Meet a VC Intern: Penelope Jia

Learn about one of VC’s 2025 Summer Interns, Penelope Jia, our Development and Communications Intern!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! My name is Penelope, and I am the Development and Communications Intern this summer at VC. I am a rising junior at Occidental College, where I study Economics with a minor in Asian Studies. I am a member of Oxy’s Dance production club and Women in Economics. I love all things visual arts, such as drawing and zine-making!

How did you hear about Visual Communications and what drew you to apply?

Occidental College offers a program where students can apply to intern at a variety of different host sites in Los Angeles over the summer. When I stumbled upon Visual Communications among the list of opportunities, I was immediately drawn to their commitment to preserving AAPI stories through film and archives. Storytelling through a community-focused, visual lens has always been an interest of mine, which I have previously explored through a fellowship where I created a photo-interview series of elderly Chinatown residents in DC’s urbanizing Chinatown. The opportunity to intern with VC in Los Angeles, in the heart of Little Tokyo, stood out to me as a truly unique opportunity for me to take my interest in the AAPI community from the East Coast to the West!

What do you hope to learn from this internship?

This internship offers a unique opportunity for me to explore and hone my skills in development and digital marketing/outreach beyond my curriculum in a way that aligns with my personal and creative passions. I am eager to utilize the vast resources at VC to enrich my understanding of AAPI history, to get to know the team here at VC, watch amazing films, and experience what it’s like to work in a city as vibrant and diverse as Los Angeles!

MBTI: INFP

Artist on Repeat: Blood Orange & Title Fight

3 Favorite Films: Beautiful Boy, All About Lily Chou Chou (& anything by Gregg Araki, honestly!)

Favorite Place in the World: New York City 🍎

What do you like to do in your free time? Go to art galleries, find new cafes to rate on Yelp, and hunt for gems at estate sales 💎

Hidden Talent: Ikebana (still learning...)

Hot Take: Matcha tastes best when it’s bitter!

Restaurant Recommendation: Layla Bagels

My sneaky italian greyhound, miso

Prints of some of my Art!

exploring the city :3