Maya Topiwala – a third-year student majoring in International Affairs – spent the summer in Boston, Massachusetts, where she served as the Vice President of Marketing for BookTalk, a social impact nonprofit that connects with Boston’s local book community.
Over the summer, she organized a virtual book conference for over 2,000 book lovers.
BookTalk aims to connect with authors, publishers, and other creatives in the book industry to inspire critical approaches to reading and uplift marginalized voices to highlight the importance of equitable representation in storytelling.
“This past summer, I saw firsthand how valuable reading can be for a community,” Topiwala said. “In a time when books continue to be banned from schools and places of knowledge, my experience with BookTalk reinforced my belief that books can change the world.”
The summer internship is one of the three parts of COSSPP’s Social Science Scholars Program, a highly competitive leadership development program for exceptional undergraduates in the College.
Students participate in a leadership seminar that prepares them for internships, research, and service projects over the summer semester. Upon return in the fall, they complete a reflection course. Scholars receive funding up to $5,000 for approved travel and other expenses to help make their projects and internships a reality.
“I met incredible peer leaders in the spring seminar, had the opportunity to travel to meet industry leaders over the summer, and returned in the fall to a community of students who celebrated my successes and provided encouragement and feedback on any setbacks I faced during the experience,” Topiwala said. “The Social Science Scholars Program gives students a community, so they feel less alone when taking on difficult positions, projects, and creative endeavors. Overall, the program lets students dream big and then gives them the support to make those dreams come true.”
In her spare time, Topiwala recommends her favorite books on Instagram (@mnmbooks) and TikTok (@maya.reads). She also volunteers as a facilitator for the FSU Center for Leadership and Social Change’s Leadership Learning in the Outdoors for Group and Individual Change (LOGIC) program, works as Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) mentor, and is the outreach coordinator for FSU’s chapter of HerCampus, the top media site for college women.
Upon graduation, she intends to move back to Boston to pursue a career in consulting. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!
For more information about FSU’s LOGIC program, visit thecenter.fsu.edu/leadership/logic.