Combining purpose and practice in Washington semester

Human and community services major Liz Graham ’27 is fighting human trafficking with a very particular set of skills: nonprofit communications,fundraising and mastery of Microsoft Excel.

Through an internship with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) in Washington, D.C., Graham is helping advance the organization's work to combat sexual exploitation through advocacy, education and public policy. She works with executive leadership to research potential partners and supporters, conduct donor outreach and contribute to an upcoming book.

“I spend a lot of time calling people and letting them know about all the accomplishments NCOSE has made,” Graham said. “Some of them share their own stories about why they decided to donate. Just being able to chat with them and really connect, hearing their stories — this is who I'm supporting. This is who I'm fighting for.”

Graham arrived at Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2024 from Hendersonville, North Carolina, already committed to combating human trafficking and exploitation. Her interest in advocacy began after hearing Theresa Flores, a survivor of sex trafficking and author of A Slave Across the Street, speak at a church event.  

“A lot of us think sex trafficking is happening somewhere over there, not next door to us,” Graham said. “Ms. Flores’ story opened my eyes and gave me what I would call righteous anger.”

At LR, Graham has pursued that commitment through her coursework. This fall, the Lutheran College Washington Semester — a program that combines professional internships with academic coursework and cultural experiences in the nation's capital — has allowed her to use her academic knowledge in practice.

“My social work classes have really helped me understand the community I want to serve,” she said. “My political science minor helps with the policy side of things.”

NCOSE was among Graham's top choices when she applied for Washington internships. In addition to her daily responsibilities, she participates in weekly training sessions covering topics such as communicating with survivors and understanding the role of technology in sexual exploitation. In recent weeks, a private screening of “The Social Reckoning” and a discussion with Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower whose story inspired the film, deepened her interest in the accountability of technology companies and the potential consequences of their recommendation algorithms.

“I knew there were issues with these tech companies, and that they were possibly ignoring harmful activity,” Graham said. “But to actually be amplifying that activity through algorithms, recommending hateful groups to people who are showing danger signs — that was something I didn't realize.”

As she looks toward graduation, Graham is considering graduate study in social work and careers involving investigation, policy or direct advocacy. “I don't know specifically where I'll be, but it's definitely going to be in this work,” she said. “I want to be in that fight and really help survivors to be seen and feel protected.”