�����������ϳԹ�

Maya Llewellyn ’25 was working an early morning shift as a lifeguard at the �����������ϳԹ� Natatorium, keeping a watchful eye on the people swimming back and forth in the pool. Most of the swimmers finished their workouts and hurried away, still dripping, intent on getting to work on time. 

But Llewellyn noticed another group of people who seemed much more relaxed. Once out of the pool, they stopped to chat with friends before walking out together in small, companionable groups. 

It seemed to Llewellyn that there was a different sort of life to be had in �����������ϳԹ�, and she wanted to know more. Who were these happy people? 

Serving the Community

With a little investigation, Llewellyn found out she was observing the difference that retirement can make.

This realization inspired Llewellyn, a sociology major and environmental studies concentrator from Chicago, to learn more about the lives of retired people in �����������ϳԹ�. The Sociology Practicum class offered the perfect opportunity for her to explore this area. In the spring semester of her senior year, Llewellyn was one of eight students who took the class, which was taught by Professor of Sociology Susan Ferguson. 

Ferguson says the seminar course is designed around a work experience or practicum (similar to an internship) in the �����������ϳԹ� community. The students spent 10 hours each week working with a mentor at their practicum sites, which included a range of �����������ϳԹ� organizations: the local schools, the �����������ϳԹ� Area Arts Council, Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA), the Iowa Kitchen, and two retirement communities. 

The students provided valuable service to their organization and the community while getting real-life work experience. 

In the classroom component of the course, Ferguson talked with the students and helped them process their experiences. “The seminar is a safe space where they can talk about what’s going on in their sites and what’s made them uncomfortable and what they learned,” she explains. The seminar topics and readings focused on professional development and the sociology of organizations. Students learned about deep listening and workplace ethics, conducted informational interviews, and improved their presentation of self in the workplace. Regular assignments, papers, and a final research presentation rounded out the classroom portion of the course. 

Checking the Boxes

Llewellyn says that for her, a practicum at the Mayflower Retirement Community “checked all the boxes.”

Working with Director of Community Life Leslie Jaworski, Llewellyn got to know the residents by participating in as many activities as she could. She engaged with the residents, asking thoughtful questions and intently listening to their replies. She was able to connect with them, and through her interactions and interviews, she gathered information and data for her final project.

“To deeply listen to someone — people like it! It’s a pleasure to be seen,” Llewellyn says. She enjoyed interacting with the Mayflower residents, and it seems the feeling was mutual. 

“She created meaningful relationships and activities for residents, and vice versa. It was a two-way street, a reciprocal relationship,” Jaworski says. 

The Art of Mentoring

Other students also found satisfying opportunities for growth, hands-on experience, and service to the community at their practicum sites. Ileah Bonzi ’25, a sociology major from Florida with a concentration in policy studies, worked at the �����������ϳԹ� Area Arts Council (GAAC). As a dancer herself, GAAC was an especially good fit. 

Bonzi worked with GAAC Executive Director Monica St. Angelo, who is also a dancer. St. Angelo has been with GAAC, a nonprofit supporting a variety of outlets for artistic expression in �����������ϳԹ�, since 2018.

St. Angelo was thrilled at the opportunity to host a practicum student. “�����������ϳԹ� students are smart and creative and thoughtful,” she says. Bonzi more than lived up to her expectations. 

“Ileah was just a superstar,” St. Angelo says. 

Digging Deep

GAAC was the perfect practicum for Bonzi. “As someone who is deeply creative and passionate about all forms of art, the chance to engage with a local arts nonprofit through a sociological lens was very appealing,” she says. 

Bonzi went into the semester planning to create an archival history of GAAC to help the organization move forward with continuity and consistency. “She dug through all our information. She interviewed people and she put together a great package of reference information,” St. Angelo says. “It’s just such a valuable resource for us.”

Bonzi also developed a brand kit with social media templates for GAAC to make posting easier and more consistent. Bonzi also did smaller tasks that aligned with St. Angelo’s day-to-day work, especially around communications and marketing. 

“I really enjoyed this aspect because it built on my prior experience and allowed me to be creative,” Bonzi says. “One fun project was creating a video tour series of GAAC’s facilities, which they’ve been sharing on social media.”

Bonzi’s work went beyond all expectations, St. Angelo says. “She was wonderful. Super smart, super talented. Anybody who hires her in the future has got a real treasure.”

Community Partnerships

Ferguson says the class was a win for the community, as well as for the organizations and especially for the students themselves. “I’m really thrilled with the generosity of my community partners,” she says. 

The students gained valuable experience in the work world and applied their sociological knowledge and skills, while also contributing their energy and time to community organizations. 

Another plus for students? They sometimes learn what they don’t want to do after graduation. “That’s the beauty of it,” Ferguson says. “The Sociology Practicum helps students realize what types of organizations, people, and issues they might want to work with.”

Students and Mentors Talk About Their Experiences