A National Challenge Demanding a New Approach
Across the country, persistent underrepresentation in STEM, health disparities among multicultural and Indigenous communities, and the growing need for a diverse research workforce continue to shape national conversations about equity and innovation. Expanding meaningful pathways into science, public health, and research has become essential as the nation works to address aging, behavioral health access gaps, and the ongoing shortage of culturally competent healthcare professionals.
The Tellegacy Internship Program responds directly to this challenge. Created by Dr. Jeremy Holloway, the program brings together health equity, behavioral science, and intergenerational connection to form an integrated training experience grounded in evidence, structure, and measurable outcomes.
Alignment With National Priorities for Research and Workforce Development
High-impact national initiatives consistently emphasize the importance of broadening participation in STEM, strengthening the research workforce, and developing culturally informed approaches that improve health outcomes. The Tellegacy Internship Program reflects these priorities by combining mentored research experiences, community-engaged learning, and structured technical development to support students—particularly those from multicultural and Indigenous backgrounds—who aspire to careers in science, healthcare, and research.
This model mirrors the core elements of successful undergraduate research experiences highlighted in national frameworks: meaningful research participation, quality mentoring, skill development, and intentional pathways into advanced study or STEM careers.
A Structured, Research-Integrated Experience
The internship is designed to provide clarity, rigor, and real-world application from the first day to the last. Short, skimmable sections, clear expectations, and outcome-driven activities ensure that each participant engages in work that contributes to larger research and community-impact goals.
Students are immersed in an environment emphasizing academic professionalism, research ethics, and culturally grounded practice. The tone, structure, and content of the experience signal to students that they are participating in research of substance and significance.
Outcomes First: Preparing Students for STEM and Health Equity Careers
The program begins with a clear outcome: ensuring students gain the competencies, confidence, and networks needed to persist and succeed in STEM pathways. Evidence from national research agencies demonstrates that structured, mentored research participation increases academic persistence, graduate school enrollment, scientific identity, and long-term career success. The Tellegacy Internship Program is intentionally designed to support these outcomes by giving students:
- Hands-on involvement in active research
- Opportunities for authorship, publication, and presentation
- Structured skill-building across research, communication, and analytics
- Direct exposure to behavioral health, aging, and social connectedness research
- A culturally affirming environment where identity, community, and lived experience are valued
Strategic Vocabulary Reflecting National Research Priorities
The program uses principles that resonate with leaders across scientific, health, and philanthropic sectors:
- Broader Impacts
- Workforce development
- Research participation
- Mentored experiences
- Social determinants of health
- Translational impact
- Community-based solutions
- Scalability and sustainability
These concepts reflect the program’s commitment to strengthening pathways into scientific and health-related careers and to advancing interventions that promote equitable health outcomes.
Theory of Change: How the Tellegacy Internship Works
The program operates through a clear, implicit theory of change:
Inputs:
Research infrastructure, faculty mentorship, legacy book program, structured project list, community partnerships, culturally grounded training.
Activities:
Research participation, data management, manuscript development, intergenerational engagement, digital media creation, program evaluation, community interaction.
Outputs:
Manuscripts, presentations, applied research skills, legacy books, program evaluation reports, digital products, cross-sector collaborations.
Outcomes:
Enhanced scientific identity, skill gain, academic persistence, cross-generational communication skills, cultural competence, long-term readiness for STEM and health careers.
Impact:
A more community-reflective, prepared, and equity-informed STEM and health workforce capable of addressing aging, behavioral health, and community-level disparities.
Core Projects Driving Student Learning
The internship includes projects that cultivate competencies emphasized in national STEM and health research initiatives. These include:
Research Program Management & Data Science Exposure
Students work with IRBs, REDCap/Qualtrics, data collection, ethical research conduct, and documentation workflows—skills foundational for scientific and public health careers.
Manuscript & Publication Pathways
Participants engage in literature reviews, data interpretation, manuscript preparation, and journal submission processes, providing early exposure to scientific writing.
Proposal Development & Concept Papers
Students contribute to concept papers, budgets, and proposal drafts, gaining experience aligned with competitive research environments.
Behavioral Health & Intergenerational Research
Through Tellegacy’s intergenerational sessions, students learn qualitative research, communication strategies, and real-world behavioral health research practices.
Digital Product, Media, and Technical Skills
Students strengthen technical competencies—video editing, podcast production, analytics, CRM workflows—all increasingly relevant to STEM communication and dissemination.
Program Delivery & Community Partnership Infrastructure
Students engage with faculty, monitor intergenerational dyads, and support program evaluation, building skills needed in health systems and community-based organizations.
Key Performance Indicators Demonstrating Impact
The program uses a set of KPIs consistent with national evaluation expectations for research-engaged student development programs
- Research Engagement Outcomes
- Student participation in IRB-approved studies
- Authored or co-authored publications
- Research skill gain (pre/post)
- Workforce Development & STEM Identity
- Continuation in STEM or health-related majors
- Enrollment in graduate or professional programs
- Growth in scientific confidence and belonging
- Broadening Participation
- Participation of Indigenous, multicultural, and rural students
- Partnerships with institutions serving underrepresented populations
- Pipeline tracking beyond program completion
- Community & Health Equity Impact
- Changes in older-adult behavioral health indicators
- Student cultural competence improvements
- Contributions to Tellegacy’s broader health equity research agenda
These KPIs reflect a commitment to rigorous tracking, structured evaluation, and long-term impact—core expectations across scientific and health research environments.
A Model Designed for Replication and Scaling
With its structured workflows, cross-sector partnerships, and evidence-based mentoring approach, the Tellegacy Internship Program offers a scalable model capable of strengthening STEM and health equity pathways in multicultural communities nationwide.
Its foundation is stable and proven; its design is innovative and adaptive. By integrating research, community engagement, and intergenerational connection, it addresses gaps recognized nationally—from STEM underrepresentation to social isolation among older adults—and provides a replicable solution for communities seeking to strengthen equity and opportunity.
An Invitation to Collaborate
Dr. Holloway welcomes conversations with organizations interested in expanding opportunities for students in STEM, health equity, and research-based career pathways.
For inquiries or collaborative discussions, please contact:
jeremy.holloway@tellegacy.com
