Emma Hatfield Advances Justice and Equity Through IRC Internship
Through her REAL Program summer internship, Emma Hatfield ’26 combined her passion for social justice and neuroscience to support refugee families in Boise, Idaho.
Junior Emma Hatfield (Neuroscience) channeled her passion for justice and human connection through the REAL Program during her summer internship at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Boise, Idaho. With support from the REAL Program and the Ignatian Center’s Jean Donovan Fellowship, Emma embraced an opportunity to “gain an understanding of the challenges refugees face as they navigate the U.S. healthcare system,”—a pursuit tied to her academic interests in neuroscience and medicine. By merging her knowledge of neuroscience with her drive for immigration justice, Emma approached her role at the IRC with empathy, curiosity, and a desire to make a meaningful impact.
Emma reflects that the REAL Program was instrumental in enabling this transformative experience. “I might not have considered the internship without the help of the REAL Program,” she shared. “The support allowed me to fully engage in work that made a meaningful difference without the burden of travel costs.” This financial and logistical backing allowed Emma to immerse herself in the work and focus on contributing to the IRC’s mission.
At the IRC, Emma worked closely with both the childcare and medical teams, conducting follow-up visits to families who had been in the U.S. for six months to two years. These visits allowed her to connect directly with refugee families, ensuring their homes were safe and functional while addressing any concerns they faced. She also took on vital administrative tasks, such as helping families apply for Section 8 housing vouchers. Her contributions extended to the mental health team’s childcare programs, where she gained insights into how accessible, supportive services can shape the well-being of vulnerable populations.
Through this work, Emma developed a “personal and profound understanding” of the systemic barriers refugees encounter, particularly in Idaho. She observed how legal and legislative gaps—such as the ability of landlords to deny housing based on government-issued vouchers—create additional challenges for immigrant families. “This is discrimination based on income, but there is no law in place that stops property managers from doing this,” she explained. The experience underscored for Emma the importance of advocating for policy changes that promote equity and justice. She emphasized the power of education and awareness, urging others to learn about these injustices and support efforts to create a fairer legal and social framework for immigrants.
Emma’s internship also illuminated the ways her neuroscience major intersects with her commitment to social justice. By examining the connection between medicine, mental health, and structural inequalities, Emma realized the potential for neuroscience to inform solutions that promote equity in healthcare. She shared, “This experience has inspired me to pursue research on how we can create a more equitable medical system—one that serves minority communities and ensures everyone receives the care they deserve.”
Looking ahead, Emma hopes to pursue a career that combines social work, humanitarian services, and medicine. Her summer at the IRC reinforced her aspiration to work at the intersection of medicine and advocacy, striving to build systems that empower marginalized communities. With the help of the REAL Program, Emma not only gained hands-on experience but also discovered a clearer sense of how she wants to make a difference in the world.
About the REAL Program
The REAL Program provides paid experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Developed to allow students to discover their interests, gain a rich understanding of a particular field, discern their career goals, and explore future employment fields, the program has distributed roughly $2.8 million to more than 730 students across all majors since its inception in 2018. Placements range from non-profit and community service organizations to research labs, governmental organizations, and beyond.