WSSU graduate student selected for NC Health and Human Services summer internship program
Kayla “Kaleb” Trotter, a graduate student majoring in rehabilitation counseling at Winston-Salem State University, has been selected for a competitive summer internship with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
Trotter is one of a select group participating in the department’s Experiential Learning & Opportunity Internship Program (ELOIP), a paid initiative aimed at strengthening the future of the state’s public health and human services workforce.
Over the course of the 10-week program, Trotter will contribute to a project within the Division of Child Development and Early Education. The internship incorporates hands-on, project-based learning designed to build key professional skills such as data analysis, project management, collaboration and problem-solving. Participants will also benefit from professional development seminars, presentation opportunities and an end-of-program immersion event.
“With this internship, I am getting the opportunity to learn more about DHHS and really surround myself with opportunity,” Trotter said. “It means so much to me that I can work in my new field and gain invaluable experience.”
NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai said, “One of my priorities is to build a sustainable workforce that supports a healthier North Carolina. The young professionals joining our team are helping us create a more prosperous state for the next generation as we work to protect the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.”
Trotter, who also earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education at WSSU, is expected to graduate with his master’s in 2027. His internship placement reflects both WSSU’s commitment to experiential learning and the university’s growing role in preparing professionals to serve North Carolina’s most vulnerable populations.
The ELOIP is part of a broader workforce development initiative by NCDHHS to address the growing needs of North Carolina’s population. The program supports career pathways in areas such as public health, behavioral health, social work, health education and leadership in human services.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is the state’s largest agency, overseeing health and human-related services with a focus on children, seniors, people with disabilities and families with low income. It includes 33 divisions and offices and manages 14 facilities across the state.
