Spring Break Externship Program

What is the AACC Externship Program?

The program is a one- or two-week unpaid internship during spring break (an ‘externship’) that brings undergraduate students into the workplaces of Yale alumni across the country.  Externships will take place either on the first week or on both weeks of Yale’s spring break. The program endeavors to expose students to alumni in careers that have an emphasis on serving the greater social good.

  • November 13th, 2025 - All externship locations finalized and information session for interested students is held.
  • November 14th, 2025 - Student application goes live.
  • November 30th, 2025 - Student application deadline at 11:59pm ET. 
  • December 1st, 2025 - January 4th, 2026 - Alumni extern sponsors review applications and submit candidate selections to AACC.
  • Early January 2026 - Final matching and decisions released. AACC financial aid applications for students due.
  • Mid-January 2026 - AACC communicates financial aid decisions to students.
  • January-February 2026 - Externs and sponsors will communicate externship details virtually.
  • Mid-February 2026 - AACC Pre-Departure Externship Orientation
  • March 2nd - 13th, 2026 - Final planning/communication and externship goes live.
  • March 23rd - April 3rd, 2026 - Post-externship feedback is gathered.

Alumni Sponsor Responsibilities 

1. The sponsor will accommodate the student at their jobsite in-person for the agreed upon one-week period (unless otherwise stated) – the sponsor must be able to have check-in meetings and regular communication with the student regularly throughout the duration of the externship.

2. Depending on the nature of the work, the sponsor will provide specific projects or tasks and schedule meetings for the student or will allow the student to shadow them (see table on next page for examples).

3. Before the externship, the sponsor and student should discuss the student’s particular goals, what the sponsor can provide and what can be reasonably be accomplished during that time period.

Student Extern Responsibilities

1. The sponsor and student should communicate before the externship to determine the student’s particular goals, what the sponsor can provide, and what can reasonably be accomplished during the agreed upon duration of the externship.

2. The student is expected to be fully present at work every day, maintain timely communication with the sponsor as well as others they encounter and conduct themselves in a professional manner.

3. After the externship, students are expected to complete a questionnaire giving feedback regarding their externship.

4. If you are selected for an externship and agree to participate, but fail to complete your externship, you will be prohibited from applying to the AACC Spring Break Externship Program in the future.

5. For in-person and hybrid externships, the student has the responsibility to closely observe the health and safety protocols of the sponsor’s workplace.  This applies to all hours of the day during the externship program to ensure the safety of the alumni and other staff members the student may be working with.

Program Contacts

Please feel free to contact us at aaccalumni@yale.edu. Please do not email alumni directly during the application process. We’d be happy to address any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. We look forward to working with you!

AACC Alumni Engagement Team 2025-2026

Gauen Lee ‘26

Aaron Ma ‘28

Director of the Asian American Cultural Center, Joliana Yee joliana.yee@yale.edu 

2026 Spring Break Externship Application

Submit your application by November 30th at 11:59pm ET to be considered for one of 29 externship spots!

Apply

Externship Descriptions


 

Advocacy/Non-Profit

Location: San Francisco, CA

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Grant Din, Branford ‘79

Industry: Non-Profit

Available Spots: 3 - 4

Sponsor Provided Description: Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Angel Island Immigration Station was routinely the first stop for immigrants crossing the Pacific Ocean from 1910-1940, in particular for Asians affected by harsh immigration laws. The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) is the nonprofit partner of California State Parks and the National Park Service in the effort to educate the public about the complex story and rich cultural heritage of Pacific Coast immigrants and their descendants. 

The focus of this externship is on historic research, writing, and possibly website content creation. The externs will be able to spend time researching and writing about Angel Island immigrants for our Immigrant Voices website or other media, and spend a day at Angel Island State Park so they can discover the history of that National Historic Landmark. The externs will spend 1-2 days at the National Archives and Records Administration branch located in San Bruno, and possibly work with archival interviews of former Angel Island detainees.

Recommended skills: General research, writing, interest in Asian American history.

Location: Seattle, WA

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Kyle Kegang Wang, Saybrook ‘85

Industry: Non-Profit

Available Spots: 3 - 4

***Note: This externship requires a background check clearance.  Non-US citizens might experience a delay during this process.***

Sponsor Provided Description: IRC is the largest refugee resettlement agency in the world working in 40 countries, directly helping over 30 million refugees to find home, schools, employments, jobs and communities around the world.  Founded in 1933 by Albert Einstein and his fellow scientists, IRC today is a $978 million/year nonprofit organization (all from donations) with 26 offices in the U.S.  “”IRC Seattle”” is one of the fastest growing offices among IRC’s U.S. locations.  For details on IRC’s scope and background, see its annual report of 2021 here: https://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/IPP2205_2021%20Annual%20Report.pdf

IRC is a partner of The Global Crises Action group of Yale International Alliance (YIA).  YIA-IRC partnership has established a virtual refugee service hub (e-commerce portal) in Seattle to provide goods for incoming refugees during their settlement.  Kyle Wang ‘85 in addition to leading YIA is also the head of YIA’s Global Crisis Action group working directly with IRC-Seattle’s team (over 150 FTEs) in various functions and programs.  IRC-Seattle will be able to offer opportunities with their Immigration Team, Development Team, at their front desk and likely some other administrative tasks that are mission critical

YIA is a 501c-3 nonprofit corporation registered in Delaware, U.S. and a Yale Alumni SiG under Yale Alumni Association.  YIA is managed by a board of directors and ambassadors located in 22 countries.  

Recommended skills:  English language (coaching through conversation), foreign languages (helpful), people skills, planning skills, prioritization and project management experience.  As all roles at IRC have security-clearance requirements, IRC will conduct a basic background check on student’s applicants. 

Location: Boston | Cambridge MA (Hybrid)

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Linda Chin, Hopper ‘81

Industry: Non-Profit

Available Spots: 1 - 2 

Sponsor Provided Description: I am the Artistic and Executive Director of an arts and human services nonprofit that educates, employs and empowers musicians in mental health recovery and produces 300 live music performances per year at shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, and for the public. I also produce musical theater and am a theater critic. For our 30th anniversary, our extern helped update the website and create documentary-style video testimonials to support a fundraising campaign for music education. This year, I hope to get externs involved in various independent projects in the many intersections of my musical and artistic background. Externs interested in storytelling, arts and community healing, mental health, musicians/singers/actors would have a blast! 

Recommended skills: Design, video editing, storytelling, music/live performing arts experience

Architecture

Location: New Haven, CT

Duration:  March 9th - 13th

Alum: Mai Wu, Trumbull ‘91, YSoA ‘96

Industry: Architecture

Available Spots: 1

Sponsor Provided Description: Apicella + Bunton Architects LLC is an architectural design firm specializing in planning and design services for residential, corporate, cultural, and academic clients. Student will shadow architects and designers.  Experience will include attendance of meetings, site visits, possible assistance with resources library, among other tasks. Possible software use includes Revit, Adobe “Creative” and Microsoft Office. Our firm is small, and is a studio setting which provides exposure to many elements of the profession through practice and observation. We try to expose our externs to as much as possible during their stay, so they have a good preview of the profession.  Firm profile:  https://www.apicellabunton.com/profile/

Recommended skills: Any of the software noted in the description, but not required.

Education

Location: New Haven, CT

Duration: March 9th - 13th (in-person) OR March 9th - 20th (hybrid)

Alum: Jenny (JHD) Heikkila Diaz ‘00

Industry: Education

Available Spots: 1 - 2

Sponsor Provide Description: In my professional work as an educator, one of my roles is as an Activist in Residence at UConn’s Asian & Asian American Studies Institute, and in my volunteer work in the community, I am the Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT (APAC CT). APAC CT has been in ongoing collaboration with organizations across our state for and with our Asian American & Pacific Islander community’s and other communities’ well-being. In March, we will be working with a couple of CT museums on community events connected to America250 and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, highlighting our local Asian American & Pacific Islander histories. Externs will be involved in projects including oral history interviewing, preparations of materials and resources for exhibits, and community outreach. These events will also support our ongoing work with youth, educators, families, and communities, in collaboration with UConn’s Asian & Asian American Studies Institute in K-12 public education and the implementation of the CT AAPI Studies Education Legislation (which went into effect in July 2025). So, externs will also get the opportunity to see how individuals, informal community groups, nonprofits, schools, and institutions are working in coalition to ensure that all of our communities and their contributions are seen, heard, and valued.

Recommended skills:  Relationship building (especially across generations), speaking a language other than English proficiently (helpful), social media and Canva skills, data analysis, Asian American & Pacific Islander history knowledge (helpful), experience with advocacy and organizing work.

Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Alice J. Lee, Berkeley ‘01

Field: Graphic design, bookmaking, printing, project development

Available spots: 2

Sponsor Provided Description: The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is the flagship research university of the state, and is situated in the growing Northwest-Arkansas region. A $120 million gift from the Walton Foundation established the School of Art within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and is helping to propel art education, design, research and creative activity in the state forward while also providing unparalleled access and opportunity to students. As an active community, we host many speakers, workshops, demos, and other events most weeks of the semester. More information on the School of Art can be found at art.uark.edu.

Alice Lee ‘01 is an associate professor in the Graphic Design area of the School of Art. She teachs a range of courses, including UI/UX, typography, design for motion, and critical making. As a faculty member in a research position, her workload comprises teaching, service, and research that expand and contribute to her field. Alice is in the process of launching an independent publishing imprint focused on distributing underrepresented stories within bilingual, bicultural communities. She can provide mentorship and hands-on experience with graphic design, bookmaking, printing, and project development.

We will find time to visit Crystal Bridges, a half-hour drive from Fayetteville, where we can walk its many trails, experience American art in the galleries, tour a reassembled Frank Lloyd Wright residential building, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. If the timing works out, we can catch a musical performance at the Momentary, which is part of the Crystal Bridges campus.

This area is very bikeable, and there are opportunities to hike within a couple of miles.

Recommended skills: Experience with Adobe design software (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) is helpful but not required.

Finance/Consulting

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Duration: March 9th - 13th 

Alum: Alison Lu, Trumbull ‘11

Industry: Business Strategy

Available Spots: 1 

*Note: Lunch will be provided and Friday is a remote workday.

Sponsor Provided Description: The Business Strategy and Analytics group of the San Francisco 49ers enhances business operations for the football team.  We work on projects such as ticketing analytics, retail sales, concession sales, and analytical marketing campaigns. Though it will be a little hard to predict what kind of projects and priorities we will have in the off-season, the extern should expect to learn about all of the above revenue-generating and customer experience-enhancing activities.  

Recommended skills: Tableau, SQL, Google Slides

Law

Location: Chicago, IL

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Stephen Chahn Lee, Morse ‘91

Industry: Legal Practice

Available Spots: 1 - 2

Sponsor Provided Description: The Law Office of Stephen Chahn Lee, LLC is a solo legal practice focused on white-collar criminal defense and health care fraud.  Stephen Chahn Lee ‘91 was a federal prosecutor for 11 years and is happy to help train future lawyers.  The extern will shadow him in the course of meetings, case preparation, and community involvement in bar associations and research.  The extern will also likely help with some research assignments;  previous interns have helped him with research ethics issues and Asian American legal history.

Recommended skills: Research

Medical

Location: Irvine, CA

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Eric Yao Chang MD, Saybrook ‘99

Field: Sports Medicine

Available Spots: 4 - 6

Sponsor Provided Description: Academic Private Practice affiliated with the University of California Irvine.  We are an Orthopedic Sports Medicine practice. I am the owner of my practice and it’s a good experience to learn clinical orthopedic sports medicine and clinical research opportunities.  This will allow you to prepare for a future in the field of medicine.

Recommended skills: Pre-med, Be ready to learn!

Location: Manhattan, NY

Duration: March 9th - 13th

Alum: Dr. Herrick Wun, Trumbull ‘94

Field: Vascular Medicine

Available spots: 1-2

Sponsor Provided Description: Weill Cornell Medicine is the Physician Organization for Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, NY, that staffs the physicians and surgeons at New York Presbyterian Hospital, one of the top hospitals in the country.  The externship experience will allow you to shadow a busy vascular surgeon in an academic medical practice that focuses on providing high quality care to the underserved Asian population.  You will see how our surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical assistants, and vascular technologists function as an integrated team during clinics and procedures/surgeries.  There will be time to discuss my experiences from Yale to medical school faculty member.

Recommended skills: A desire to immerse yourself in real world medicine.

Politics/Public Sector

Location: St. Paul, MN

Duration: March 9th - 20th

Alum: Kaozouapa Elizabeth Lee (Liz), Trumbull ‘11

Industry: Government

Available Spots: 1 - 2

***Note: Housing will be provided for the selected extern(s)***.

Sponsor Provided Description: The Minnesota House of Representatives boats 134 members and is anticipated to have a fast-paced session in 2026 - the second year of the current biennium. 

Externs will be both observer and participant to the daily workings of Rep. Liz Lee’s office. Our staff consists of 1 legislative aide and 1 press staffer. Externs will have the opportunity to join internal staff meetings, meetings with stakeholders on pending legislation, as well as voting time on the MN House Floor. If there is interest and time, externs may consider drafting resolutions and bills, as well as correspondence with constituents and/or state and federal agencies.

Recommended skills: Open to taking all majors; good communications skills are a plus!

Technology

Location: London, UK

Duration: March 9th - 20th

Alum: Minh Ngan Tran,  Morse ‘09

Field: Product Marketing

Available Spots: 2

***Note: $2,500 stipend per extern offered by alumni host for housing and transportation***

Sponsor Provided Description: Goodnotes is the leading AI digital paper beloved by 25 million users worldwide. Launched in 2011, Goodnotes started as an improvement to physical paper notes. Today, Goodnotes is pioneering generative AI for digital handwriting in the productivity space. Goodnotes was most recently named Apple’s 2022 iPad App of the Year. Minh Tran ‘09 is currently the Chief Operation Office (COO) at Goodnotes overseeing all of the business and people functions. Our two externs will join our marketing team to help us design our field marketing efforts at colleges around the world!

Recommended skills: Love for all things branding and marketing; experience with organizing campus events and galvanizing people to come out for them.

Location: Watertown, MA

Duration: March 9th - 20th 

Alum: Lisa Luo, Saybrook ‘10

Field: Biomedical Software Engineering

Available Spots: 1

**Note: Select applicants during the screening process will undergo a brief interview with the sponsor. Selected externs will be required to sign an NDA.**

***Stipend will be offered by alumni host for housing and transportation for one out of the two weeks (not including extern financial aid application)***

Sponsor Provided Description: Psivant Therapeutics is accelerating drug discovery and creating better therapeutics through a computation-first molecular design paradigm that leverages best-in-class methods and technologies arising from decades of research and innovation. The computational team focuses on enriching the drug discovery design cycle with AI/ML-assisted molecular simulations at scale. This helps to inform data-driven decisions made by our scientists at every stage of research and experimentation for designing small molecule drugs against challenging disease targets. An extern in the computational team will gain experience learning about predictive models and simulations, and how we use them to accelerate and refine the design cycle from hit identification to experiments in the wet lab. 

Recommended skills: Computer Science - Linux, Bash, Python, Object-Oriented Programming

Nice-to-have: Basic knowledge of molecular chemistry

Skills gained: HPC, Cloud, Distributed Computing, Machine Learning, Open Source Software, Molecular Dynamics Simulations