Audrey J. Harris Summer Internship Award

Congratulations to the 2025 Award Recipients!

Bailey Botterman

Bailey Botterman spent her summer completing the 10-week internship at Dane County Sheriff’s Office. Her role was as a social service intern based in the Dane County Jail in Madison, Wisconsin. Her summer was spent shadowing professionals including social workers, detectives, and medical and mental health teams, assisting with reentry planning, observing jail groups such as Parenting Inside Out and Moral Reconation Therapy and more!

“Interning with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office was nothing short of a rewarding experience! I was able to observe the process that one goes through when facing incarceration, as well as the services that Dane County provides to its jail residents. I was surrounded by supportive staff and supervisors who pushed me to take advantage of all the opportunities provided this summer. My internship has grown my professional confidence, allowed me to network, and ensure my passion within criminal justice. I want to thank the Audrey J. Harris scholarship award for allowing me the opportunity to pursue my internship, it truly means so much!”

Taylor Decker

Taylor Decker is a a senior graduating in the spring of 2026. Taylor spent her summer doing a 10-week internship at the Department of Corrections in Probation and Parole in Saukville, WI.

“My experience consisted of shadowing agents who met with people on probation or parole. We did home visits, took statements at the jail, visited clients at temporary living placements, and more. I was also able to attend court hearings and go on a ride-along. I have grown so much professionally and educationally through this internship. Interning here built an amazing foundation for my career in the legal field. I want to give a huge thank you to the Harris Family. I was able to further my experience in law and criminal justice with amazing people at the DOC. Working at the Department of Corrections made me more passionate about my career path. Without the Audrey J. Harris Scholarship, I would not have been able to fully invest myself in the internship experience.”

Ximena Sánchez

Xiema Sánche interned at the Family Court Clinic through UW–Madison Law School.

“My time there was eye-opening in so many ways. Through direct client interaction, I developed a greater understanding of the challenges faced by those in our community and learned how accessible legal services can make a meaningful difference in clients’ lives, especially to those who are low-income and cannot afford an attorney. I am deeply grateful for the support provided by the Audrey J. Harris Summer Internship Award, which allowed me to devote my summer to work that is both professionally formative and personally meaningful. I look forward to carrying these lessons forward as I continue my studies and pursue a career in service to others.”

Kacey Esquivel

Kacey Esquivel, a senior graduating fall of 2025 is a history major with a certificate in criminal justice. She interned with the Missing in Action Project on campus. The Missing in Action Recovery and Identification Project is dedicated to investigating cases of missing US service members from past overseas conflicts. Through meticulous deep dives into historical archives, military documents, books, maps, etc., the goal is to recover Wisconsinites who made the ultimate sacrifice and bring them home.

Kacey describes her internship as the following. “For 10 weeks, I investigated the case of a missing US Air Force pilot from Whitefish Bay, WI who went missing in what is now present-day Vietnam during WWII. I appreciate that the project assigns cases that are close to home for the interns. It adds a sort of personal connection to the service member. I created a timeline of events from his mission leading up to his disappearance with an accompanying interactive map on Google Earth. Another aspect I appreciate about the project is that our work is never in vain because it can always be used by the next researcher or aid with another case. My proudest achievement is successfully identifying a location relevant to the case that was previously unknown.

My time with the MIA Project has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by the countless brave men and women for our freedom. The tremendous respect I had for veterans and those still missing in action before has grown ten-fold after my experiences here.”

Emma Colling 

Interning at EXPO (Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing) this summer was a great experience that really opened my eyes and allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the struggles and stigmas that formerly incarcerated people face. My work was primarily done in the office helping with day-to-day office tasks such as, making phone calls to clients on behalf of peers, doing research to help with certain projects they were working on, and getting materials ready for certain fundraising events. However, I still was able to meet with a handful of the clients that EXPO helps as well, by taking a few trips to the S.A.F.E. house that EXPO runs, and connecting with a few at the fundraising cookout event they hosted. Everyone that works at EXPO is also formerly incarcerated, so being able to connect to the team and hear their stories both pre and post incarceration was something that I really enjoyed. It felt like a great fit for me this summer as I am majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Criminal Justice. I am deeply appreciative of the support I received from the Audrey J. Harris scholarship award as it allowed me to fully focus on my internship position and advance my professional career without the stress and burden of tuition costs.

Emma McLay

Emma McLay, a rising senior graduating spring of 2026 is a legal studies major with certificates in criminal justice, political science, and education policy. She interned with Katie Claffey at Claffey Law PLLC.

For the past 10 weeks I have been interning as a criminal defense legal intern with Katie Claffey at Claffey Law in White Bear Lake, MN. Katie has been an amazing role model for me and has been an amazing mentor to me as someone who also wants to be a part of the legal field. I have been able to improve my skills of professionalism, learn how to read discoveries and create case outlines, what court procedures look like, and how to prepare for a case. I have been able to watch Katie help her clients by leading with compassion and ensuring the best outcomes possible for her clients. I am blessed to have worked with her and thankful to the Harris Family for my scholarship!

Emma Morehead

Emma Morehead is an incoming junior majoring in Legal Studies with certificates in Criminal Justice and Italian. She interned with the Department of Corrections – Division of Community Corrections (DOCC) this summer for 10 weeks. The DOCC helps people on probation, parole, and extended supervision during their time with the division. By working with local partners and focusing on accountability and support, the division strives to build safer communities and support second chances for individuals involved in the justice system across the state.

“Interning with the Division of Community Corrections this summer was such a meaningful and eye-opening experience. I got to shadow agents, sit in on court hearings, visit jails, and learn about the real-life challenges people face while on probation and parole. From revocation hearings to OWI court, I saw firsthand how addiction, mental health, and public safety intersect. I was lucky to be surrounded by supportive mentors who trusted me with real responsibilities, such as creating referrals for treatment, and encouraged me to ask questions. This internship helped me grow professionally, challenged my thinking, and deepened my passion for criminal justice. I’m so grateful to the Audrey J. Harris scholarship for making this opportunity possible!

Harper Belden

Interning at MMHI was an incredible experience that deepened my understanding of forensic psychology and the intersection of mental health and the legal system. I had the opportunity to observe patients navigating court processes while receiving psychiatric treatment, and to contribute to trauma-informed care and competency restoration services. The staff at MMHI were welcoming and generous with their knowledge, and this internship strengthened my confidence, clarified my career goals, and affirmed my passion for working with justice-involved individuals. I also want to thank the Audrey J. Harris scholarship fund; without it, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this internship. It truly made this experience possible, and I’m so grateful for the support.