SUNY Geneseo Streamlines and Amps up Internship Program

GENESEO – At SUNY Geneseo, career development is on the minds of students and faculty alike, with a new emphasis on internships for students of all ages, not just those teetering on the edge of graduation.

According to Rob DiCarlo, Associate Director for Internship Opportunities at SUNY Geneseo, internships are a chance for students to explore careers and really think about what they’re learning.

“I like internships to be early in a student’s career so there’s that exploratory phase,” said Rob DiCarlo, Associate Director for Internship Opportunities. “There’s a lot of resources available, […] I want students to think about learning objectives. What do they want to gain from the experience?”

A major change in the well-established department this year, will be streamlining registration for credit-based internships. Internships for credit will become available online through the college’s interface, KnightJobs, which makes signing up more convenient for students.

On top of the virtual revamps, DiCarlo noted additional changes to the internship department, which include an expanded walk-in hour schedule. New internship workshops are also on the radar, including a drill-down on ‘How to Find an Internship,’ as well as similar workshops with the Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Program.

DiCarlo added that it’s important for students to look at internships as more than just a way to boost a resume or gain academic credit. Although he recommends students for-credit internships, which allow the college to ‘have them do some academic work that helps them get more out of the experience,’ internships without credit can still provide students with exciting opportunities to explore career fields and forge connections. A zero-credit internship option will in fact be enacted next year, entitling students, especially those on a pre-med track, to hands-on experience without credit cost.

DiCarlo added that the summer is also a great time for students to fully immerse themselves in an internship, whether for-credit or not.

“Our students are doing some pretty amazing things,” said DiCarlo, reflecting on the lives of individuals such as sophomore Ryan Carpenter, junior Rachel Colmban and seniors Taylor Frank, Maydelis Minaya and Samantha Lambert.

Biochemistry major Carpenter interned at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History over the summer in the entomology department. His work primarily focused to the study of parasitic wasps, noting that these insects are crucial because “they can be used as a biological control against organisms that harm agricultural commodities.” Using the historical records available at the museum, Carpenter was able to form his own research from his internship, comparing the evolution of these wasps from the 1900s to now.

Colomban, a creative writing major, interned at the North East Regional Office for the Peace Corps for public affairs. 

“Interning there was nothing like I expected, but it was absolutely great,” said Colomban.

Frank, a Communication and American studies double major, interned with the Buffalo Bills as a contributing correspondent for their website.

“I interviewed different players every day and had multiple pieces published every week,” said Frank. “It was one of the most exciting months of my life.”

Minaya , a Biology major, worked as the corporate social investment intern at GBCHealth this summer, which, according to their website, is joints the efforts of 230 companies to improve the health of communities around the world. 

“My time at GBCHealth also served as a great space for me to interact with passionate individuals who work hard to ensure that the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals are met and that millions of people worldwide can live healthier and happier lives,” said Minaya.

Communication major Lambert worked as a social media coordinator for VH1, creating content for platforms such as Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Snapchat. Overall, Lambert experienced a work environment that allowed both her personal and social media skills to flourish.

“My overall experience was perfect. I’m still friends with everyone who I worked with,” said Lambert. “I am so grateful for obtaining so many valuable skills.”

Story adapted from a feature written by College Communications intern Megan Tomaszewski.