A self-described programming addict, Ashlesha Bhagat ’26 is excited to be working as a research and teaching intern in the Computer Science Department at the University of San Francisco this winter.
“I am exploring ways to make coding more accessible for non-technical majors and beginner coders,” said Bhagat, a computer science major. This includes helping a lab class with block-coding platforms as well as designing coding samples and tutorials on generative AI.
Standing, from left, are Anh Nguyen Cate Hicks, Nada Aloussi, Alissa Tsay, Eastwood Yeboah, Miraj Parekh and Vin Pham. Kneeling, from left, are Ashlesha Bhagat and Ha Truong.
Bhagat is one of nine students participating in Union’s San Francisco Internship Program in Innovation and Creativity.
In addition to interning at local companies and organizations three days a week, students take academic courses and enjoy local excursions. These are complemented by networking opportunities and meetings with alumni.
The internship program began in 2016 as a study of the culture of Silicon valley startups, designed to shed light on what it means to be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial in the workplace.
This year’s focus is on the digital arena, led by Fernando Orellana, professor of visual arts.
His course, California Dreamin’: Topics in Digital Art, uses San Francisco and other Northern California locales as inspiration to explore techniques in the creation of digital art. This encompasses digital drawing and painting, digital imaging, animation and augmented reality.
“It’s been great to learn practical skills and also make fun memories with my peers through many field trips,” said computer science major Miraj Parekh ’27. He is one of several students interning at the Los Angeles-based BIS Computer Solutions, where he is learning to use tools and technologies related to website design.
“I’ve also gained a grasp of Adobe products such as Photoshop, Aero and dimensions to find unique ways to express art, which is very exciting,” Parekh said. “This overall has been an indispensable opportunity.”
Others on the West Coast digital journey include Cate Hicks ’26, a visual arts major; Nada Aloussi ’27, a computer engineering major; Anh Nguyen ’26, Vinh Pham ’25 and Truong ’26, all computer science majors; Alissa Tsay ’26, a double major in computer science and visual arts; and Eastwood Yeboah ’25, who is majoring in Africana studies and psychology.
Yeboah serves as an intern with the non-profit organization, City Youth Now, which works to identify relevant support services and resources for Bay Area youth who are in foster care and juvenile detention. He supports the weekly gardening program at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center in Twin Peaks.
“Doing hands-on gardening and cooking with youth who would not otherwise get this opportunity has definitely given me a lot of perspective about working with different marginalized populations,” said Yeboah.
“Not all students are art majors, so their internships don’t necessarily align with the art world. However, the digital skills they’re learning in my course are applicable across all fields. These are the essential tools needed to navigate an increasingly visual digital landscape,” Orellana said.
“I truly believe that not knowing these skills makes one visually illiterate in the 21st century. Digital imaging is the handwriting of the modern age.”
The internship program also teaches students about the city’s role in innovation in contemporary art, with one day a week dedicated to visits to museums, galleries and many other institutions. Sites include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Historical Society, Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco, Museum of the African Diaspora, California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum and FOG Design+Art Fair, among others.
“The goal is to inspire them to create something unique or profound in their own work. It’s a beautiful way to teach art. These visits expand their visual vocabulary and introduce them to the diverse narratives explored by artists worldwide,” Orellana said.
At a recent visit to the Headlands Center for the Arts, for instance, the group toured the space, attended a lecture by an artist-in-residence specializing in augmented reality and tested placing their own AR-based public artworks on the grounds.
The various networking events connect them with industry professionals and alumni immersed in entrepreneurship, AI and design.
A recent dinner included Class of 2019 valedictorian Samantha Miller, who majored in studio fine arts with a minor in mechanical engineering. Miller did her undergraduate senior thesis with Orellana and went on to earn a master’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. She is now working at an architecture firm in the Bay Area.
Students also visited Stanford University, where their host was Steve Ciesinski ’70, founder and managing partner of Vencrest Partners, past president of SRI International, and chair emeritus of Union’s Board of Trustees. Ciesinski was involved in the initial inception of the Silicon Valley internship program and has been vital to its success. He is on the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he earned an MBA in marketing and finance.
In addition to Orellana’s course, students are taking the class, History and Future of Technology Innovation in the Bay Area. It is taught by Thomas J. McLeish, an architect and principal technology designer.
“This year’s program is a new twist on an old program,” said Lara Atkins, director of International Programs, which organizes the domestic initiative. “In the future, we’re planning for other faculty members to teach in their specific fields of interest. It’s an amazing opportunity that evolves to meet student needs.”