#iamExeter: Cindy ’26
An Exeter internship brings students beyond the classroom and into real-world experiences.
From a business development internship with an oyster farm to studying orthopedic surgery, Exeter’s Internship & Fellowship programs are top-notch. Each summer, a group of rising seniors takes what they’ve learned at the table and brings it with them to their field of interest. Cindy Mumbo ’26 spent her summer as a Disability Rights International Intern.
What was your internship program?
I was a student intern with Disability Rights International. My time as an intern involved working with the founding and executive director of Disability Rights International (DRI), Mr. Eric Rosenthal ‘81 and his colleagues in New York City for a week and virtually for the rest of the internship.
During my time, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the 18th session at the United Nation for Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. During this weeklong conference, I got the chance to connect with many different activists from all over the world, in addition to interviewing and documenting the different work of activists into social media content for DRI.
What did your day-to-day look like during your program? Was it fast-paced meetings? Research-based? Give us a glimpse into a typical day.
During the internship, every day was a new day. Some days were packed with conferences at the United Nations and multiple more serious, larger meetings with activists. Some days were more laid back with online conferences and late-night meetings with associates in DRI.
How did you find your way to this program? What pulled you to this industry?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to help people, but I didn’t exactly know how to make this happen, specifically as a career pathway. My mother works with adults with disabilities within our community, so I would consistently volunteer during summers and weekends when I was home. Additionally, I was an active member and now co-head of Exonians with Disabilities (EDA), our school’s disability affinity and awareness club. So, when I saw this internship offered for that summer, I applied, expecting nothing to come of it, but surprisingly, I was offered an interview and then the position. This internship felt like the natural next step in my journey towards making a career out of advocacy and my desire to make the world a kinder and more accessible space for all people!
In what ways did Exeter prepare you for this internship? Was there a specific course or mentor that helped you get ready for your experience?
Before the internship, during the spring, we were able to meet with Mr. Rosenthal ‘81 and his colleagues. During these meetings, I became familiar with DRI’s mission, people within the organization, and the type of tasks that we would be doing in NYC. I quickly picked up on the vital work that many people, even outside of the organization, were doing to make a change for people with disabilities.
Mr. Rosenthal ‘81 shared with us a plethora of helpful resources before the internship. I became familiar with the history of people with disabilities in the United States, accurate and professional jargon on the topic, and key figures who I would soon meet in the U.N who continue to devote themselves to the cause.
Lastly, my coursework within the Health and Human Development Department (HHD) and positions within the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) contributed greatly to my understanding and appreciation for this movement.
What was your biggest takeaway from your experience or from the industry you were a part of?
Anyone and everyone has the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Throughout the internship, I met so many people beyond a single organization who wanted to fight for change. This industry is driven by the people and their passion and commitment are what make real progress possible. Even as a high schooler, I am constantly able to make tangible changes in my community at Exeter, which is what makes this internship so special, the real-world application!
How has this experience shaped your perspective on your future career path? Did it help you understand whether this is an industry you’d want to pursue long term?
I am extremely grateful for the experiences this internship offered me and all those who made this experience possible. Looking forward, I definitely want to pursue a path within advocacy and health sciences. I truly would not have been able to conceptualize a career path similar to this without this internship. With any meaningful journey, there were challenges along the way, but through them, I have grown closer to the person I dream of becoming one day. From the first Zoom call to the final meeting with Mr. Rosenthal ’81, non sibi was reflected in everything we did. A reminder to me that the most meaningful work is always rooted in something bigger than yourself.
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