Chapel Intern puts global perspective to work in corporate citizenship

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Osakiodeme Ikhinmwin, a fourth-year Schreyer Scholar majoring in global and international studies with a minor in political science, spent the summer applying her classroom learning as a corporate citizenship intern at Aramco Americas in Houston.

“As a global and international studies major, I’ve always wanted to intern or work for a company that’s also internationally based,” Ikhinmwin said. “So, I thought that this was something that definitely aligned with what I wanted to do long term.”

Thanks to the Chapel Executive Internship Program, Ikhinmwin received enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, which helped offset the cost of living and working in Texas for the summer.

“Moving to Houston for the summer was honestly very intimidating, with this being my first time in the city, but I knew part of that stress would be alleviated with the Chapel Internship,” she said. “It helped take such a burden off. I was able to not stress about the financial side of things and instead focus on immersing myself in my internship experience.”

During her time with Aramco Americas, Ikhinmwin contributed to several community projects, including organizing a volunteer event at the Houston Food Bank, the nation’s largest food bank, and putting together supply kits for teachers at Title I schools in the Houston Independent School District.

“Corporate citizenship deals a lot with volunteering, which is something that I’m really passionate about,” Ikhinmwin said. “Aramco Americas has a strong focus on innovation through research and development, but the company is also dedicated to corporate citizenship. Over the summer, I was able to see the value it places on long-term community enrichment efforts and how far that impact can reach.”

In addition to her community-focused work, Ikhinmwin participated in an intern capstone project focused on artificial intelligence and its role in the corporate workplace. Her team developed and pitched an AI-supported workflow designed to improve the company’s hiring process, earning first place in the competition.

“We’ve been figuring out ways to incorporate AI to make automation smoother and just an easier process for everybody involved,” she said.

For Ikhinmwin, a highlight of the project was the opportunity to collaborate with interns from a variety of departments.

“It’s a great way to meet people outside of your department,” she said. “So, I’ve been able to work with people who are IT interns, procurement interns and HR interns. You’re able to get a better understanding and form friendships with the people you’re interning with.”

Ikhinmwin’s experience also extended beyond the office through site visits and events, including visits to the Microsoft Innovation Hub, Baker Hughes and the African American History Research Center at the Gregory School. She also attended the FIFA Fan Festival with Aramco, a sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ikhinmwin said her academic experiences at Penn State helped prepare her for the work she encountered at Aramco.

“With my family being Nigerian, I’ve always been interested in how different countries interact and how that works within our global system,” she said. “Through the global and international studies major, I was able to choose the global conflict pathway and take classes centered on that area.”

Her coursework has allowed her to explore issues that cross national, political and economic boundaries, including a course focused on oil that she took before beginning her internship.

“My coursework has helped give me a framework for understanding organizations through the lens of culture, communication and global context,” Ikhinmwin said. “That perspective was especially relevant during my internship working across a variety of stakeholder groups.”

Outside of the classroom, Ikhinmwin has found additional opportunities to engage with community and inclusion. She serves as a Lion Ambassador and previously led the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging ad hoc committee. She also is a member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, where she previously served as diversity and inclusion chair.

Those experiences complemented the community-focused work she encountered in corporate citizenship at Aramco and gave her another perspective on how organizations can build relationships with the communities they serve.

Ikhinmwin said her previous experience as a FastStart program intern for the Penn State Alumni Association also helped prepare her for the role. Event organization and logistics, communication and teamwork skills she developed through that program were all put to good use at Aramco.

As part of the Chapel Executive Internship Program, Ikhinmwin and the other Chapel Interns also enrolled in LA 495 Undergraduate Field Experience, a half-credit course taught by Katie Wysocki, director of the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. The course is designed to support students’ engagement and professional development throughout their internships.

Through LA 495, Ikhinmwin met with a career coach from the Career Enrichment Network, created a professional portfolio, and reflected on how her internship connected to her academic and professional goals.

“Aside from the funding provided, you’re also able to take a class over the summer that allows you to reflect on how your internship is going,” she said. “They help you reach milestones and think about how your internship is contributing to your professional growth and future career options.”

As she returns to Penn State to complete her bachelor’s degree, Ikhinmwin hopes to build on her experience in Houston as she considers her next steps.

“Continuing to work for an international corporation is definitely my main goal post-graduation,” she said.