F.H. Paschen’s Post

Meet Wren Heron ‘24! Wren studied Communications and Media and minored in English and Asian Studies. We asked Wren about future plans and favorite parts at Naz: 1. What was your best experience at Naz? If I were to rank my best experiences, the top ones would be the time I’ve spent with the friends who I’ve made on campus. Nothing compares to the affinity we found with each other and the way we all supported each other in growing and learning about ourselves. 2. Who was your favorite professor? Dr. Phillip B. Guingona has had a tremendous impact on me as both a student and a person. His classes allowed me to pursue academic interests that I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to explore, meet my closest friends, and start learning more about myself. As a professor, Phillip truly values the lens that I bring to the classroom as an interdisciplinary student, and he has wholeheartedly supported my research and academic endeavors, even when I haven’t been confident in them myself. 3. What’s next? Summer internship at LáLew Public Relations- a woman and minority-owned public relations firm that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in client work. After the summer, I hope to pursue a career path that allows me to engage in DEI work and push for more inclusive and accessible language. Read more about Wren and other 2024 grads: https://bit.ly/49VKlJ9

#InternSpotlight: Jack Kruschke 🌟 You've gotten to know him through Jack's Vac Shack now get to know what his fall plans are and the takeaways he has had over the past summer. Check out Jack's Intern Spotlight below!

Drum roll please! 🥁 Now introducing our Marketing Communications and Alumni Affairs Coordinator, Jordan Colquitt! Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do at the Chargers. A: I mainly help with staff and media game day credentials and assist with our alumni and influencer program, as well as facilitate player interviews. Q: How did you get started? A: I always knew I wanted to work in sports, but wasn't sure in what capacity. I interned with my university's (Kentucky) athletic department in communications and that's when I knew I wanted to work in sports communications. Post college, I did a two-year internship with the Kansas City Chiefs and a summer internship with the St. Louis Cardinals. Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job? A: The most rewarding part of the job is seeing how successful our game day prep plays out on game days. Q: Any advice for those trying to get a job in sports? A: Have a no-job-too-small mentality. Every task serves a purpose no matter how big or small. #sports #marketing #communications

I started my career in communications interning at Financial Times. I remember being in awe of seeing the NYC office for the first time, journalists clacking away on their keyboards, drafting their news stories, hustling to gather sources. A cacophony of sounds fueled by black coffee and tight deadlines. I’d take a copy of today’s paper on my way out and attempt to read it on the train, its giant, pink-tinted pages brushing against pissed off commuters’ shoulders on the subway. I thought I was so cool, yet I barely understood what I was reading at the time 😅. I’ve been finding myself thinking of these memories a LOT lately, especially as I tap into my PR roots as part of this new role. I was in my last semester of college at SUNY New Paltz, and decided to accept a full-time internship at the FT. Swapping late-night brews for crack-of-dawn lattes, college papers for media pitches, quick jogs to my dorm for dreaded 6pm trains back to Long Island. Penn Station. Oof. As I pass the two month mark as the Director of Communications at Smart Electric Power Alliance, I can’t help but think of 22-year-old Natalie who DREAMED of being in a role like this one. Likely while commuting back home on the LIRR. I was, and still am, so passionate about what I do, especially now, working to build awareness and buzz around a 501c3 nonprofit that is fueling the energy industry's transition to carbon-free. What a privilege to be able to find a role that moves you. To be able to align your work with your values. To find a position that, somehow, is the culmination and result of all those little and big career decisions you’ve made thus far. Some of which you weren’t sure were right for you, or too “big” for you, but you did it anyway to prove to yourself you can do hard things and learn along the way. All this to say, I feel fortunate to be where I'm at in my career, young Nat was onto something big, and I'm so glad I don't have to commute into Penn Station anymore 🤪 Share an internship memory with me! #Comms #DigitalCommunications #CareerGrowth #WomenInMedia #OneThingToKnow

"I had an incredible time on the Hill, and it was the best internship I have had because of the people I met and the things I experienced." Interning in Congress can be a great way to jumpstart a career in government. Read Bennie Chang's (SFS'26) advice on how to land a congressional internship. This story is from the Student Life Blog. https://bit.ly/3Ub8lDl

Huntsman’s #SummerInterns from The Woodlands, Texas, joined Kevin Gundersen, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs, for a lunch-and-learn session. They gained valuable insights into the world of government affairs and how it impacts our industry and operations here at Huntsman. Gundersen shared his firsthand knowledge and professional experiences with the students, who were eager to learn more about the impact of government affairs on the organization and industry. When asked by the summer interns what skills he had gained from government to corporate, Gundersen answered, “When you’re a senator or CEO, you have a certain type of personality. Amazingly similar. All these people are well-intentioned. Learn how they communicate and with whom. Very similar to CEOs. Apply the same tools of campaigns to business. Politicians ask for votes; CEOs ask you to work for them. Touching people’s hearts and minds. I never knew the skills I developed in D.C. would apply to corporate settings. Build skills that have value in future jobs. You’re building a body of work over your career,” Gundersen said. To learn more about Huntsman #internships for fall 2024, visit: https://ow.ly/uFqE50Ph1VK

Each semester, Meerkat Media teams up with the University of Florida to work with graduate students studying marketing and public relations. One part of the internship is helping our team maintain social media pages through community engagement. Kaliyah and Megan – two of our fall 2023 intern alums – were kind enough to share a few thoughts on what they learned. Tap the link for their insights. 🔗 #DigitalMarketing #CommunityManagement #CommunityEngagement

It’s been a busy few weeks. With the House of Representatives being in session 10 out of 12 weeks, this summer has sure felt like a slog. This entire year has felt that way, honestly. It’s easy to look back and only remember the hours put in or just flat out being exhausted. As we hit the second half of summer, I encourage you to remember your wins, big or small. To remember your why. And to celebrate the moments that fill your bucket. Here are a few pictures of some of mine from the last several weeks: 1-3. I was asked to speak on two panels during the first ever bipartisan CAO Scheduler/Operations conference. Thank you Mary Pritschau and Daniel Chao for sharing this time with me and helping to make schedulers/operations staffers feel seen, invested in, and valued. 4. Found my new favorite winery, Crimson Lane Winery. Highly encourage you to check it out (I’m not sponsored….yet 😉). 5. Hosted Speaker McCarthy and over 500 interns for the annual bipartisan, bicameral Intern Lecture Series. The interns in this room are some of the best and brightest in the country and will be our next generation of leaders. 6. Tried a new restaurant with great company and even greater friends. 7. I had the pleasure of helping to host a Subcommittee on Modernization breakfast with the “Fix Congress” cohort to highlight recommendations and share implementation goals to modernize Congress, make it more effective, and to better serve constituents. 8. I was honored to attend a reception hosted by the British Defence Attaché for national security-related congressional staffers. 9. I was able to get a sneak peak of the House’s renovated studio 🎥 😎 #Operations #Schedulers #Internship #congress #modernization #innovation #houseofrepresentatives #defense #nationalsecurity

By effectively utilizing summer interns' skills and enthusiasm, you can achieve your campaign goals more effectively:

A direct quote from the NACE Position statement: "Particularly troubling, NACE research has also found that all college students are not equitably represented in internships (Inequity in Internships, NACE, 2021). According to survey data, women, Black, Hispanic, and first-generation students were underrepresented in paid internships. In 2022, NACE followed up on that initial analysis and the internship data from 187 employers demonstrated nearly identical inequities. Again, women, Black, and Hispanic students were significantly underrepresented as a proportion of paid interns. Taken together, the research shows that white, male, and continuing generation students are disproportionally overrepresented in paid internships. Providing more paid internships for underrepresented populations will lead to greater access, opportunity, and success for participating students; help fill critical roles throughout the employment landscape; and lead to needed diversification of the workforce." Internships are a high-impact practice that colleges and universities should be paying significant attention to and identifying action steps to close equity gaps.