Welcome to our awesome group of fall 2021 interns! We’re so excited to work with them to change the conversation around mental health.
Hannah Whitfield
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I graduated from the University of St Andrews this summer with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
2. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Connecticut but lived in Georgia for most of my childhood.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what are you most excited about your role?
I’m interning for the Programs Team! I am excited that we have the opportunity to make a difference in the younger generation’s lives by changing the conversation about mental health, primarily through our Speakers Program.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I wanted to intern for Active Minds because I wanted to see the inner workings of a non-profit while doing work primarily connected to my degree in psychology. Active Minds allows me to work in an area that is both relevant and interesting to me.
5. What makes you get out of bed each morning?
My family and close friends make me get out of bed in the morning.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I am currently binge-watching “Ted Lasso.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, cooking, reading, and playing soccer in my free time.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I would go to dinner with Ina Garten (and preferably eat something she cooked)!
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be by the sea, spending time relaxing and reading with no distractions or responsibilities.
Greg Carnesi
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I’m currently a senior studying psychology, philosophy, and cross-sector leadership at Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus.
2. Where did you grow up?
I’ve been born and raised in Phoenix, Ariz. for all twenty-one years of my life. It’s definitely a dry heat.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what are you most excited about your role?
I’ll be interning with the Chapters Team, which oversees all of the Active Minds chapters nationwide! I’m most excited to promote the growth and development of our chapters, which make up the foundation of our organization.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I’m looking to work in a mental health nonprofit for my professional career, and given the work I’ve already done with Active Minds as a two-year chapter president and SAC member, it made sense for me to get my foot in the door here.
5. What makes you get out of bed each morning?
I don’t really know the answer to that question. I guess I’ve just gotten in the habit of getting out of bed, so it’s somewhat of an automatic process for me.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I’m not actively watching anything right now, but I’ll always recommend the Avatar series (both “The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra”).
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
In the little amount of time I have, I like to read, work out, and play video games (right now I’m revisiting the Pokémon series).
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I’m not big into celebrity culture, but it’d be cool to get dinner with Brenden Frasier.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
I think visiting Japan could be really interesting given the completely different culture and technology there (they apparently have an incredible variety of vending machines of all things), though I’d want to be at least semi-fluent in the language first.
Cassidy Wilkins
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I went to Sacramento City College, as well as Skyline College, where I started an Active Minds Chapter! I spent about five years in community college, and graduated in 2020 with three degrees; AA-T in psychology, AA-T in social justice reform, and an AS-T in cognitive and behavioral sciences. I am currently a community studies major at the University of California, Santa Cruz!
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up partly in the bay area, but most significantly in the Central Valley near Sacramento, Calif.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am interning for the Chapters Team! I love that I am sending emails to chapters and fielding questions, because I have been on the other end of this exact inbox.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
Because of my previous affiliation and love for Active Minds, I switched from a major in psychology to community studies, which has a built-in component where we intern for a non-profit. Active Minds has opened a new door into working in and around mental health, and I’m in love! I would love to work for Active Minds in the future.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
My sweet dog Willow gets me out of bed in the morning!
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I’m not one for binge-watching, but I re-watch some of my favorite shows often, like “The Office,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Schitt’s Creek.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
Living in such a beautiful place in California, I spend as much time as I can among the redwoods or at the beach!
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I would go to dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I have so many questions!
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be spent on a secluded beach, with no worries in the world!
Evan Scheinberg 
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I am a senior at the College of Charleston majoring in English, with a focus in writing and rhetoric/publication.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Washington, D.C- area.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am interning with the Development Team. I am most excited to hear back from all of the chapters I have reached out to about Active Minds’ Spirit Week 2021, as well as continuing to contribute to other external affairs projects.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
When looking for an internship, I knew the two most important things to look for were the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills I have learned in school to a new setting, and to find a company whose message I could buy into and who is making a real impact on the world. Active Minds offered me the opportunity to achieve both of these goals, and I am glad to be returning for a second stint as an intern with the Development Team.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
The thought of being able to go out and seize what the day has to offer … and a really loud iPhone alarm.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I just finished “Entourage,” and now I’m deep into “Boardwalk Empire.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to enjoy the beautiful weather in Charleston, spend time with my friends, play basketball, and watch Martin Scorcese movies in my free time.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
Definitely Samuel L. Jackson. He is so cool.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be some time on a nice beach or in the mountains, far away from technology!
If you’re interested in interning for Active Minds in the future, click here to learn more.
