Hi everyone!
My name is Amanda Cotumaccio (she/her), and I can’t believe I’m just a few days away from heading to Dublin, Ireland for the summer!
I’m a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where I’m double majoring in Computer Science and Digital Narrative & Interactive Design with a certificate in Digital Media. Basically, my Computer Science classes help me learn more about coding and how computers work while my Digital Narrative & Interactive Design major focuses on learning how to create stories through games, virtual reality environments, and other media experiences. I’ve been interested in technology ever since I was little. When I was twelve, my parents sent me to an all-girls coding camp called Alexa Café, and I fell in love with coding. Over time, I realized what I was really passionate about was the more creative side of coding. I thought it was so cool how a few lines of text could suddenly turn into something visual or interactive. That’s what pulled me toward UX and web design in the first place.
Outside of school, in my free time I can be found listening to music (I’m a big fan of Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray), reading mystery novels, and I’ll never turn down a trip to the movies to get good movie popcorn. I have a serious sweet tooth, and my friends call me a chocoholic. Finding Dublin’s best dessert spots has become my unofficial summer mission – so if you’ve got recommendations, please share!
I grew up in New York, and when I first toured the University of Pittsburgh, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. But on my tour of the school, even in the pouring rain, I fell in love with it. Everyone I met seemed to have a smile on their face and were so kind. It just felt like the right fit for me. Over time, I’ve come to love Pittsburgh for its blend of city energy and community feel.
When I found out about Pitt’s International Internship Program, it felt like a great opportunity for this summer: the chance to live abroad and also gain work experience at the same time. As I started reading more about different locations, Dublin reminded me of everything I love about cities – it’s got that vibrant city feel without being too overwhelming, it’s packed with culture, and honestly, the fact that it’s easy to navigate was a huge selling point for someone who usually struggles with directions more often than not.
This summer, I was offered an internship at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA for short). It’s one of Ireland’s leading institutions for modern and contemporary art. What really sold me during the interview was how they emphasized shaping the internship around what I really want to learn. Some of the projects they mentioned include helping with a website redesign and working on their Smartify app integration, which gives gallery visitors a more interactive, digital experience.
Those projects couldn’t be a better fit for me and I’m very excited to get the opportunity to work on them. I’m really interested in how people interact with digital tools, and I think it will be meaningful to work at a museum as their main goal is to connect with an audience. Being part of a team that’s using technology to make art more accessible and engaging is exactly the kind of work I want to be doing.
My long-term plan is to work in web and UX design – ideally, a role that combines creativity, problem-solving, and putting people first. This internship feels like a huge step toward that goal because I’ll get to see how digital experiences work in a completely different cultural context. Understanding how people from different backgrounds interact with technology and what design choices resonate with them internationally is going to be invaluable for my future career in technology and digital media. Also, immersing myself in a new culture is going to broaden my perspective in ways I probably can’t even imagine yet.
Personally, I’m also just excited to grow. I’ve lived away from home for school, but being in a whole other country is a totally new kind of independence. I want to meet people, try new foods, get a little lost (but not too lost), and soak up as much of Ireland as I can. I’m hoping to visit Galway, see some shows at a theater, and maybe catch some live music in a cozy pub somewhere.
