Internships are a valuable part of an Albright education. They introduce and educate students about careers, allow students to impress potential employees and network with professionals in their field of study.
Aimee Graham '08
Music Business/Communications
Publicity Intern with Warner Bros. Records in Nashville, Tenn.
Aimee loves the music industry as well as the field of communications, so when she found a publicity internship with Warner Bros. Records In Nashville, she immediately applied. She found that along with all of the runner jobs an intern normally does such as getting coffee, sorting mail, and calling 12 Toyota dealerships to see which one had a fully loaded black Prius so that a current publicist could put it on hold, and trade in her BMW for a more "earth friendly car," (The last 'responsibility' really happened!), she also gained a ton of hands-on experience that will help her score a job after her years at Albright.
Aimee was an important tool for Warner Bros. Records. Along with putting together media packets, pitching artists to reviewers, and creating contact lists for the publicists, she also created an easy way to keep track of artist's budgets, which WB Records is still using!
After graduation, Aimee plans on moving back to Nashville to work in the music industry. She says her Albright courses in music business helped her greatly with her internship and will continue to help her into the future: "They helped me to understand the lingo used in the music industry and helped me feel comfortable in the environment I was working in."
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Dan Martin '09
Biology/Pre-Veterinary Studies
Adventure Camp Counselor, Sea World of Orlando
Though some of Dan's internship consisted of being a camp counselor and educating kids on how to become more environmentally friendly, he also gained experiences that not only look great on a resume, but also provide for memories he won't forget.
On a typical day, Dan would wake up in Sea World after having spent the night in one of the camps on site. He would take the group of campers around the park to show them the animals and the Shamu shows. Not all days were spent in Sea World however; trips to Coco Beach and Key Largo were also a part of his internship. The campers and he also caught some waves and visited the renowned Ron Jon Surf Shop.
One of Dan's most memorable moments took place one afternoon in which he and his fellow counselors decided to go kayaking. They went to a nearby island and were able to watch up close while dolphins and their babies, as well as manatee's and their calves, swam and played in the water. One manatee even bumped into his boat a few times and allowed Dan to pet it before swimming away.
Dan landed this internship because of his hard work at Albright and what he learned about animals through his coursework. After his four years, he would like to attend University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and work at a zoo or Sea World. In the near future, he also hopes to become a sea lion and otter trainer.
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Richard Hackman '08
Communications/Digital Media
Master Control Operator: WTVE51, Reading, Pa.
Media and entertainment is what Rich is best at. When he found the opportunity to do an internship combining these outlets that so close to Albright, he took advantage of it.
Some of his responsibilities at WTVE51 included programming and airing Public Service Announcements, testing new digital signals while running the analog signals, taping programs aired on satellite feeds for future television programming, and setting up cameras, lights and audio.
This internship kept Rich on his feet, especially in poor weather conditions. When weather interferes with the signals, everyone has to keep up to make sure there is alternate programming.
While there was a lot to learn due to the sophisticated equipment, Rich was well prepared. With experience from a previous internship, his digital media and communication courses and involvement in the Theatre Department at Albright, Rich used his knowledge to gain a better understanding of the equipment.
If all goes according to plan, Rich hopes to move to New York or Philadelphia to work with a major television company doing on-air personality, or he'd like to work as a graphic designer for entertainment and leisure magazines.
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Shelby Harrison '08
Fashion Design and Merchandising
Design Internship, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla.
Disney World is where magic happens, and Shelby was an integral part of making the magic! (literally). Shelby's internship allowed her to have hands-on experience creating garments used in Walt Disney World parks.
A typical day for Shelby included waking up and being at work by 8:30 a.m., checking e-mail to see her assignments for the day and working on line drawings of garments or prepping the garments that needed more work. For this internship, experience was really necessary. Shelby couldn't have obtained the internship without the guidance and education she received in Albright's fashion design program.
One of Shelby's favorite memories was the day that she and other interns got to try on costumes and be the Disney characters. She was Chip from Chip and Dale. She also had the opportunity to tour Disney's cruise line at Coco Beach!
After graduation, Shelby plans to work as a designer or assistant designer for a fashion company-possibly sportswear-and hopes to one day own her own business or be a head designer for a company.
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Erica Rubin '08
Math/Secondary Education/History
Intern for the Bureau of Teaching and Learning Support Company and Location, PA Department of Education, Harrisburg, Pa.
Before getting into what Erica did in her internship, she wants to let everyone interested in education know that "just because you're an education major doesn't mean you can't find good internships!" She also interned with Teach for America in Philadelphia.
But, at this particular internship, Erica gained insight into what the PA Department of Education really does. She also gained respect for the hard work they do there. Erica shadowed the special assistant to the secretary of education assigned to the Bureau of Teaching and Learning Support. Some of her projects included the "Math-Big Ideas," the Lincoln Commission, budget proposals and School Improvement Plans.
The part of Erica's internship that she enjoyed most was the fact that there was nothing typical about it. Each day was something different-whether it was attending trainings, working at PaTTAN, doing research, writing reports or attending meetings.
Erica also attended a "Classrooms for the Future" training session for teachers who were going to be their school's key technology integration trainers. In addition, she had the opportunity to work on a new online tool that districts can get for their teachers allowing them to connect the Math Big Ideas to standards and units of study. "It was really amazing to work on something that I will very likely get to utilize in my classroom."
Albright's solid education program as well as the liberal arts education allowed Erica to be extremely prepared for her internship. "They were looking for a student with fresh eyes, creativity and excitement to learn."
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Robert Intile Jr '07
English/Political Science
Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, L.L.P.,
Legal Administrative Assistant
Rob is currently seeking admission to law school for fall 2008, but until securing a position, is working as a legal administrative assistant. Among his day to day jobs, his larger responsibilities include managing case files (correspondence, pleadings, client's original documentation, etc.), and compiling pleading as well as preparing attorneys for depositions.
While a student at Albright, Rob attended The Washington Center during summer 2006. This is a competitive program that places interns in various places in D.C., and one which Rob feels heavily prepared him for his post graduation plans.
Though he isn't writing research papers or studing politics, the amount of exposure he had to these things, as well as reading large texts in short periods of time in college allowed him to edit and review documents at a quicker speed.
Rob recommends "studying whatever you want in college-regardless of how 'practical' some may deem the area of study…What matters [after graduation] are your oral and written communication skills, work ethic and critical thinking. Internships are huge. Do as many as you can as often as you can. Get an internship each summer."
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Jessica Snyder '07
Marketing and Spanish
Accenture, Consulting Analyst
Jessica got her job at this accredited firm with the help of an Albright Board of Trustee member. "He used to work for Accenture and helped me tremendously throughout the interview process, giving me advice about what type of questions would be asked. I am truly grateful to him for his help." This is just one example how a small, close-knit college can really help students succeed after graduation!
It has always been Jessica's dream to work for a fortune 500 company. The "work-hard, play-hard" mentality is something that Jessica really enjoys about her current position. In addition, she's excited to have the opportunity to travel and meet many new clients in her new job.
Albright enabled her to learn so much more about herself and the world than Jess could have ever imagined! She developd her leadership skills, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal skills and finds that, when comparing her education with that of her colleagues who attended Ivy League colleges, she has yet to see a difference. "Albright is an outstanding institution and I am always proud to represent my alma mater out in what my friends and I now like to call 'the real world.'"
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Jessica Winski '07
Political Science & Psychology
As a political science major, Jess knew there was no better place to study off-campus than in the center of it all, Washington, D.C.! She wanted to acquire hands-on experience and also knew that she would be more marketable when it comes time to enter the workforce. For her, the Washington Center program was the perfect way to do that.
"I lived in Alexandria, Va. and worked in Washington, D.C., for mCapitol Management, a lobbying firm. My job for the firm was focused on marketing as well as advertising. However, my biggest project was to create a roll-out plan for a national network of consultants. As part of the Washington Center program, I was able to attend symposiums and lectures describing different jobs that are available in government."
Her most memorable moment was when she attended a press conference given by Citizens Against Government Waste. Not only was this a learning experience in which she learned about appropriations, but she also heard John McCain speak and had the opportunity to meet him after the conference!
Jess encourages other students to study abroad or off campus. She says, "I think that it is a valuable experience. You gain knowledge of your major that you never would in a classroom setting."
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Kristen Kunkel '06
Biology
When her adviser, David Osgood, Ph.D., suggested that Kristen apply for an internship being offered by a local environmental consulting firm, she jumped at the chance to gain more hands-on experience. Last summer, Kristen worked as an environmental intern at A.D. Marble & Company. Her responsibilities included assisting environmental scientists with fieldwork, such as identifying plants and soils, taking pictures and completing wetland delineations. She also aided the scientists in completing environmental reports and conducting threatened and endangered species searches.
"On a typical day, I would arrive in the morning and take care of e-mails and messages. Then I would meet the environmental scientists I would be assisting for the day. We would get the necessary equipment for that day and load up the company vehicles. Then we would drive to the location of the project, and complete the necessary tests and surveys. This included flagging waterways for environmental engineers, using GPS, delineating wetlands and taking photographs. Sometimes it would take a whole day to complete a project. Other times, we would complete multiple projects in one day."
Kristen felt very prepared for the work that she did. She says, "My supervisors were surprised at how much I knew going into the job." Kristen is now applying to graduate schools and also looking into employment opportunities in environmental consulting.
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Rachel Landis '07
Business & Accounting & Fashion Merchandising
When the accounting firm Ernst & Young of Baltimore, Md., came to conduct internship interviews on Albright's campus, Rachel jumped at the chance to get some real world experience. She worked as an intern in the assurance and advisory business services department, where she was responsible for assisting her coworkers in auditing clients' financial statements.
"A typical day consisted of analyzing work papers, creating Excel worksheets, meeting with clients, documenting findings in the auditing software, communicating with the audit team members, performing "walkthroughs" of financial transactions, and reading recent changes to accounting requirements. I also had the great opportunity to fly to St. Louis, Mo., on two different occasions to work on a multi-billion dollar account!"
Rachel feels that she got the most out of her classes at Albright because she was well prepared for all of the different assignments given to her. After graduation she plans on working for an accounting firm and studying to become a certified public accountant (CPA).
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Renée Blessington '07
English & Communications
During the Albright Scholarship Luncheon in the spring of her sophomore year, Renée found herself sitting next to a friend of Neal Hartman, an anchor at Comcast SportsNet. Renée contacted Hartman, expressed her interest in sports reporting, and wound up being chosen for an internship with Daily News Live, a show on Comcast SportsNet television, based in Philadelphia, Pa. Her daily tasks included collecting statistics and information that were used for graphics and discussion during the show and logging interview tapes and games. Renée also greeted guests of the show and assisted them with microphones.
"On the average day I would get to work and head straight to the show's producer, Rob Ellis. He would give me the topics to research and after I got all the information together, I would go back and make sure he thought it was correct and ready for the show. I would then sometimes go down to the graphics department and sit with them as they put the boards together. I would spend afternoons either logging takes or going with different producers to film segments that would be used in one of the shows. When it came time for DNL to start, I would head to the control room with Rob, where the show was being produced, and listen to things like the director telling the camera men what to shoot and Rob telling the show's host any breaking news. Rob is really one of the smartest people I've ever met. I learned all about the production of the show from him.
On the days when the Phillies played home games I would head over to the stadium with DNL's associate producer because they usually had a Phillie or player from the other team as a guest on the show. I would greet the guest, stay on the field before the game, and then head up to the press box to watch the game and talk with different members of the media."
Renée's most memorable experience was having the chance to go into the Phillie's locker room before a game and observe an anchor as he interviewed one of the players, Bobbie Abreau, after batting practice. Later that same day the anchor, Lance Crawford, took her to the conference room where the Phillie's manager, Charlie Manuel, had his post-game press conference. "Following Lance was such a great experience because I'd ask him thousands of questions and he was always so patient and would answer all of them."
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Kelly Burn '09
Elementary Education & Special Education & Fashion Merchandising
During the summer following her sophomore year, Kelly was offered the opportunity to intern at Donna Karan Collection in New York City. She served as the assistant to the senior fabric director of production, and her responsibilities included creating a fabric library, cutting swatches for each season, draping new fabric, working with Excel for the new collection, calculating sales, and working with the designers.
"On a typical day I entered the office and opened the fabric library. I organized the fabric by mill and season, sending old inventory to the New Jersey warehouse. Daily I would be sent out to buy or match fabric and trim. I would spend most of my day cutting swatches for seasonal binders and setting up appointments with mills all over the country. I worked one-on-one with vendors and calculated prices for the season's inventory."
Some of Kelly's most rewarding experiences include meeting designer Betsey Johnson and singer Janet Jackson. She also worked with the chief executive officer of Donna Karan Collection and attended a meeting with the president of DKNY. Although Kelly was quite nervous on her first day, she soon felt confident her in position. "I was extremely well-prepared," she says.
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Jes Halm '08
Theatre
After having the opportunity to operate the light board during several shows in the Wachovia Theatre at Albright, Jes decided she wanted to add some outside experience to her résumé. With the help of her adviser, Wayne Vettleson, Jes applied for and received an internship with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, where she served as assistant master electrician and light board operator. Her responsibilities included cutting gels for the lights, coiling cable, assisting in the hanging and focusing of lighting instruments, and programming and running the lighting board during the shows.
"A typical day depended on where we were in the creative process. Sometimes I would spend an hour cutting gels and running cables. Other days, after the show opened, I would come in around six o'clock in the evening, test the lights and then run the show."
Jes values what she learned during the internship, but says that the most important thing she gained was "the relationship formed between myself and the theatre company." After she graduates she plans to pursue either graduate school or a professional design apprenticeship.
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