Kevin Parsons

Kevin is a rising senior at Fairfield University, studying Political Science and International Studies with minors in American Studies and Spanish.

He is a highly motivated, open-minded individual with a passion for meeting new people and experiencing new things. With his enthusiasm for travel, Kevin has traveled to the Dominican Republic twice on service immersion trips, Ireland on an academic exchange, and Rome on a concert tour. Kevin also has worked extensively with special needs students both domestically and abroad, is an active participant in Model UN, and is involved with Fairfield University’s Campus Ministry. With a love of travel, commitment to social justice, and a passion for learning, Kevin is always looking to expand his horizons.

Joel Howe

Joel is a rising senior at the University of Dayton, studying International Studies with a peace and global security concentration and minors in Political Science and Spanish.

He is from the Cleveland area and enjoys spending time outdoors whenever possible. Joel began his work abroad through an exchange program in Costa Rica and Ecuador during high school. He also had the opportunity to study abroad in the spring of 2020, spending a semester in Spain. Joel has a passion for travel and hopes to pursue a career that allows him to travel or live abroad.

Maria Cuenca

Maria is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Political Science and Global Studies with a Latin American International Politics concentration and a minor in Urban Planning.

Maria is currently involved in various campus organizations such as The Bridge, an online publication for women of color and NCPIRG, a student-directed, nonpartisan advocacy group that works to defend the environment and promote civic engagement. She is also involved with UNC PorColombia, a network of college students and professionals with Colombian backgrounds in North America that promotes leadership initiatives aimed at developing professional and entrepreneurial advancement through cultural, professional, and philanthropic initiatives. After graduation, Maria hopes to volunteer with the Peace Corps and further advance her drive and interest in international affairs by volunteering in Latin America. 

Isabel Nieves

Isabel is a rising senior at Gettysburg College, studying Psychology and Public Policy with minors in Spanish and Peace and Justice Studies.

Human rights work is something Isabel has always been passionate about, and she is thrilled for the opportunity to be a Counterpart intern. She looks forward to learning more about human rights and how to create long-lasting and positive change during her time at Counterpart. While working towards Counterpart’s mission to build inclusive and sustainable communities, she hopes to enrich her understanding through a global health and environmental perspective.

Steven Shamblen

Steven is a rising senior at the University of Dayton, studying International Studies with minors in Human Rights, Political Science, and Spanish.

During his time at the University of Dayton, Steven has been thankful for his study abroad experience in Guatemala and a semester of preparations for the Malawi Research Practicum, a two-month research project. Although the coronavirus pandemic suspended Steven’s travels to Malawi, his semester-long research offered him an invaluable experience. Steven applied to Counterpart to gain new global experiences, while enriching his education through the extensive reach and influence of Counterpart’s various projects and partnerships.

Katie Hay

Katie is a rising junior at the University of Dayton, studying Human Rights, Business Administration, and French.

In her time at UD, Katie hosts a podcast called UpstreamUD that highlights conversations on mental health, social issues, and the complexities of being human; helps plan the annual Human Rights Week; and supports local Dayton and global nonprofits as a consultant with Flyer Consulting. Although her plans to study human rights in Morocco have been postponed for the Fall, she is grateful to spend more time in the UD community and live with her roommates (including two other Katies!). She looks forward to enriching her human rights education through Counterpart and begin her career in nonprofit development.

Gavin Seasholes

Gavin is a rising sophomore at Dickinson College, planning to study Anthropology with a minor in Spanish.

From Maryland, Gavin enjoys the close proximity to Counterpart in Washington D.C.. He applied to be an intern at Counterpart due to his interest in international development and Counterpart’s goal of helping communities around the world with the purpose of creating sustainable change. Trying to solve environmental issues and wildlife conservation are two areas which he is passionate about and hopes to experience in his internship at Counterpart.