Previous Summer Projects

Each summer, students in the Schumacher Advocacy Exchange Program work full-time with rare disease organizations across the country. These experiences allow students to contribute to advocacy, research, and outreach efforts — while host sites gain additional capacity and fresh perspectives.

Explore examples of past student–organization partnerships below:

Two women stand outside a congressional office during the NEC Society’s Hill Day. One holds a folder that reads “Building a World Without NEC.” — Ella Hall (right) poses for a photo outside of U.S. Representative Kevin Hern's office in Washington, D.C.

Summer 2025 Cohort

Julienne Angtuaco, Class of 2026 | Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation | Final Poster
Sarah Gann, Class of 2026 | TESS Research Foundation | Final Poster
Ella Hall, Class of 2026 | NEC Society | Final Poster and Featured Reflection
Lindsey Hermann, Class of 2026 | Glut1 Deficiency Foundation | Final Poster
Justin Joseph, Class of 2026 | Association for Creatine Deficiencies | Final Poster
Rowan McDonnell, Class of 2026 | Lipodystrophy United | Final Poster and Featured Reflection
Bridget Murphy, Class of 2027 | CACNA1A Foundation | Final Poster
Tim Theisen, Class of 2026 | LHON Collective | Final Poster and Featured Reflection
Cara Walicki, Class of 2027 | Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance | Final Poster

Summer 2024 Cohort

Brooke Borton, Class of 2025 | LHON Collective
Allen Karottu, Class of 2026 | Know The Glow
Kim Nguyen, Class of 2025 | Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
Joan Playford, Class of 2025 | Know The Glow