SPAA Internship Spotlight: Dawn Zukowski – South River Board of Education
Name: Dawn Zukowski
SPAA Degree: BA in Public and Nonprofit Administration
Expected Graduation Date: May 2025
Name of Organization: South River Board of Education, Grants Department
Location of Internship: South River, NJ
Title: Administrative Assistant
Responsibilities:
I began by learning all the aspects of the district’s current grants and how they are maintained. I also worked from start to finish on a grant funded parent engagement program which began with identifying families in the district that would benefit from the program, then contacting families, signing families up, and executing the administration of the program. This involved a lot of communication between staff members, families, and the outside provider staff that delivered the program.
Favorite Aspect(s) of Internship:
I enjoyed seeing a grant funded program through from start to finish. The program was very successful for the families that participated. It was a satisfying experience to be a part of such a worthwhile endeavor.
Career Goals: I would like to stay in the education field. I am not sure what this will look like, but I do enjoy working within the educational grant area and the special education area, and I would like to explore working in higher education, possibly at Rutgers.
How did the Service-Learning Internship course help you navigate your internship?
The course provided me with the opportunity to learn more about myself and how to utilize all of the resources available to me as a Rutgers student when figuring out the myriad of possibilities for my future career. Dr. Dillard is extremely supportive and provides no-nonsense, useful guidance.
What kind of skills did you learn during this internship?
I learned how to understand the multitude of spreadsheets that are an integral part of managing grants. In addition, I learned that I have the skills to coordinate a program, which gave me confidence, and the understanding that I can do bigger things with my career.
How was the mentoring part of the internship helpful in navigating your career goals?
The administrator of the grants department is a very intelligent woman who provided me with a lot of insight on how her department works. It was so beneficial to have her guidance and support. Her calm demeanor went a long way in making me feel comfortable and capable. I believe I can look to her for mentor support in the future.