After proving herself over a 10-month internship that culminated in a full-time job offer, Savannah Callahan, a former intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), has been named one of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
The recognition highlights outstanding college interns across the commonwealth who demonstrate excellence, professionalism and meaningful contributions to their host organizations. For Callahan, it is a reflection of the impact she made while transitioning from student intern to full-time marketing professional at IALR.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be named one of Virginia’s Top 50 Interns. This recognition means so much to me and it would not have been possible without the opportunities and support I’ve received at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Being able to continue my internship with IALR three times allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, and I am deeply thankful for the trust and encouragement shown by my colleagues and supervisors. The supportive, collaborative environment at IALR truly fosters growth and the guidance and encouragement I received played a major role in helping me transition into my full-time role. I am extremely grateful for everyone who believed in me and supported me along the way.” – Savannah Callahan, Manufacturing Advancement Marketing Coordinator, IALR
Callahan began her internship in March 2025 as a marketing and communications intern. She continued working with the team through January 2026, expanding her responsibilities and supporting a wide range of marketing and storytelling initiatives across the organization.
“Over the course of her internship, Savannah consistently delivered strong work, took initiative and grew into a true contributor to the team, making the transition to a full-time role a natural next step.” – Allison Moore, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Throughout her internship, Callahan contributed to digital content, brand storytelling and event promotion. As the internship progressed, more and more of Callahan’s work was in support of IALR’s Manufacturing Advancement division.
In January 2026, following her extended internship, Callahan stepped into a full-time role as marketing coordinator for manufacturing advancement. In that position, she now supports marketing and outreach efforts for the entire manufacturing advancement division, and specifically for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) at IALR.
“Savannah’s experience is a strong example of effective internships. She is one of four former interns who transitioned into full–time roles at IALR after gaining hands-on experience through meaningful, real-world projects.” – Jessie Vernon, Director, Employer Engagement & Experiential Learning, IALR
SCHEV’s Top 50 Interns program recognizes students whose internship experiences exemplify the value of high-quality, work-based learning for both students and employers.
Callahan’s recognition reflects IALR’s commitment to providing meaningful, paid internship experiences that prepare students for long-term career success while supporting Southern Virginia’s workforce and economic growth.






























