Staff Spotlight: Meet UVA | Northern Virginia Intern Sophie Perdue

Meet Sophie Perdue, one of our student interns here at UVA | Northern Virginia! Sophie joined our team this past fall where she works with our marketing team to make content for our media accounts. Outside of UVA | Northern Virginia, Sophie is a second-year student at UVA, and she hopes to pursue psychology post-grad.

Q: What is your name, major, and year at UVA?

A: My name is Sophie Perdue, and I am a second year student at UVA double-majoring in Youth & Social Innovation (YSI) and Cognitive Science.

Q: What are you studying, and what drew you to that field?

A: I was drawn to YSI and Cognitive Science because of their interdisciplinary approaches! I have always enjoyed a combination of humanities and science, and both of my majors provide me with an opportunity to take classes in many different disciplines across schools at UVA. I also like being able to focus on youth mental health in the YSI program, as it aligns with my future goals in psychology.

Q: What does a typical day look like in your role at UVA | Northern Virginia?

A: Since I work remotely, I can work on projects whenever it fits in my schedule! I often work before and after classes, and I really appreciate the flexibility that this role gives me with choosing my own schedule. My typical daily work projects for UVA | Northern Virginia often include making social media content, transcribing and uploading interviews for our blog, and helping our marketing team with any projects we are currently working on. 

Q: What has been your favorite project to work on so far?

A: I really enjoy working on the student spotlights from last summer’s Inspire program. It’s always great to hear what former students have to say about the program, and the graphics for that series are really enjoyable to work with. I also like finding quotes from students’ interviews that encapsulate the program and their experiences in an actual student’s words!

Q: What is something new you have learned during your internship?

A: I have learned so much about graphic design through through working for UVA | Northern Virginia, which has been great! I had a bit of experience prior to taking this role, but my skills have rapidly expanded since joining the team. The UVA | Northern Virginia team is great to work with, and I truly enjoy doing my job! Learning how to use our media creation platforms and developing a better eye for design has been really awesome, as it also applies to other parts of my life in presentations and media creation for any student organizations I am a part of. 

Q: What is your favorite part about being a student at UVA?

A: I love the community here at UVA, it’s truly something that I always look forward to! I was very excited to start college at UVA, but I was a bit worried that UVA would be too big of a school for me to find my niche of people, yet it was actually much easier than I thought. UVA seems so small to me now, and I can usually find someone I know in almost every class I take! I also love the professors here, they’re all so motivated and passionate about what they teach which makes the classes much more enjoyable.

Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of school or work?

A: I am in the Cavalier Marching Band! I really love all things music related, I’m also in the Athletic Band and the Concert Band, and the marching band has been where I’ve met some of my best friends. In addition to band, I love reading a good book, going to the gym or on a run, and trying all kinds of different restaurants around Charlottesville. I also love getting outside and off-grounds, so any opportunity I have to go on a hike up to Humpback Rock or anywhere else, I’ll take it!

Q: What is your favorite study spot on Grounds?

A: I don’t have one favorite study spot, but a lot of the lounge spaces in the School of Education are super cozy and convenient since many of my classes are over there. I also love studying outside on the lawn whenever the weather is nice, especially with friends!

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself that others might not know?

A: I love crafting! Any type of craft, from crocheting to coloring books, has made its way across my desk at some point. I’ve been crocheting since elementary school, and I love making clothes and gifts for people. I also love to read, and I’ll often be reading or crafting when I don’t have class work or studying to do. 

Q: Have you visited the DMV area before? If so, what is your favorite place to go?

A: I have visited the DMV area before, and most recently, I visited over my spring break! I love exploring different areas of DC with friends, and I also really like exploring northern Virginia as well. I love all the variety of cuisine that the DMV area has, from restaurants to cafes – even though I’m not a big coffee drinker, I still love a cute DMV cafe! Anyone who’s been with me in DC knows that I love public transportation, so you can always see me hopping on the metro to get wherever I need to go!