An Energizing Internship with AHFC

When May drove the Alcan Highway to Anchorage in the summer of 2025, returning to the state where her grandparents were raised, she didn’t know what kind of community she would find there or what she would do for work. An internship at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation brought her an answer.

Choosing Alaska Housing

“I've always been really passionate about helping people get housing because I feel like it is a basic necessity that all people should have access to,” May says.

May previously worked for a Midwest organization to support people transitioning out of incarceration. When she arrived in Alaska, she began researching potential work opportunities which would let her continue to do the work she is passionate about.  “I was looking for a position that had something to do with housing and I stumbled upon AHFC,” she says.

The position she was interested in was in the Research & Rural Development department, which oversees weatherization, the New Home Construction Rebate, the Resource Information Center, and more. It was a new approach to housing for May, who says she was not previously familiar with the energy efficiency world.

Inside the Internship

As an intern at AHFC, May has helped and led on a variety of projects including grant applications, administrative support, attending conferences and much more.

“There's a sense of agency and independence that I have here that I did not think that I would have as an intern,” she says.

One of her first assignments was working with AHFC subsidiary Alaska Sustainable Energy Corporation on grant reporting and building partnerships around Alaska.

“I'm proud at how fast I'm picking up everything,” she says. “I'm surprised at myself and my capabilities and AHFC has definitely helped me discover that about myself.”

"May is a great addition to the team," says Ethan, May's supervisor. "Her drive, curiosity, and willingness to help with any project that comes up is greatly appreciated."

Building Community

The internship provided more than opportunities to learn at work – it meant access to community in a new city and building connections with Alaskans across the state.

“It’s a little daunting, moving to a new city,” May says.

Coming from the Midwest, she says there was a lot to get used to as it related to meeting and becoming familiar with the community. May says that her internship has been a driving force in building many of her statewide connections.

“It's a really, really good experience for me to meet a lot of different Alaskans,“ she says. “I feel like one of the greatest parts of the state is people's sense of community.”

Now, she’s looking forward to what comes next.

To other potential interns, May has some simple advice: “ask questions and be curious and start to make connections.”