Luther seniors works with volunteer to support victims of domestic abuse

Working at the Sojourner shelter in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Luther senior Elena Dooley, spent her summer collaborating with volunteers and supporting victims of domestic abuse.

Dooley, daughter of Susan Kennedy-Dooley and Michael Dooley of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a 2015 graduate South High in Minneapolis. She is planning to graduate from Luther in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in health.

Dooley’s work at the shelter included running various activities with others who volunteered at this location. She also managed intakes, took support and intervention calls, led parenting and support groups, and worked one on one with mothers. Cooperating with the mothers was her favorite part because it allowed her to “give support and be an advocate for them.” Being able to give these women the support they needed was enriching for both her and the mother.

Dooley was thrilled that this opportunity confirmed her interest in her chosen major. While working in the shelter she was constantly reminded how prominent domestic violence is in society today. “Domestic violence affects so many women today and when it’s occurring, it affects them in every aspect of their life,” she said. Observing the first-hand effects that this abuse has on victims Dooley a clear signal that she wanted to pursue a career that helps others.

Approximately 10 percent of Luther students take an internship for academic credit each academic year. The Luther College Career Center assists students with their internship search through resume preparation, networking, online internship searches, career fairs, on-campus interviewing and connecting the student to alumni through the college’s Alumni Internship Program. Students also meet with a faculty adviser prior to the internship to create an internship learning plan that includes learning goals and assessment benchmarks.

An internship work supervisor assists in the process by writing an evaluation of the student at the end of the internship. Students also complete a self-reflection form to help finalize the learning experience.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,005, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu.