Henry Van Gilder-Nellis
Student Ambassador at University of Vermont
Henry is a senior History major & Spanish minor. He’s from South Burlington, VT, but grew up in Cody, WY until 6th grade, so both places feel like home to him. He was a Semester in the City Fellow in Spring 2026 as Student Writing Support Fellow at 826 Boston.
On campus, Henry is a peer leader at the Career Center & a cashier at Healthy Living. He loves getting a rice bowl with carnitas at Picante. This year, Henry is training to run his first marathon.
Q: How did you find out about SITC & why did you decide to participate in it?
A: “I found out through an email and I decided to participate because it was important to me to get real world work experience and to get out of Vermont for a bit.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: “I recently discovered that I am most passionate about teaching and helping people. I’m motivated by my family, my friends, helping and serving others, doing difficult things, and making the most of every day.”
Q: What are some of your interests?
A: “Distance running, lifting weights, hiking, basketball, collecting license plates.”
Q: Can you tell us about a memorable moment from your internship?
A: “My most memorable experience at my internship was the relationship I built with one student who came in to the Writers' Room after school. This really opened my eyes to the importance of trust and connection in learning environments. We worked together throughout the semester, and the time I spent tutoring him was probably the most valuable time I spent at my internship.”
Q: What do you wish you knew before participating in Semester in the City?
A: “My advice to a student considering SITC/SFI would be to think about the benefits of working for a full semester. Whether or not the internship you get placed with fits your intended career path, experiencing a semester worth of a real work schedule will help you learn so much about yourself, professionally and personally.”