Summer internships give Hussman students real-world experience
By Beth Hatcher
From New York City to right here in the Triangle, UNC Hussman students are working at internships across the country, building resumes and learning invaluable skills about what careers will suit them best after graduation.
“Internships give students a real leg up in looking for full-time jobs. Most employers expect that students bring experience to the table,” said Director of Career Services Jay Eubank.
Pictured: Steven Schlink '24 at his multimedia journalist internship at WMBF News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Hussman’s Career Services team, based in Carroll Hall’s Undergraduate Hub, helps students with the internship hunt in a number of ways, such as one-on-one advising and career treks, as well as career and internship fairs.
Eubank said internships enrich students and add to their future opportunities on many fronts. “They help Hussman students build great professional connections and confirm whether a student really wants to pursue that type of work as a full-time job,” Eubank said. “Students should meet as many people as possible at their internship and ask lots of questions.”
We asked a few Hussman students working in a range of industries represented by Hussman’s curriculum just what they’re learning in their internships, and here’s what they told us:
Internship:
Earned Media Fellow at Ketchum in Raleigh, North Carolina
Hometown:
Greensboro, North Carolina
Focus of study:
Advertising and public relations
Career aspirations:
Entertainment public relations
Why did you choose your internship?
I decided to join Ketchum because of its exceptional company culture and prestigious client portfolio. Being part of such a renowned organization provides countless opportunities to delve into various aspects of public relations. Prior to my decision, I had a conversation with a former Ketchum intern and Tar Heel who had nothing but praise for Ketchum. Their enthusiasm further reinforced my choice to join this remarkable company.
What are the duties of your internship?
In my role as an earned media intern or fellow, I have had the privilege of working collaboratively across a diverse range of accounts. As part of my responsibilities, I have been engaged in various tasks such as diligent media monitoring, meticulously curating media lists for multiple clients, and actively contributing to the development of the Weekly Media newsletter.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
Undoubtedly, the most exhilarating aspect of my internship has been the firsthand exposure and involvement in dynamic public relations campaigns and esteemed earned media initiatives. I have had the remarkable opportunity to witness the strategic execution of impactful projects for renowned clients, including industry giants such as 3M, Target, Wendy’s, Delloite and the American Egg Board.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
One thing at Ketchum that caught my interest is understanding work social styles and the art of adaptability in interpersonal interactions. Discovering the nuances of effectively engaging with individuals and skillfully tailoring conversations to maximize productivity is a simple concept but very effective.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
I was fortunate to experience the Country Music Association (CMA) festival in Nashville, Tennessee — an event that resonates with my passion for entertainment public relations. Witnessing brand deals and sponsorships in action at musical festivals has always been a thrilling sneak peek into the dynamic world I aspire to work in.
Internship:
Archives and Football Information Intern at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio
Hometown:
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Focus of study:
Journalism and economics
Career aspirations:
I want to work in sports media, whether it’s in reporting, broadcasting or another multimedia path.
Why did you choose your internship?
The opportunities and resources available at the Pro Football Hall of Fame made accepting this internship position a no brainer. Before this internship, most of my experience was based around reporting, so I was really excited to branch out and take on a position that’s more research based. Research and good reporting go hand-and-hand, and the skills I’m learning now will benefit me when I return to my reporting duties in the fall.
What are the duties of your internship?
Some of my daily tasks include filling out research requests sent in from various media members and journalists, as well as proofreading material for print and online within the Hall of Fame. Most of these tasks involve me using the resources within the Hall of Fame’s research and archive center. Also, I began working on a few feature projects on this year’s Hall of Fame class that will be published soon.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
Being surrounded by a ton of football history and having access to the resources at the Hall of Fame has helped me learn a lot so far. I’ve had the privilege to assist and talk to people who work in the NFL League Offices, NFL teams and the NFL Network. I’ve also been able to look through incredible artifacts that help tell the history of football, namely Tom Brady’s draft card.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
Understanding the importance of thorough research is something I learned the first day at my internship. On the surface, some research requests I have received seem like a quick 10-minute search, but as I’ve found out almost all research projects take time and effort to properly fulfill. Taking this methodical approach to my projects has made me a much better researcher and journalist.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
Exploring Akron and Cleveland with some of the other interns has been really fun this summer. We’ve gone to a couple of Cleveland Guardians games and checked out parts of the area connected to LeBron James, such as his high school and childhood home. Also, getting to meet and bond with the other interns has been really fun because we are all from different schools and states.
Internship:
Multimedia Journalist at WMBF News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Hometown:
Lillington, North Carolina
Focus of study:
Journalism
Career aspirations:
Anchor/reporter
Why did you choose your internship?
I chose this internship to put to use the skills I've learned in the classroom. WMBF has also been on my radar as a potential first job post-graduation, so it is also allowing me the opportunity to see if the station is a good fit for me.
What are the duties of your internship?
In this position, I turn in stories just like all of our other reporters. I pitch two stories each day I work, get my assignment, line up interviews, conduct interviews, gather b-roll, write scripts (three versions of my story each day), record video introductions to stories and assemble it all. Afterwards, I go back to the station and write the web version of my story.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
The most exciting part has truly been just getting to be a multimedia journalist. This is the job I will likely start out in after I graduate. It is a lot different having to turn three versions of a story each day than turning one version each week like I'm used to doing for Carolina Week, [Hussman's student-produced television news program]. Getting to do this in a professional environment with so much support has been an invaluable experience which has truly reaffirmed my passion for this industry.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
Time management. This industry relies heavily on being able to properly manage your time and being able to multitask. Without this, it becomes difficult to meet deadlines. This skill is one that can only really be learned through firsthand experience. This internship has allowed me to grow in this skill.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
The time at the beach. I am a huge beach-lover, so being right down the road from the beach has been a great addition to the summer.
Internship:
Congressional Intern for Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Hometown:
Charlotte, North Carolina
Focus of study:
Political science and journalism
Career aspirations:
Attorney
Why did you choose your internship?
I chose to intern with Congress to understand the behind-the-scenes of how Congress works while also working to better my community. The congressman I work for really values the importance of education that is accessible to all, which is a big interest for me.
What are the duties of your internship?
Some of my duties include writing policy memos, attending briefings and reporting back to my office, as well as writing letters to constituents about policy initiatives and attending hearings.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
One thing I really enjoyed was doing research about Black maternal health. Recently, Olympian Torie Bowie, [a U.S. track and field athlete] passed away [during childbirth], and this has really sparked the conversation about how Black women are treated in the healthcare system. One day, my policy adviser asked me to do research on this matter, which ended up contributing to an opinion editorial to a major news source. While this is a very difficult topic, I am happy to have been of assistance to my office in continuing these conversations.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
Often times, people are not really sure what it means to lobby. Before coming to Washington D.C., I wasn't really sure on what that meant myself. As an intern I have been able to meet with lobbyists who want the congressman I work for to co-sponsor a bill or sign onto a letter. It's actually a pretty easy and streamlined process in which the member or staff meets with the constituent/lobbying group to first form a relationship. Then, the representative and their staff go back and do research on the lobbyist's proposal, and then the next step is to simply agree to it.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
One of my favorite off-the-job summer memories has been visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture with members of my cohort. It has been an honor to be selected to intern in Congress by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation where I have gotten the chance to meet over 60 black students from all over the nation. Attending the museum with my cohort members was so special because it reminded us of why we were there interning in Congress in the first place. Plus, the architecture of the museum was so cool and unique.
Internship:
Junior Art Director at BBDO in New York City
Hometown:
Huntersville, North Carolina
Focus of study:
Advertising
Career aspirations:
My immediate goal is to serve as a creative director at BBDO, driving some genuinely world-changing and earth-shattering work. However, my long-term ambition is to establish my own creative agency that pushes the boundaries of innovation, harnessing my passion for everything from blockchain and sustainability, to technology and the world of fashion.
Why did you choose your internship?
I’ve heard BBDO is the best of the best. I yearned for a vibrant arena where my love for art and knack for problem-solving could flourish. I was drawn to BBDO’s reputation for making engaging stories that hold audiences and get the business. It offered me a chance to create, to innovate and to be part of a world-class team, to learn from the best in the business.
What are the duties of your internship?
As a junior art director, I’ve had the opportunity to dip my toes into a number of tasks. I’m responsible for managing art direction across several accounts, from social media posts for Bacardi to immersive augmented reality lenses for a guacamole. It’s a role that allows me to exercise my creative muscle while developing a strategic understanding of brand communication.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
Being part of a creative ecosystem that oozes talent, skill and ingenuity. It’s like stepping into a different realm where boundaries of creativity are constantly pushed and ideas come to life. Each day brings new challenges, sparking fresh thoughts and insights.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
Beyond the invaluable practical skills I'm gaining, I’m learning how to operate in a fast-paced, high-stakes professional environment. Deadlines are very real, and they carry weight. I'm refining my ability to manage my time efficiently, produce high-quality work under pressure, and proactively stay ahead of the curve. It's a crash course in the balance of creativity and commerce.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
Immersing myself in the culture that is New York City has been an experience in itself. The city pulses with creativity, and I find inspiration around every corner. I like meeting and working with other people like me — it’s cool. If I had to pick one, quick thing though, I’d say those chopped cheeses, [a type of sandwich originating in New York City], are something.
Hometown:
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Internship:
Data Visuals Fellow at The Texas Tribune in Austin, Texas
Focus of study:
Majoring in journalism and global studies with a minor in data science
Career aspirations:
I want to do something in the journalism industry. I don't know whether I want to go into writing/reporting, editing, data journalism, data visualization, or something that I don't even know of yet — but I do know that I want to work to find and tell stories that have an impact on communities.
Why did you choose your internship?
Though I come from a reporting/editing background, the past few years I have started to branch into data journalism and data visualization. I have long admired The Texas Tribune for its impressive data visualizations and have used examples of its work as ways to inspire rising data journalists at The Daily Tar Heel, [UNC's independent student newspaper], when I worked to build the paper's data program last fall. The Tribune has been a dream fellowship, and I am very honored to be here this summer.
What are the duties of your internship?
As the data visuals fellow, my role is two-part. I work on gathering and analyzing large datasets to see if there's anything noteworthy and to search for interesting news pegs. Then, once I find an interesting trend or something telling in the data, I work to visualize it in a way that is clear and understandable for readers. My work is a mix of producing quicker graphs and charts for daily pieces for the newsroom (like the chart for this piece) and working on in-depth long-term investigations.
What's been the most exciting and interesting part of your internship?
I've loved getting to learn more about Texas and the politics of a new state — as you can imagine Texas is very different than North Carolina and Virginia. There are a lot of important topics that have been big issues in Texas — from guns to heat/climate change to LGBTQ+ rights — that have been really interesting to research and cover. I love waking up each day and going to work knowing that I'm working on stories and digging into datasets that can have meaningful impacts on communities here.
What are you learning on-the-job that you couldn't in the classroom?
"Data journalism" has been such a buzzword in the industry lately, but the way that manifests itself in the newsroom can vary drastically depending on where you are. It's been really interesting getting to learn how the data team works at The Tribune and seeing how it is integrated with the rest of the newsroom. I've had to learn how to get into the mindset of working on stories or investigations that may take several weeks — or months — to finish. I've loved seeing the thought process behind how The Tribune tackles long-term projects while simultaneously publishing daily content. The Tribune is a very collaborative newsroom, so I've learned a lot through working with my colleagues on various projects and stories.
What's been your favorite off-the-job summer memory so far?
I've loved getting closer with the other fellows at The Tribune this summer. We've become good friends, and it's fun to see them in the newsroom each day. We've gotten into the routine of going rock climbing after work, and on weekends I've loved taking trips to Barton Springs — a local swimming hole — with them to try to beat the Austin heat.