IL Corn Welcomes Summer Intern

IL Corn is excited to welcome Pearl McDade as their Communications and Advocacy Intern for the summer of 2026. 

Born and raised in Normal, IL, Pearl is a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike on the Constitution Trail, listening to music, and spending time with her friends, family, and four dogs. Growing up, she spent six years as a Junior Zookeeper at the Miller Park Zoo. She is currently studying Psychology with minors in Public Relations and Criminology, Law, and Society. Pearl hopes to pursue a career in community relations or public affairs. 

Her career goals led her to IL Corn, where she will support the Marketing and Communication team’s efforts to connect with communities across Illinois. This will include Ag in the Classroom lessons, outreach materials, social media storytelling, writing and design support, and much more. She will also have the opportunity to travel to Springfield and Washington, D.C. to learn more about agricultural policy and government relations.

When asked what she is most looking forward to this summer, Pearl said “I’m excited to connect with communities across the state, learn from talented individuals in a variety of roles, and gain a better understanding of where I can make an impact in the future.”