Active Minds forward this past summer, highlighting their backgrounds, aspirations, and deep-seated motivations.
Sara Valencia – Chapters Team Intern
- Hometown: Orlando, FL
- Education: Duke University (Neuroscience major with a certificate in Human Rights)
- Aspirations: To become a psychiatrist and global mental health researcher.
- Inspirations & Interests: Sara draws inspiration from musician Hozier and finds balance in reading historical fiction, baking, and watching A24 films. If she could inhabit any literary universe, she would be Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice.
- Why Active Minds: Sara sought out Active Minds to align with an organization dedicated to providing tangible mental health support and actively chipping away at cultural stigmas.
Sam McCracken – MarComm (Marketing & Communications) Intern
- Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
- Education: University of Nebraska – Lincoln (Clifton Builders Management)
- Aspirations: Aspiring Chief Marketing Officer (with a humorous side-goal of becoming a professional lottery winner).
- Inspirations & Interests: Inspired by NFL star Patrick Mahomes, Sam enjoys barbecuing, listening to country music, and spending time with friends. He identifies with Phineas from Phineas and Ferb due to his boundless creativity.
- Why Active Minds: Growing up amidst rapid technological evolution, Sam recognized a parallel trend: the rising cultural emphasis on mental health awareness. His internship allowed him to merge digital marketing with a cause he deeply cares about.
Amanda Michael – Graphic Design Intern
- Hometown: Kansas City, KS
- Education: Kansas City Art Institute (Graphic Design)
- Aspirations: To work as an in-house designer focusing on social advocacy and inclusive design.
- Inspirations & Interests: Amanda is deeply inspired by graphic designer Mohamed Samir, whose dynamic Arabic calligraphy champions multilingual perspectives. Outside of design, she enjoys cooking, working out, knitting, and cherishing time with loved ones. She channels the bravery and perseverance of Chihiro from Spirited Away.
- Why Active Minds: As a young Egyptian woman from a community where mental health has historically been heavily stigmatized, Amanda wanted to break the silence and gain hands-on experience designing accessible advocacy materials for youth.
Krystn Whitty – Development Intern (Foundations)
- Hometown: Summerville, SC
- Education: University of South Carolina (Master’s in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counselor Education)
- Aspirations: To balance running a homestead with practicing as a marriage and family therapist.
- Inspirations & Interests: Krystn looks up to Jane Fonda for her decades of fierce environmental and social activism. In her free time, she loves hosting dinner parties for friends, watching veterinary shows, and gaming. She proudly channels Morticia Addams for her fierce matriarchal spirit and refusal to conform.
- Why Active Minds: Formerly the Vice President of her university’s Active Minds Chapter, Krystn wanted to expand her campus-level passion into a national impact.
Langdon Janos – Development Operations Intern
- Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
- Education: Washington University in St. Louis (Psychological and Brain Sciences major; minors in Spanish and Children’s Studies)
- Aspirations: To pursue a career in acting while utilizing his psychological background.
- Inspirations & Interests: Inspired by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, Langdon spends his free time singing, playing the piano, cooking, and connecting with friends. He identifies with the empathetic, optimistic leadership style of Ted Lasso.
- Why Active Minds: As a university peer counselor, Langdon witnessed firsthand how many students suffer in silence. His role at Active Minds allowed him to work behind the scenes to ensure wider access to support systems.
Aubrey Hill – Operations Intern
- Hometown: Newmarket, NH
- Education: University of Delaware (Communication/Public Relations major; minors in Advertising and Leadership)
- Aspirations: To become a travel writer, blending storytelling with global exploration.
- Inspirations & Interests: Inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker, Aubrey enjoys the coastal outdoors, hiking, and retail therapy. If she could step into a movie, she would be Ren McCormack from Footloose, driven by a passion to revitalize communities.
- Why Active Minds: Having experienced mental health as a prominent topic in her family and collegiate life, Aubrey wanted to actively contribute to changing the cultural narrative around wellness.
Shay Desai – K-12 Intern
- Hometown: Houston, TX
- Education: University of Texas (Psychology major)
- Aspirations: To open a private practice as a clinical psychologist focusing on youth, adolescents, and young boys.
- Inspirations & Interests: Shay draws inspiration from community changemaker and NFL icon J.J. Watt. A diehard Texans fan, he enjoys hiking, exploring nature, and discovering new culinary experiences. He relates to Patrick Star for his carefree loyalty.
- Why Active Minds: Shay is deeply committed to providing a voice to underrepresented demographics—specifically young males and people of color—who frequently face disproportionate barriers to mental health care and face high rates of untreated struggles.
Keanu Villagonzalo – Measurement Team Intern
- Hometown: Queens Village, NY
- Education: UCLA (Mathematics of Computation)
- Aspirations: To run his own nonprofit utilizing artificial intelligence to expand educational access in impoverished areas.
- Inspirations & Interests: Inspired by NBA star Paul George, Keanu spends his free time playing basketball, swimming, and exploring the outdoors. He identifies with Stitch from Lilo and Stitch due to his adventurous, trouble-making spirit.
- Why Active Minds: Motivated by a high school tragedy where warning signs were missed, Keanu joined Active Minds to utilize data analysis to dismantle stigmas and prevent future crises.
Anna Gefke – Development Team Intern (Individual Giving & Community Fundraising)
- Hometown: Bethesda, MD
- Education: Wellesley College (Studio Art major; Mathematics minor)
- Aspirations: To combine studio art creation with youth-focused community work.
- Inspirations & Interests: Anna looks up to filmmaker Greta Gerwig. She maintains a healthy work-life balance through hiking, long-distance running, and making art. She finds creative energy in nature, drawing inspiration from The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
- Why Active Minds: Having interned previously, Anna noted how products like Active Minds’ A.S.K. program fundamentally transformed how she navigates mental health conversations with her own friends and family.
Pilar Parker – Workforce Development Intern
- Hometown: Charlotte, NC
- Education: NC State University (Psychology major)
- Aspirations: To work as a clinical psychologist serving underserved communities.
- Inspirations & Interests: Also inspired by Greta Gerwig’s storytelling abilities, Pilar enjoys reading and television in her free time. She identifies with Nancy Wheeler from Stranger Things for her unwavering empathy, advocacy, and dedication to helping others.
- Why Active Minds: Pilar was drawn to the organization’s foundational mission of promoting mental health education and transforming the national dialogue.
Trace Terrell – Higher Education & Policy Teams Intern
- Hometown: La Pine, OR
- Education: Johns Hopkins University (Public Health and Writing Seminars major)
- Aspirations: To serve as a policy advisor within state or federal governmental agencies.
- Inspirations & Interests: Inspired by actress Emma Stone, Trace loves spending time outdoors, socializing with friends, and practicing ceramics. He identifies with Otis Milburn from Sex Education.
- Why Active Minds: Trace’s dedication is deeply personal: Active Minds played a critical role in saving his life during high school. Returning to expand its reach for future generations represents one of his proudest milestones.
Official Statements & Institutional Impact
The collective work executed by the Summer 2024 cohort underscores Active Minds’ ongoing commitment to youth empowerment. By embedding students directly into professional operations, the organization ensures that its leadership pipeline remains informed by the very demographics it seeks to protect.
Reflecting on the cohort’s contributions, Active Minds leadership emphasized the vital role these young advocates play:
"Every semester, our class of interns at Active Minds contributes immeasurably to our core initiatives—ranging from chapter support and program development to high-level fundraising and policy analysis. We are profoundly grateful for the dedication, innovation, and passion our Summer 2024 interns brought to our mission of mental health awareness."
The ripple effects of this internship extend far beyond a single summer. Alumni of the Active Minds internship program frequently transition into influential roles across healthcare, public policy, creative design, and clinical psychology, carrying forward an ethos rooted in empathy, evidence-based advocacy, and destigmatization.
Future Outlook: Continuing the Movement
As the Summer 2024 term concludes, Active Minds looks ahead to expanding its footprint across high school campuses, university quadrangles, and digital platforms. The insights gathered by the policy, measurement, and K-12 teams will directly influence upcoming national campaigns, ensuring that youth-centric solutions remain at the forefront of the mental health conversation.
For students and emerging professionals inspired by the Summer 2024 cohort, the journey does not end here. Active Minds continually seeks passionate, driven individuals to join its upcoming internship semesters. Those interested in lending their voices, operational skills, and creative talents to the mental health movement are encouraged to explore application opportunities through the official Active Minds Internship Program portal.
Through the collective energy of changemakers like Sara, Sam, Amanda, Krystn, Langdon, Aubrey, Shay, Keanu, Anna, Pilar, and Trace, the conversation around mental health is not only changing—it is actively shaping a safer, more supportive world for generations to come.
