Melissa Nguyen is one of our newest interns, studying computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity at Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating in December 2027. She found IT4Causes while looking for hands-on IT experience, and the program “caught my attention since it focused on helping nonprofits and finding the most efficient ways to solve their technical issues.” Her favorite class so far has been Introduction to Cybersecurity, where “we got to do different kinds of labs instead of just learning the concepts from a textbook.”
Ask her what makes her a good teammate, and she says it’s reliability. “I think what makes me a good teammate is that I’m eager to help wherever needed. I take my responsibilities seriously and make sure I’m doing my part so the rest of the team can rely on me. I also like working with different people because everyone brings different strengths and ideas to the table.” She hasn’t started the internship yet, but she has already sat in on an intern scrum meeting with Tom and some of the other interns and volunteers.
Most of her experience so far has come through classes and personal projects, so she’s looking forward to applying those skills to real organizations and problems and learning more about how technology can directly help nonprofits. After graduation, she’d like to work in IT support or cybersecurity — she enjoys troubleshooting and figuring out how to solve problems. Outside school and work, she spends time with friends, cooking, traveling, or starting a new show. Welcome, Melissa — you can follow along with her on LinkedIn.
Meet our interns in person.
Over eleven years, IT4Causes has placed more than 100 interns with nonprofits that needed the help — and every member of last year’s graduating cohort walked into a job.
You can meet this year’s group at **Tech4All 11.0** on **Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30–8:00 PM**, at **St. Joseph’s Villa, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond**. The theme is *Tech With Purpose: Building the Next Generation of Tech Leaders Through Internships*. Expect live demos, the premiere of a game our interns built, food, drink, and free parking.
Tickets are $10, and every ticket funds this program.
