This summer, ITS Information Assurance (IA) welcomed two interns: Nathan Rao and Amberly Shi. They brought curiosity, energy, and a spirit of learning to their respective teams. From endpoint security to risk frameworks, their projects reflect the real-world impact interns can have across IA’s work. As the internship wraps up, we’re celebrating their growth, accomplishments, and favorite memories.
Nathan Rao – Incident Response Team
Nathan hit the ground running on the Incident Response (IR) team, taking on a high-impact scripting project tied to CrowdStrike, the University’s endpoint security solution. Initially unfamiliar with some of the tools, Nathan dove in headfirst, with the guidance of his supervisor, Angel Fletcher, learning both technical and communication skills that will stick with him well beyond the summer. “My supervisor was there every step of the way, showing me how to work with other ITS offices and eventually giving me space to take the lead on communication with them.”
Over time, Nathan transitioned from relying on support to independently connecting with teams across ITS to move his projects forward. He also appreciated the supportive culture around him, describing the IR team as “interactive and encouraging.”
Some of Nathan’s favorite moments were during ITS Professional Development (PD) sessions, where he connected with other interns and found inspiration in the interactive challenges and conversations. When asked to describe the summer in one word, Nathan chose “journey,” which is fitting for a summer of technical growth, team collaboration, and a few geography quizzes along the way (Nathan scored over 90% on one!).
Amberly Shi – Responsive Information Security for Campus Team
Amberly joined the Responsive Information Security for Campus (RISC) team as a Business Systems Analyst intern, quickly becoming integral to their efforts to strengthen internal data access and structure. One of her key projects involved auditing the IA Google Drive, identifying external collaborators who may no longer need access, and recommending changes to ensure sensitive data remains secure.
Amberly appreciated her team’s support, including daily check-ins with her coach and weekly meetings with her supervisor, which helped her ease into her work and gradually take on more responsibility. “To work with people who have experience already, I think it’s great,” Amberly said. “They try their best to help you in the moment.”
She highlighted the importance of multitasking and asking for help, which were two skills she strengthened throughout the internship. Looking back, Amberly wishes she had come in more open-minded about team culture, but she’s grateful for what she learned along the way.
Her favorite memory from the summer was the Michigan Stadium tour, where interns got a behind-the-scenes look at technology within the Big House. It was a fun and unforgettable break from spreadsheets and risk assessments. To sum up her experience in one word, Amberly chose “ambitious”, not just for the scope of her projects, but for the collective energy of this year’s cohort.
Over the summer, Nathan and Amberly leaned into challenges and embraced opportunities to grow. As Nathan shared, “The internship is what you make of it. Take every opportunity to learn and talk to people.” IA is grateful for the time and talent Nathan and Amberly brought to their internship experience, and can’t wait to see where their journeys take them next.