Iyania Corbett ’26 completes Smithsonian Leadership for Change internship

For Iyania Corbett ’26, the  environmental studies program at Randolph has shaped how she sees the world. 

“It has encouraged me to take more risks, always stay curious about the world, and embrace new opportunities that I never thought possible,” she said. 

Corbett spent the summer as a Smithsonian Leadership for Change intern at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville. She worked in the zoology and paleontology departments as part of a project called “Extinct to Extant: Understanding the connection between animals living today and the fossilized remains of those long past.” 

“On the extinct side, I worked in the paleontology department with fossils,” she said. “On the extant side, I worked in the zoology department with owl pellets. A lot of my work involved creating educational materials for the public: posters, videos, coloring pages, and the beginnings of a brochure.” 

She was also able to participate in one of the museum’s largest summer events: Dino Fest. 

Corbett and another intern tabled during the event, using items from the paleontology and zoology collections to educate visitors about ecosystems and environments from different periods and how they relate to one another. 

“Going in, I didn’t have much knowledge about these two particular fields,” Corbett said. “I had an interest in them, but I didn’t know much about potential career possibilities. Now I’m more aware of career paths. 

“Throughout my experience, I gained knowledge on adaptability and what it means to be a leader,” she added. “The journey has been challenging yet rewarding.”