Executive Interns Go Behind-the-Scenes at Fisher
Tyler Adams ’20, a management major at St. John Fisher College, is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Fisher Forward, the College’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign.
“Going to the campaign’s launch gala and being part of moving Fisher Forward has been my favorite experience so far,” Adams said.
An executive intern for the Office of Institutional Advancement, Adams and the five other executive interns—Madison Byrne ’21, Darienne Slocum ’20, Erica Schultz ’20, Matthew Jeffries ’21, and Cassidy Bell ’21—attended the launch and stood on stage for the announcement of the campaign.
President Gerard Rooney launched the Executive Intern Program in 2016 as a way for students to learn more about higher education administration and operations. Since its inception, the program has offered a multitude of experiences for its current and past members.
Byrne, an interdisciplinary major, said her time as an intern with the Division of Student Affairs has given her a chance to grow. “The invaluable connections I have built with students, faculty, and staff have allowed me to grow my personal and professional network more than I could have imagined,” she said.
The internship follows on its promise to teach students about higher education. As an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications, Slocum, a senior marketing major, was involved in the creation of Fisher’s new ad campaign, “I See Myself.” She saw the campaign move from the initial planning stages to launch week, months later. “During the planning stages of ‘I See Myself’, I had the chance to pitch my own ideas for the production of the television spots - and one of them made the production!” Slocum exclaimed.
Corporate finance major Schultz works directly with President Rooney, who connected her with thriV, a boutique based in Pittsford owned by Shari Hall Smith. “I am helping her set up her shop, create a customer directory, understand her taxes and inventory, and hopefully make a good business plan to track our goals throughout the first year,” Schultz explained. She hopes to start her own business someday and feels that this experience will help her achieve that goal.
In the Division of Financial Affairs, Jeffries, a corporate finance major, worked on a project to help Fisher’s Print Center. “I’ve produced financial statements for the Print Center to. With this, we were able to articulate strengths and areas for opportunity,” he said.
Bell, a business management major who works with the Division of Enrollment Management, shadowed admissions counselors on school visits and chatted with high school students. “I loved being able to give input as a current student and help prospective students figure out if Fisher is the right fit for them,” she said.
Each of the interns has had a unique, individualized experience with the program, which has allowed them to experience Fisher with a fresh perspective and prepare them for their post-graduation careers.
Interested in joining Fisher’s next group of leaders? Applications for 2020-2021 Executive Internship will roll out at the end of February in Handshake.