Current Intern

Liam Adamczyk | Boston College, History and Theology, BA`25

Research Title: Loss of Identity: The Religious Passiveness of American Youth

Research Description: American youth of the twenty-first century are less religious than ever before. There is an unprecedented level of passiveness towards religion in many teens who do claim a religious affiliation. Through my research, I hope to learn the origins of these two phenomena over the past ten to twenty years. I want to identify factors that lead to the religious passiveness of American youth and why they no longer feel as intensely connected with their faith as previous generations. After researching broader trends relating to lack of affiliation and passiveness, I plan to include a case study looking specifically at Catholic teens, who are facing one of the most significant drop-offs in affiliation. Ultimately, I want to learn why religious identity in the United States is declining and what changed over the last few decades.

 

Testimonials from Past Interns

Spring 2023

Millicent Caughey | Duke University, Religious Studies and History, BA`25

“Faith and the Law: The Extent of Religious Freedom in Modern America”

Fall 2022

Jose Serna | Augustana University, Government and Sociology, BA`24

“Chaplains in Healthcare Settings: Exploring Their Roles and Resources“

“My fall internship semester with Rumi Forum was an amazing experience. This internship allowed me to expand my writing and research skills. My research allowed me to learn about chaplaincy in a variety of healthcare settings. Researching this topic gave me a deeper appreciation for chaplains that work in healthcare. I felt supported by Rumi Forum throughout my entire semester from brainstorming a research topic, writing an abstract, finding chaplains to interview, and having weekly meetings so I could receive feedback on my work. I would highly recommend interning with Rumi Forum as this internship allowed me to explore and learn about a field that is often forgotten about in healthcare.“
 

Summer 2022

Dana Sultan | The George Washington University, Middle East Studies, BA`24

“Abraham and Covenants in the Quran: A Scriptural Analysis with Biblical References”

“I am so grateful I had the opportunity to intern with Rumi Forum. I felt supported and encouraged throughout the entire research process, attending weekly meetings and receiving thorough feedback on my work. This was truly so much more than an internship to me. It was an experience that widened my worldview and knowledge about sacred scriptures. It was an opportunity to explore many aspects of the Quran and the Bible. It was a journey that will always hold a special place in my heart as the first space in which I truly had the capacity to learn for myself and see my ideas come to life on the page. I would highly recommend interning with Rumi Forum.“

Spring 2022

Sascha Shroff | American University, SIS, International Studies, BA`24

“A Study of the Use of Sacred Texts in Combating Violence Against Women in Religiously Diverse Communities”

“My internship experience with Rumi Forum not only allowed me to develop my research, writing, and editing skills but gave me a space where I could explore topics of my interest with great professional and academic support and resources. The research process is a long and complicated process where you are faced with road bumps, research blocks, and an overwhelming amount of information to sort through and organize in an informative way for the reader. With the guidance of the Rumi Forum team, I successfully navigated the complicated path of research, taking away so many newfound skills and interests along the way. My experience at Rumi Forum allowed me to create a research paper I am genuinely proud of, making me feel I am contributing to the academic space of my interest. I am immensely grateful for the guidance, mentorship, and assistance of the Rumi Forum team throughout my time with there. They surrounded me with support and guidance while introducing me to many resources for my research and career.“

 

Ayse Pirge | The College of William and Mary, English, BA`21

“European Identities in the Context of Orientalism and Cultural Ambiguities“

“During my internship, I have been able to improve my academic writing skills and focus on a research topic based on my interests. I think one of the most important aspects of my research internship was delving into this topic in a way I otherwise wouldn’t have. It can be difficult to conduct research without having a consistent incentive to do so. I also got to attend virtual interfaith events which I believe are important as well.“
 

Summer 2021

Bailey Haraburda | The Catholic University of America, Sociology, BA`23, MA`24

“I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Immigration”

“My summer internship with the Rumi Forum allowed me to expand my research, writing, and editing skills. Although the experience was entirely virtual, the Rumi Forum team provided ongoing support and guidance for my research project. The internship afforded me an excellent opportunity to learn more about U.S. immigration and the vital role Faith-based organizations (FBOs) play in supporting asylum-seekers and refugees.”

Spring 2021

Mona Elsaai | Emory University, Political Science, BA`19

“In the Western World, there is somewhat of an acquiescent fascination with Rumi. In my estimation, this is because he represents the qualities we associate with methodological, rational thinking but in a way such that somehow anything is possible. Perhaps, among us is the next Rumi or perhaps there will never be another but it is my belief that there is a spark of Rumi every time I can look back and think to myself, “I am better for knowing this, and I am better for meeting this person,” which precisely encapsulates my experience at the Forum. These names may change in the next couple of years, but I am better for knowing Kubra, Ibrahim, and Mehmet. The research intern position has made me a more nuanced scholar, if I can even call myself that, but more importantly it has and continues to make me a better person. I understand students to consider a lot of factors when selecting an internship: location, reputation, compensation, and so on and so forth and each of these factors hold its own value but an internship is only as promising as the promise you put into it, and at Rumi anything is possible. To whoever is reading this, if you decide to pursue an internship with the Forum it may very well be a stepping stone but I encourage you to consider it a part of your life and allow yourself to engage with it as a student, member of society, and most importantly human being.“

 

Yusuf Mirasyedi | River Hill High School `22

“Working with Rumi Forum was a great opportunity for me. I gained valuable work experience and had a great time working with Rumi Forum employees as well as the other interns.”

Fall 2020

Elena Freeman | University of South Dakota, International Studies and French Studies, BA`20

“Honestly, I am very impressed at the experience that I had interning at Rumi Forum. Being completely remote for a project-related internship made me initially nervous because I had never created a large online event. I learned so much from the internship. As I reflect on the experience, I have realized that all of the lessons were made possible by one overarching factor: the amazing Rumi Forum team. Thank you so much for leading by example. You all showed dedication and passion for the job which motivated me to give my best effort. I appreciated how feedback was encouraged, which made me feel like my voice mattered. With your guidance, I gained the confidence to take initiative and I explored my creative side as we brainstormed ideas for the event. The freedom and responsibility that was given to us made me feel ownership over the final product, thus motivating me to work harder to show that the responsibility was not given in vain.”

Jared Fyfe | Virginia Tech, Psychology, BA`22

“As a rising student, there is nothing more valuable than experience in the real world. I worried that my online-learning semester would feel stunted, but having the opportunity to explore human rights among a world of professionals with Rumi Forum provided me a great outlet to keep my focus beyond my classes. I most appreciate the adaptability of Rumi in the face of a fully virtual internship, which is what made it able for our team to connect and work together from distant locations. I had a most enjoyable experience with Rumi Forum, and only wish that our team could have done more together in person.”