Orianna McIntire
Student Ambassador at Wheaton College
Orianna is a junior Finance, Accounting & Business Analytics major with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Public Health. Her hometown is Orono, Maine. Orianna was a Semester in the City Fellow in Spring 2025 as a Community Action Fellow at Madison Park Development Corporation.
On campus, she was a member of the cheer team & Active Minds club for several years. Her favorite meal at Wheaton is the sushi at Emerson Dining Hall. This year, she hopes to crush her LSAT in the best way possible with a high score!
Q: What did you do in your role during Semester in the City?
A: “I participated in SITC Spring 2025 as a Community Action Fellow for Madison Park Development Corporation. During my time, I was able to utilize my strengths and improve my weaknesses across multiple channels. I was given the opportunity to be the project leader in creating a Community Engagement Policy Proposal for the city of Boston. This aimed to foster a two-way dialogue between developers and community members. This was done through addressing historical barriers, trauma, harm done to communities, and prior redlining. With this process, it was imperative I was fully transparent with all individuals involved in the aims of strengthened communities.
In addition to this project, I also served as a youth group mentor, supporting young people through relationship-building and leadership development. During my time with the youth, my fellow team members and I helped them create a youth forum where they had full control, in regard to who they wanted there and what they wanted to speak on. This was very moving for many involved, where youth had the opportunity to address mental health, gun violence, and homelessness in a safe environment. Needless to say, I had a very impactful experience with my internship site in the best ways possible. I am very thankful for this opportunity.”
Q: How did you know Semester in the City was right for you?
A: “I found out about SITC from a friend/student who had done the program and only had great things to say. From there, it didn't take much convincing. I decided to participate in the program because I thought it would be a great way to get my foot into the working world with the safety net of still being in college.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: “I have always been passionate about life as a whole and making the most of what the world has to offer. I do this through meeting new people, traveling, picking up new hobbies, exercising, educating myself, creating safe spaces emotionally and physically, empowering others along the way, and standing up for what is right.”
Q: What are some of your interests?
A: “Some of my interests include riding horses, playing golf, hiking, swimming, sewing, coloring, playing tennis, trying a new recipe, being outside, playing card games, attending sporting events, finding a good movie for a rainy day, and I love animals.”
Q: If you could visit a fictional world for a day & be immersed in it, where would you go?
A: “If it could visit a fictional world I would have to say I would want to be Barbie in a Mermaid Tale. For one I loved Barbie growing up and two I loved the ocean and wished I could be a mermaid and swim with all of the ocean creatures.”
Q: What motivates you?
A: Something that keeps me motivated is always having a goal to reach towards. In addition to that, the joy that fills my heart when I can help anyone and make others feel empowered, and help others to work towards their goals as well. I want to contribute to making this world a better place.”
Q: What advice do you have for incoming fellows?
A: “My only advice would be to make the most out of your time in Boston. Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone because what you make of it is what you get out of it.”