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Jamie Penilla
Jamie Penilla
Jamie, a third-year Kresge affiliate, is double majoring in Spanish Studies and History, with a focus on the Americas and Africa. Within Spanish Studies, Jamie concentrates on literature. Her academic interests center on colonial Latin American history and its present-day legacies. Jamie hopes to pursue a career in museums and archiving, and has previously contributed to research projects through the History Department, including work with the Psychedelic History Archive, documenting the history and development of psychedelics as they gain mainstream acceptance in the 2020s. In her free time, Jamie enjoys rock climbing, pottery, and playing guitar.
WILDR
Women In Leadership for Diverse Representation
WILDR
Women In Leadership for Diverse Representation
Mentor: Erica Padilla-Chavez
Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation (WILDR) is a collective of women in Santa Cruz County working to support and empower diverse women to pursue leadership and public service roles. Through training, networking, and education, WILDR builds the skills, knowledge, and connections women need to run for office and lead with impact. Committed to values like racial and gender equity, reproductive justice, housing justice, and voter access, WILDR envisions a democracy where leadership reflects the diversity of the community it serves.
How does this internship apply to your academic journey in the humanities?
How does this internship apply to your academic journey in the humanities?
This internship has been a valuable part of my academic journey in the humanities, giving me the opportunity to develop my skills in communication and in working collaboratively toward professional goals. It has also allowed me to learn more about local government, broadening my understanding and allowing me to connect it with my previous studies in local history, an area that greatly interests me. Additionally, the internship has given me a chance to apply my Spanish translation skills, helping me expand my vocabulary in fields like politics and public service. Most importantly, it has been a pleasure to work with the women of WILDR and learn from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives as they do meaningful work empowering women in leadership roles throughout Santa Cruz County.
Jamie, pictured with fellow intern Cal Bobell at last year's Intern Showcase
Projects
Projects
One of our missions over the past few months has been to highlight important issues affecting our community, especially those impacting women. One issue we chose to focus on was healthcare cuts. We wanted to show how recent shifts in federal government funding will affect our community, with a particular focus on women. To help spread this message, I created an infographic for our social media that documents the real effects of these cuts, backed by research and statistics, and presents the information in a visually digestible way to improve outreach to our community and to women more broadly.
As part of my internship with WILDR, I contributed to the Virtual Rolodex project, an initiative designed to strengthen our network of women leaders across Santa Cruz County. Working closely with the team, I helped reformat and redesign the Rolodex to better align with WILDR’s brand guide, enhancing its visual appeal and functionality. I also developed a Google Form to streamline the collection of key information like names, emails, and skills, making it easier to expand and organize the network. This project is something we hope will be a valuable tool for establishing connections across our community, helping us support and direct more women into leadership roles and elected positions. It was a meaningful opportunity to apply my communication and design skills while advancing WILDR’s broader mission of empowering diverse women in leadership.
Reflections on working with WILDR
Reflections on working with WILDR
This internship has had a significant impact on both my academic growth and my professional development. It gave me the chance to put my humanities skills into practice, particularly in communication, collaboration, and research. Working with WILDR allowed me to connect my academic interests in history and social justice to real-world issues, especially those affecting women and local communities. Being part of such a supportive and inspiring community of women showed me the importance of building strong networks in leadership and public service. The experience has also strengthened my confidence in professional environments and made me even more committed to pursuing a career where community empowerment and communication are central.
My main learning goal for this internship was to improve my skills in teamwork, and I feel that I made strong progress toward that goal. Throughout my time with WILDR, I collaborated closely with others on projects like the Virtual Rolodex and social media campaigns, learning how to communicate effectively, share responsibilities, and support a collective vision. I also practiced professional communication through emails, meetings, and project updates, which will be invaluable to me in my future career. Additionally, I learned to use new digital tools, including Excel and Google Forms, to help organize and manage information. Working with a community of supportive women leaders helped me see how teamwork, leadership, and advocacy come together in professional spaces, and it made the experience especially meaningful.
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