Xavier Lake is taking part in a pilot internship opportunity with the Fredonia Program Evaluation Center this fall.
A new internship at SUNY Fredonia is allowing a Social Work student to apply classroom lessons in a research setting.
Xavier Lake, a senior Social Work major from Binghamton, NY, is taking part in a pilot internship opportunity with the Fredonia Program Evaluation Center this fall.
“This internship has given me a chance to use some of the theories and research methods that I've learned about throughout my years at Fredonia, such as trauma theory and cognitive behavioral theories, to tie them to real world implications through survey data,” Xavier said. “One of the best parts of the internship is being able to apply what I've learned throughout the years to real-life experiences.”
Xavier is working alongside Program Evaluation Center faculty observing program evaluation activities and learning about evaluation research. He will complete a mentored research project during the semester.
“I'm really enjoying the opportunity to work with raw data and getting the chance to research topics that I'm interested in,” Xavier said. “It's also been a pleasure working with an interdisciplinary team and getting a chance to hear multiple perspectives on the work we're doing.”
The pilot internship opportunity is funded through the Fredonia Career Development Office's internship program.
Dr. Michael Clarkson-Hendrix, an associate professor of Social Work and lead evaluator for the Fredonia Program Evaluation Center, said the pilot came about because one of the pillars of the center is to train students in health and human services evaluation and research.
“The pilot internship was an opportunity to begin to actuate this pillar,” Dr. Clarkson-Hendrix said. “Mr. Lake is an intellectually curious and well-performing social work student, who we thought would benefit from the enriched experience.”
Clarkson-Hendrix said the goal in to make the Evaluation Center internship permanent.
The findings of the project Xavier is working on will be shared with local mental health clinic leadership and presented at the OSCAR Student Creativity and Research Expo in the spring of 2027.
After graduation, Xavier plans to go to graduate school for a master’s degree in social work. His goal is to become a school social worker.
The Program Evaluation Center was established at Fredonia in 2017 as a collaboration between the Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Services and Chautauqua Tapestry.
The center faculty, staff, and partners contribute to health and human services research and program evaluation, educate and train students and health services research professionals, and provide an avenue for SUNY Fredonia faculty to share their expertise with community agencies, and professionals interested in evaluating the outcomes of their programs and services.
Center evaluation activities include conducting and consulting on clinical outcomes, workforce development initiatives, and implementation science research projects. The staff also participates in analyzing service needs and provider gaps through data analysis and needs assessments.
Support for the center comes from grants and subcontracts that support Chautauqua County and western New York systems of care initiatives.
