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An increasing number of ������̳ students are making the most of the pause between semesters by taking advantage of summer internship opportunities that offer hands-on experience, networking and a chance to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings.

“Internships allow students to explore their interests, build on and complement learning in courses, work with professionals and practitioners in the field, and gain relevant career experiences and competencies,” said Christy Funsch, director of the Career Planning and Networking Center (CPNC) and the Experiential Learning Center (ELC). “Internships also present networking opportunities and can help level the playing field for students without family and friend connections on which to draw. Employers consistently say that internship experience is the most influential factor they consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates.”

This summer, 125 Oneonta students are getting firsthand practice in disciplines ranging from art to sport management during internships across the state and country, and even abroad. These students received more than $100,000 in funding for internship stipends, thanks to SUNY funds and the ������̳ Foundation.

“I Can’t Wait to Use What I’ve Learned”

Junior Fashion and Textiles major Erleen Rosso, from the Bronx, New York, saw summer 2024 as the perfect time to check not one but two goals off her to-do list: As part of the 3-1 program ������̳ has with the Fashion Institute of Technology, Rosso was able to complete an internship while studying abroad for a month in London.

Rosso interned with one of the UK’s most successful luxury fashion brands, Jenny Packham, founded by British designer Jenny Packham, whose evening gowns are worn on red carpets by celebrities and, in England, by royalty. Serving as the Public Relations intern, Rosso contributed to marketing strategies and helped create media content, interning three days per week and studying the other two. She got to see the design and production process first-hand, dressed models for a spring/summer collection photoshoot, and even helped package a dress for Kate Middleton!

“This program changed my life,” Rosso said. “I got to meet some amazing people, such as the TikTok Strategic Marketing Manager and many brand developers, along with visiting PR companies. I even had the opportunity to choose/send dresses for well-known actresses and models! I have truly fallen in love with the city of London, and I can’t wait to use what I’ve learned in the next stage of my career path.”

Back to the Future!

Daniel Pritchard, a sophomore Graphic and Web Design major from Niskayuna, New York, had a hometown advantage when word spread in the spring that NYC-based performing arts group Aurora Productions would be bringing its award-winning Broadway show, “Back to the Future: The Musical” to Proctors Theatre in nearby Schenectady.

As soon as the semester ended in May, Pritchard began interning as a production assistant for the show.

“It was my job to keep track of and organize paperwork like receipts, invoices, scenery diagrams and more,” Pritchard said. “In addition to filing paperwork, I also got to go on supply runs often for anything from nails and screws to paint, so it was helpful that I’m from the area and know it well! When the show finally opened, I had free tickets, and it was great to see my hard work come alive before the show moves on to Cleveland, Ohio. Overall it was such an amazing experience.”

“It Has Clarified My Career Aspirations”

In the Catskill Mountains, Kevin Suchecki, a senior Geography major from Bernhards Bay, New York, was busy completing an internship in aquatic invasive species (AIS) management with the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership's (CRISP) Watershed Steward Program (WSP), which is coordinated by ������̳ biology lecturer Paul Lord. Suchecki was able to work with the public and environmental stakeholders to identify and thwart AIS introduction and exports from the Catskill Region.

One highlight? Helping conduct a population survey on vulnerable freshwater mussel species such as the Yellow Lampmussel and the Green Floater, currently petitioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be listed as federally threatened.

“This served as a wonderful opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the environmental field and better understand the type of work I may be doing in the future,” Suchecki said. “Overall, my internship has been invaluable to me as it has clarified my career aspirations, expanded my marketability, and—due to the mixture of independent living with a 40-hour work week—has given me a taste of ‘adult life’ that reassures me I can handle such an experience on a larger scale post-graduation, wherever that may take me. I am very thankful I had the means to gain this experience, and I look forward to applying it in the future!”

“I Feel Profoundly Transformed”

As part of the SUNY Washington Internship Program, senior Annalisa Alicea, a dual Sport Management and Communication Studies major from Poughkeepsie, New York, spent her summer in Washington D.C. getting firsthand experience in not one but two areas of interest.

Four days a week, Alicea interned at Destination DC, the official marketing organization for Washington. Serving as a Sports and Events intern, she helped research and craft bid proposals for new events, sourced hotels and created room blocks for upcoming events, updated databases and sports sales dashboards and supported experiential marketing campaigns. A perk was being able to attend big games and events such as the Argentina vs. Guatemala Copa America warm-up match, USA Rugby vs. Scotland, and the Citi Open.

“Working at DDC has not only deepened my understanding of the sports industry but has also provided invaluable insights into the business aspects of event planning,” Alicea said. “DDC has offered me an incredibly holistic experience, allowing me to observe global and convention sales processes, marketing and communications strategies, and the dynamics of partnerships and alliances.”

Every Friday, she joined fellow SUNY Washington interns for seminar classes, where they engaged with speakers on a variety of topics and toured the city, visiting the White House and Supreme Court, attending Congressional and Senate hearings and getting to meet with renowned think tanks like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Some of Alicea’s favorite experiences included being able to meet and get advice from SUNY Washington alumni who now work for congressmen, senators and more. Hearing about their career paths, both the highs and lows, was “extremely valuable,” she said.

“Reflecting on what I will take away from this experience is challenging because I feel profoundly transformed,” Alicea said. “Professionally, I've acquired a variety of new skills and knowledge that I'm eager to continue developing. Personally, living independently in a city far from home has nurtured my confidence and independence. Stepping outside my comfort zone initially felt daunting, but it has opened doors to incredible experiences and relationships that have shaped me both personally and professionally.