Q: Can you share your experience as a Data Intern with the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) this summer? What were some key takeaways from your internship?

Christine: Absolutely! My internship with SoSA, under the guidance of Tennessee Regional Director Jeannie Hunter and Professor Andrew Dillon, was an incredible experience. Over June and July, I focused on analyzing their gleaning and distribution records to uncover trends over time and by region.

One of the highlights was cleaning up their extensive datasets and creating an interactive map to visualize food distribution activity alongside publicly available data on acreage and food insecurity levels. This project not only helped illuminate SoSA’s efforts over the past decade but also played a critical role in grant writing and fundraising, which are essential for non-profits.

Additionally, we began organizing datasets for econometric research to evaluate the impact of SoSA’s work on food insecurity rates in areas with high activity. It was exciting to think about how our findings could directly support the organization's mission.

Although the position was remote, I had the chance to visit their office in Lynchburg, Virginia, which added a personal touch to my experience. Meeting the staff and discussing their work with Executive Director Lynette Johnson and Virginia Program Coordinator Ben Breene helped me connect the data to real-world applications.

Overall, I came away with a stronger understanding of how data can inform social impact initiatives. This experience not only honed my technical skills—R programming has become my best friend—but also deepened my appreciation for the role of non-profits in addressing systemic issues like hunger. I'm really grateful to the Economics Career Office for this opportunity and excited to apply what I’ve learned to future projects!  P.S., Professor Andrew Dillon graduated from UVA's Department of Economics in 1999 with a BA in Economics and PST. He then completed his PhD at Cornell in Applied Economics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-dillon-a5a671114/