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This summer, Cristina Callagy ’09 (Hawthorne, N.J.) got an up-close look at what happens when people feel they are the target of discrimination in the workplace.
Callagy, a psychology major, worked with the New York State Division of Human Rights processing cases in which workers felt they were wronged on the job. Her internship was paid for in part through a stipend from the Class of 2006 fund.
With a workload of more than a dozen cases, Callagy found herself doing a lot more than just observing how the office works. Rather, she was an active participant in the process.
“Margaret Gormley-King, the regional director of the office, told me right from the beginning it wasn’t going to be the kind of internship where I’d be just doing clerical work,” Callagy says. “This would be an actual work environment.”
Callagy handled cases mostly involving people who were arrested and convicted then running into problems at work. There also were some other cases thrown in the mix.
Having the opportunity to learn the process from the ground up appealed strongly to Callagy.
“I love the fact that it’s incredibly hands-on,” she says. “I get to do all this stuff as though I was one of the investigators. It’s very interesting.
“I’m learning a lot not just about the legal aspects of discrimination. I am also learning about how businesses operate because a lot of the cases deal with employees who’ve had problems with employers.”
One might ask why a psychology major would be working an internship that might be better suited to someone in pre-law. Though, Callagy feels it fit well with her academic track.
“I’ve always been sort of an advocate for the underdog. I enjoy public speaking, I enjoy debating,” she says. “I love learning about psychology. I think that the concepts I have learned can be applied to a lot of different career paths. While I am undecided as to exactly where I want to be in the future, I feel my knowledge of psychology can only add to my experience and aid me in future career endeavors.”
Gormley-King, who supervised the internship, says Callagy handled her responsibilities well.
“She has great writing skills and her oral communication is both articulate and pleasant,” Gormley-King says. “She is certainly welcome back here anytime.”
Callagy feels that Lafayette has provided her with the opportunity to expand her horizons and learn more about her career interests.
“I’ve been doing a lot of learning,” she says. “Now I’m actually getting the chance to put the learning process to work.”
Callagy, a Marquis Scholar, plays trumpet in the Lafayette Concert Band. She also is involved in club soccer, works as a lifeguard at the college gym and is a resident advisor for the fall semester.
Chosen from among Lafayette’s most promising applicants, Marquis Scholars receive a special academic scholarship and distinctive educational experiences and benefits. This includes a three-week, Lafayette-funded course abroad or in the United States during January’s interim session between semesters or the summer break. Marquis Scholars also participate in mentoring programs with Lafayette faculty and cultural activities in major cities and on campus.