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Meet the Fall Interns Bringing New Energy to VPS

(Posted 2026 September)

This fall, Volunteer and Partner Services is excited to have five interns from Virginia colleges and universities join the program and bring their curiosity and enthusiasm for work in the child welfare arena. Get to know each intern and be on the lookout to welcome them aboard!

Isabelle Durkin

Isabelle Durkin, from Ashburn, Virginia, is a senior at George Mason University currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminology along with a minor in forensic psychology, while simultaneously working towards a graduate degree in criminal justice. She is very excited to work with Volunteer and Partner Services this fall.

Isabelle has always been passionate about helping others, and wants to create a bright future for all, whether that be through social work, or work more directly tied to the justice system. She will be working in the Body Safety program this fall, hoping to have a positive impact on as many people as she can.

In her free time, Isabelle loves to sing, dance, and socialize with friends. She is the president of the GMU Latin Dance Club, and she especially enjoys Latin social dancing. She is also in an acapella singing group! Her dream is to continue working in a field related to her studies while pursuing her hobbies!

Olivia Li

Olivia Li is pursuing a Master of Social Work at Liberty University, specializing in Children and Families. She anticipates graduating in Summer 2027 and beginning work on a doctorate in clinical psychology. She is passionate about supporting children and families, especially those with special needs. This comes from both her professional experience and her personal life as a parent of a child with special needs. Olivia hopes her internship will help her grow, learn, and strengthen the skills she’ll need to make a profound difference in her future career.

Olivia believes that trust and genuine connection are at the heart of meaningful change. She loves knowing that providing heartfelt support can leave a lasting impact, and her desire to change lives inspired her to pursue social work. Her dream is to one day offer affordable clinical testing to income-challenged families, which she knows can make all the difference for a child’s outcomes.

At home, Olivia is part of a fun, active Marine Corps family that includes her husband, their son and daughter, and their French bulldog puppy, Tip Toe. They love spending time outside together swimming, hiking, exploring new cities, or simply playing in the grass. Their family motto comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, and drink the wild air.”

Emma Morales

Emma Morales believes her calling in life is to uplift those whose voices often go unheard by advocating for them and connecting them with the resources they need to thrive. She discovered a passion for supporting children in her previous roles working with kids, and this inspired her to pursue a career in child welfare where she can facilitate connections to basic human needs.

Fittingly, Emma is an undergraduate social work student at George Mason University. She plans to earn her Master of Social Work by 2027 through Mason’s Accelerated Master’s Program. As the oldest of four siblings in a military family, she grew up moving frequently, an experience that exposed her to many places and people and shaped her empathy, adaptability and resilience. These are attributes that Emma believes can only help her in this field.

Excited to begin the internship, Emma is most looking forward to meeting the children she will serve and watching them learn, grow and flourish. Although the work can be unpredictable, Emma embraces the challenge and values the opportunity to build meaningful connections with each unique child.

She sees this field as her true calling that allows her to make a meaningful impact while doing something she genuinely enjoys. Away from work, Emma relaxes by crocheting and spending time with family and friends.

Abigail Urquilla

Abigail Urquilla is a psychology major at George Mason University, set to graduate in spring 2027. With a strong background in customer service and a passion for helping others, she was inspired to pursue child welfare after watching a documentary about Gabriel Fernandez, which strengthened her resolve to support vulnerable children.

Abigail hopes to build a career as a child welfare social worker and make a positive impact in the community. She looks forward to gaining hands-on experience in her internship that will shape her future in social work.

Abigail finds the biggest reward in listening to people’s stories and offering support, while recognizing the challenges and limits that come with the role. As much as she wants to help others, she is all too aware that sometimes there is only so much she can do in her position. She looks forward to learning from qualified people who will provide training and support in her new role.

Outside of work, Abigail enjoys movies, music, reading, church, and spending time with her family and dog. Her close-knit family, including her hardworking parents and two older brothers, continues to motivate and encourage her every step of the way.

Rodney Wrice

Rodney Wrice brings a strong background in working with children in the school system. He has also supported youth one on one as a volunteer with a local mental health agency’s mentoring program.

His interest in child welfare grew from seeing firsthand how students’ classroom behaviors are often a reflection of challenges happening behind the scenes in their lives. Motivated by a desire to understand and support those needs, Rodney is excited to gain experience contributing to a program that improves the lives of children and families.

Rodney is a student at Old Dominion University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, and he expects to graduate in December 2026. His goal is to either work in state or local government in child welfare or family services, or pursue a Master of Social Work to become a school social worker. Rodney believes that the most rewarding part of this work is playing an active role in helping others. While learning new systems and processes may be a challenge, he is eager to grow and settle in.

In his free time, Rodney enjoys building Lego sets, traveling to scenic spots in the Virginia mountains, and unwinding with simulation games or Star Wars animated shows. He comes from a close knit family that loves spending time together. They enjoy watching Washington Nationals baseball and cheering on the minor league Fredericksburg Nationals in person.

Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

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Meet the Fall Interns Bringing New Energy to VPS

Isabelle Durkin

Olivia Li

Emma Morales

Abigail Urquilla

Rodney Wrice

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