This summer, the Johnson Institute welcomed a stellar group of student interns. These four interns brought energy and a dynamic work ethic to the office every day. We appreciate all of the hard work they did this summer and wish them all the best as they all return to school for the new academic year!
Learn more about our four summer interns—Heesoo Cho, Connor Owens, Jamie McGuire, and Michael Doyle—and discover their key takeaways from interning with the Johnson Institute this summer.
Heesoo Cho
The two biggest things I’ve gained from this internship are experience and knowledge. I’ve worked on smaller projects like organizing files and sealing letters, but I’ve also participated in projects like filming and transcribing our oral histories. Working on transcribing the oral histories alone has been a journey of learning so many new things. From Attorney Fred Gray to Mayor Steven Reed, viewing all of our oral histories gave me firsthand accounts of the civil rights movement’s inner workings.
Working at the FMJI wasn’t just about an internship experience, but about growing to truly appreciate the work our Institute does from the knowledge I earned. There are so many resources that our website, programs, and events have to offer. Being able to experience these programs firsthand, participate in hosting them, and help to create more educational resources has not only added to my knowledge of our judicial system and the civil rights movement, but also helped me grow to truly enjoy the work that I do. I hope that we can reach more people through our future programs and teach people about civics education, the judicial system, and Judge Frank M. Johnson.
Connor Owens
My name is Connor Owens, and I am a rising senior at Western Kentucky University. Throughout the summer, I had the wonderful opportunity and experience to intern at the Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute. During my time with the institute, I enjoyed being able to attend different court proceedings, events, and work with people to learn more about the courts and their impact on our lives and the country. Throughout my internship I have gained irreplaceable knowledge and experiences which will impact me forever.
Throughout the summer, some of my favorite moments were helping people know more about civics, the court, and the judicial branch. The knowledge of civics is irreplaceable and vital in our country today, and I felt like I was being a part of something that’s worth it and making a positive difference. My experience working with the Institute opened my eyes to how little many people knew about the government and how it works. If people don’t know their rights, how will they ever know if they’re wronged? I repeat this line of thinking daily, and I will use it to remember to always inform and be patient with those I converse with, as giving knowledge and understanding can make a lasting impact.
Jamie McGuire
My name is Jamie McGuire and I am a rising sophomore at The University of Alabama! This past summer, I absolutely loved my experience with Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute. There are so many things to love about the Institute, from its inspiring mission to promote civic education and engagement within our community, to its illumination of the stories that have shaped the civil rights movement. Above all, I have loved being immersed into the firsthand accounts of federal judges who personally encountered the magnitude of Judge Johnson’s life and his rulings. Additionally, all of those judges had their own stories detailing absolutely pivotal moments in the civil rights movement that aided in progressing our country to the point where it is today.
Sitting below the balcony in the Historic Judge Myron Thompson Courtroom, knowing that figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks sat in those very seats to change history is an experience I could not find anywhere else! I was so surprised by just how much history I was walking through on a daily basis on the way to my internship. My favorite experience while interning with FMJI was the 70th anniversary of Browder v. Gayle and being able to meet so many people from all over the country who are passionate about acknowledging how we got to where we are today. This summer, the most important thing I learned is that no matter who you are, we all have a duty to advance this imperfect democracy and propel our union. The ways in which we all contribute to that mission will vary, and that variation is what, ironically, unites us. As I prepare to return to school in the fall, I hold these truths close to my heart as I try to be the change I hope to see!
Michael Doyle
This Spring, I graduated from Samford University and will be attending Cumberland School of Law starting in August. This summer was my second year volunteering at the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute (FMJI). What I have enjoyed the most in my experience was being able to help out with the educational events hosted by the institute. Each summer, FMJI conducts programs that educate groups on Constitutional history as well as the Civil Rights Movement. One thing that surprised me was how many people from different places came to our events. People from all over the country attended FMJI events this summer, and I am proud to have helped make these events possible.
Of course, staffing FMJI events is not the only thing needed to make them happen. I also created materials to help the public understand what we were teaching them. A particular piece that stands out to me would be the slideshow I made for Browder v. Gayle for the deep dive on that Supreme Court case. Learning about the case is one thing, but putting together a presentation about it gave me more insight into the case than I would have had otherwise. When creating this presentation, I clipped videos from interviews with people who were actually involved. Being able to hear their voices and synthesize the information into a presentation was an eye-opening experience. I hope to carry the quality of being faithful to primary sources that I learned at the FMJI into my future legal career.
