Khuslen Altangerel
Lauren Gregory
Nicola Hawthorne
The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA), in partnership with several Arkansas companies, has announced the fourth annual cohort of the Tjuana Byrd Summer Internship Program which includes three students from the University of Central Arkansas.
Khuslen Altangerel of Little Rock, Lauren Gregory of Jacksonville and Nicola Hawthorne of Pine Bluff, are among the total of nine students selected for the cohort.
Named for the WFA’s first Black president, the Honorable Tjuana Byrd Manning, the 12-week summer internship is reserved for Arkansas women of color who are pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, including finance and related majors. The internship is designed to increase access to and representation in these fields for women of color by eliminating barriers such as cost, social capital and geographic location.
Stone Bank serves as the presenting sponsor of the program. Supporting companies include Acxiom, Arvest Bank, Dassault Falcon Jet, Southwest Power Pool, Windstream and others.
“We are able to facilitate this high-quality internship each year because of the support and expertise of our participating companies,” said Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. “By investing in this program and providing mentorship and on-the-job training, these companies are empowering young women of color to gain valuable opportunities to learn and prepare for bright, promising futures. We are extremely grateful for our corporate partners and their investment in Arkansas girls and women.”
“Stone Bank is proud to partner with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas as a sponsor and participant in the Tjuana Byrd Summer Internship Program,” said Nick Roach, president & CEO of Stone Bank. “Over the past four years, we have welcomed four interns from the program into full-time positions at the bank. From fostering a culture of mentorship to building a pipeline of future leaders, our participation in the program has been a wonderful experience.”
Each intern earns $15-$20 an hour (depending on company placement), is provided with free housing for the duration of the program, and has access to mentorship and networking events and professional development workshops. Interns also have the opportunity to present to each company at the culmination of the internship.
“Since its inception, Acxiom has proudly sponsored this program to expand access to and foster greater diversity in STEAM fields,” said Janet Cinfio, Chief Information Officer at Acxiom. “We’re thrilled to welcome and invest in this summer’s group of dynamic, driven young women of color as interns. We look forward to becoming part of their career journeys and hearing the fresh ideas and perspectives they bring.”
The nine summer 2024 interns represent six Arkansas cities and four Arkansas universities. Below is a list of the interns and their hometowns and majors.
- Khuslen Altangerel of Little Rock, computer science at UCA
- Lauren Gregory of Jacksonville, computer science at UCA
- Nicola Hawthorne of Pine Bluff, computer science at UCA
- Trinity Miller of Bryant, computer science at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
- Zaria Moore of Pine Bluff, business administration at UAPB
- Sabian Murry of Bryant, political science at University of Chicago
- Michaela Pascall of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, computer science at University of Arkansas (UofA)
- Ahtziri Saldana of Little Rock, civil engineering at University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Indu Sen of Bentonville, information systems and marketing at UofA
About the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Founded in 1998, the mission of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA) is to ensure economic security for Arkansas women and girls through collaboration and focused philanthropic investment. Through grant making, research, and the Girls of Promise® and Women Empowered initiatives, the WFA is investing in real solutions that allow women and girls to move up the economic ladder and reach their fullest potential. The WFA is the only statewide foundation that focuses solely on women and girls in Arkansas. Learn more at womensfoundationarkansas.org.
