Hi everyone!! My name is Ava Leonard, I am a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh, and I am SO excited to finally be writing this. In a few weeks, I will be heading to Seoul, South Korea, for the summer, and I honestly still cannot believe it. But first — let me introduce myself!
On the personal side, I am creative, high-energy, and someone who is always doing too many things at once. I love art — I actually got commissioned to have a piece displayed on the political science floor in Posvar at Pitt, so if you walk by, that is mine!! Outside of that, I am super active and social. I love hanging out with my friends, good food, a hiking trail, a good playlist, or a new city to explore. I am also a massive foodie, which is a huge part of why Seoul felt like the right call this summer. I eat Korean food on a regular basis already, so the idea of having it every single day is not a problem for me at all. Not even a little bit.
Academically, I am majoring in Political Science with a sub-concentration in International Relations and minoring in both Business and Information Science. I have always been into politics, but I added Business because I wanted something more practical and versatile alongside it. Then I added Information Science because AI is everywhere right now, and I would rather be ahead of it than scrambling to catch up. Honestly, not a lot of people are doing all three together, and I think that intersection of tech, policy, and business is one of the most interesting places to be right now. I am still figuring out exactly how they all connect, but that is kind of the fun part.
On campus, I am the Risk Manager for Delta Zeta, and I am also in the Political Science Student Association (PSSA). I love being involved. I do have to say, though, junior year is approaching way too fast. I have two years left at Pitt, and I genuinely do not want to think about it. Someone, slow this down please!!
Professionally, this past spring I interned as an Economic Advancement Intern at the YWCA, a nonprofit focused on empowering women and eliminating racism. It was one of the most meaningful things I have done and really shaped how I think about purpose-driven work. I also work as a server at the Hofbräuhaus in Pittsburgh — and random fun fact, I went to the original one in Germany before I even knew there was one here.
This summer I will be at JHSUSTAIN in Seoul as a Research Intern through Pitt’s IIP. I will be researching climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives, supporting feasibility studies, tracking climate finance trends, and contributing to reports that guide sustainable development programs.
Why IIP?
Honestly, I knew pretty early on that a regular study abroad program was not going to cut it for me. I wanted something that actually put me to work in another country, not just a classroom in another country. The IIP does that — you get the cultural experience AND real professional experience at the same time, which is rare.
Why Korea?
This one is personal. I am a quarter Korean, and my halmeoni (grandmother) and I have always been really close. Korean culture and food have been part of my life growing up, and going to Seoul this summer honestly feels bigger than just an internship to me. I want to experience that side of my background in a way I never have before.
On top of that, Seoul is one of the most innovative cities in the world right now. For someone going into a role focused on climate policy and sustainable development, being in a place that is at the center of conversations around technology and governance is a pretty ideal setup. And I just love to travel — I want a career that lets me keep doing it, and this feels like a step in that direction.
Also, yes, the food is a factor. A big one. I stand by that.
What I Hope to Gain
Personally, I want to come back having connected more with my Korean heritage and having pushed myself outside of my comfort zone in ways that actually stick.
Academically, I want everything I have studied about international politics and global policy to stop being abstract. I want to see it in practice and come back knowing things a classroom could not have taught me.
Professionally, I want real experience and a clearer picture of what I actually want to do with my career. I want to prove to myself that I can show up in a professional environment far from home and do good work. And I want to figure out what part of this field genuinely excites me, because I think this summer will help with that.
I cannot wait to get there and start sharing updates. 🇰🇷✈️