International Dyslexia Association / Communication & Conference Planning Internship

International Dyslexia Association

Internship Profile

Position Title: Communication and Conference Planning Intern
Student Name: Megan Monahan        
Graduation Year: May 2021
Major: Mass Communication
Type of Internship: Fundraising and Event Management
Career Community Cluster: Media, Arts, and Communication (MAC); Social Impact, Public Service, and Education (SIPSE)
City, State: Baltimore, MD
Semester: Fall
Hours: 5-10 hours per week
Paid or Unpaid: Unpaid

How did you find this internship?

I was contacted directly by the International Dyslexia Associate for this internship opportunity.

What advice on the internship application process would you give to another TU student interested in this internship?

The best thing you can do during the internship application process is to set yourself apart from others. Whether it's your cover letter, resume, or interview, you have to find something about yourself that is incredibly unique and use it. Marketing yourself is so important during this process because of the mass amount of people applying to internships. What sets you apart from every other student in your major or field? Create an impression that leaves them wondering more about you!

What did you do as an intern at this organization?

I did a lot of research for the International Dyslexia Association in terms of who to invite to the conference, which branches of IDA were interested in helping, sponsorships, awards, and speakers. I also updated content for their social media calendar, wrote professional recommendations for their communications, and created an advertising, public relations, and social media strategy for them. Throughout my time at IDA I was tasked with many different things and every day was different. Organization became a key task for me as the conference was approaching and I spent my days packing, labeling, and sending packages. Once we were at the conference, my daily tasks were pretty much anything and everything. It was so busy but incredibly rewarding, and I left feeling clear about my career path. I learned so much about administrative work as well as event planning, social media, and communication.

What did you find most rewarding in your internship?

My internship was incredibly rewarding because of the team I worked with. There were three women on the conference team with me and I continue to be inspired by them, even months after my time with the International Dyslexia Association concluded. At first, I was nervous about the tasks they asked me to do because they seemed so minuscule and unimportant, but I quickly learned that everything I was doing was part of a bigger picture. Seeing the little things I worked on every day help the success of the annual conference was amazing and taught me a lot about the event planning industry as a whole. Watching the three women on the conference team run an entire conference was so impressive and rewarding.

What were the challenges you faced in your internship?

One challenge was that the IDA team is so small, so a lot of responsibility was placed on me during the conference. To succeed in this internship, you must be fast-paced and able to handle stressful situations.

If another student at TU was interested in your internship next year, what skills would you recommend they develop in the coming semesters to prepare?

If a student at TU was interested in interning with the International Dyslexia Association, I would recommend that they learn a little bit about crisis communication, nonprofits, and researching before starting. The day-to-day work is based on research and organization, but the actual conference is very intense. The hours are long, and you are on-call for everything, which is exciting if you like a fast-paced environment. Being able to think about what your boss might want before they have to ask for it is another skill that would help immensely throughout this internship. A strong interest in event planning and nonprofits would also be great but is not necessarily a skill. Public speaking, social media planning, and research are three areas that students should know, love, and excel at in order to succeed in this internship.

about the organization

International Dyslexia Association

Learn more about International Dyslexia Association.