Geography student awarded internship at National Geographic headquarters

Jaimi DeFeo

NEW PALTZ — Jaimi DeFeo (Yorktown Heights), a senior geography major at the State University of New York at New Paltz, has been awarded a National Geographic Society internship in Washington, D.C. for the spring 2007 semester. Her internship is in the digital media division.

Since receiving her two-year degree from the New England School of Photography in Boston in 1989, DeFeo said her ultimate career goal was to work at National Geographic. Now, after a successful 15-year career as a photographer and nearing the completion of her degree at New Paltz, she is finally getting a chance to fulfill that dream, utilizing both her prior professional and current academic experience.
“It worked out – I still got what I wanted,” said DeFeo.

The internship program accommodates 22 students throughout the year at society headquarters in Washington, D.C. DeFeo was selected through a highly competitive process involving college juniors, seniors and master’s students nationwide.

National Geographic Digital Media publishes www.nationalgeographic.com; manages marketing and content partnerships across broadband, mobile, gaming and other consumer digital platforms; and provides video and film footage to commercial, theatrical, educational and other digital footage markets.

Lawrence McGlinn, of the Geography Department at New Paltz, said DeFeo is very deserving of this internship.

“Jaimi’s talent, attention to detail and passion have been obvious to me since the first day I met her,” said McGlinn, who serves as DeFeo’s advisor. ”She is among the very best students I have taught over the past 16 years. I know she will do us proud.”