Intern Profile: Seraphie Allen ’15
Open gallery
Seraphie Allen ’15
Major: English
Hometown: Santa Rosa, California
Can you tell us what you’re doing this summer? What are your basic duties as an intern?
As an English major and gender studies minor from California, I’ve been happy to find an internship opportunity close to home and relevant to my studies. I am currently interning for McSweeney’s Publishing, an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers and headquartered in San Francisco. McSweeney’s began in 1998 as a literary journal that published only works rejected by other magazines. That rule was soon abandoned, and since then McSweeney’s has attracted work from some of the finest writers in the country. Some of my duties include reading submissions, finding images, checking facts, and going to the post office! We are also encouraged to pitch ideas for issues as well as anything else we might want to do. Almost all of the employees were interns at McSweeney’s themselves at one time or another, and thus are very willing to help.
How has Lewis & Clark supported you in the process of finding, securing, and funding your internship?
Every step of the way Lewis & Clark has been there to help me fulfill my goals. Minda Heyman, former director of career development, took the time to meet with me, suggested McSweeney’s, and gave me the contact of a previous Lewis & Clark intern. Associate Director Adonica De Vault helped me with my resume and cover letter, and Assistant Director Nina Olken stuck with me and encouraged me when it seemed my internship was going to shambles.
How do you see this internship leading to a career in your chosen field and aiding in your overall career development?
I took this internship in the hopes that I would gain hands-on experience in the publishing field and allow my passion for unique literature to matter. If I choose to continue in the publishing field, due to the intensity and being completely integrated in such a small but mighty company, I feel absolutely aware and ready to continue down this career line.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience thus far?
The effort and literal persistence (including making a video) I had to show in order to even get and start this internship has taught me what a competitive and fun environment the working world can be. While I was originally interested in working with monster publishing houses like Penguin or Random House because I thought it would provide better opportunities down the road, I am glad I chose a young and creative company. Sometimes I feel like a chicken with my head cut off, but I am learning and participating in more than I probably could anywhere else and that is how you learn if you really like this field.
The Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin Summer Internship Award was established by Stephanie Fowler MA ’97 and Irving Levin, generous donors committed to ensuring that Lewis & Clark students are able to have meaningful and enriching summer internship experiences.
