Internship promise in action

“One of the most important things I learned this summer was how a project moves from drawings to construction. Before this internship, I understood architectural drawings primarily from a classroom perspective. Being able to work with actual project documents and then visit project sites helped me understand how those drawings are used throughout the construction process.”

Agnes Rodts interned at Zapata Group Inc., a Charlotte-based architecture and engineering firm that specializes in military and utility industry projects. Rodts is a junior majoring in architecture and is part of the Honors College.

“The most meaningful part of the internship was getting to connect with the students at the Joffrey Ballet School. For a lot of them, it was their first time in the city, so we got to take them to some of the fun tourist spots and see a lot of Broadway shows. It was also amazing to meet all the other interns who go to school all over the world and talk to them about what their pathway has been leading up to the internship. I made some lifelong connections.”

Aliyah March was a resident community advisor lead at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. March is a senior double majoring in dance and business administration.

“This internship has shown me that healthcare administration is about much more than managing a hospital. It is about leading people, solving problems and making decisions that improve the lives of patients, employees and the community.”

Arnav Gandhi interned at Cape Fear Valley Health, supporting hospital operations at the Harnett Health facilities in Dunn and Lillington, North Carolina. Gandhi is a student in the Master of Health Administration program.

“Professionally, I realized how important it is to be curious and ask questions. Some of my most valuable experiences came from reaching out to someone I didn’t know, asking about their career or volunteering for something outside of my immediate responsibilities. Personally, the internship helped me become much more confident in professional environments. At the beginning of the summer, it could feel intimidating being surrounded by people with years of experience, but I learned that being willing to learn, communicate and contribute goes a long way.”

Nia Patel was a chief operating office global operations consumer banking and lending strategy intern for Wells Fargo. Patel is a senior majoring in finance, accounting and criminal justice.

“As the first job in my field, this experience completely reshaped how I show up professionally. Being trusted to contribute in a real company environment taught me a level of self-respect and confidence I didn’t realize I was lacking. Instead of making myself small or second-guessing every choice, I now approach challenges head-on. Whether my decisions turn out right or wrong, I have built the confidence to own the outcome, learn from it and keep moving forward without hesitation.”  

Abby Spencer was a research and development intern for Bürkert in Karlsruhe, Germany. Spencer is a senior majoring in electrical engineering.

“I was surprised by how much I was able to contribute as an intern. I came into the summer expecting to learn from others, but I also had opportunities to take ownership of meaningful projects. From helping develop an AI mock call simulator to supporting leadership communications and pilot programs, I was trusted with work that had a real impact on the National Contact Center. That experience gave me a lot more confidence in my ability to step into unfamiliar situations and contribute.

Owen Hardig was a client services intern at TIAA. Hardig is a junior double majoring in finance and accounting and is part of the Honors College.

“What surprised me most was seeing how much the company had changed since my internship there last summer, especially with the growing use of AI and agents. It was interesting to see how quickly these tools became part of everyday work and how much more I was able to use them in my own role.”

Faty Mbaye was an account management intern for Mastercard. Mbaye is a senior majoring in finance.

“One thing that surprised me the most was how much I got to talk about communications and journalism. I was able to learn a lot about how you can use communications in the nonprofit world as well as in more STEM‑focused career paths. My supervisor, Bonnie Mitchell, definitely made the biggest impact on me. She taught me the importance of forming community partnerships and how you can use a network toward a common shared goal.”

Meaira Alston was an education and outreach intern for the North Carolina Coastal Federation. Alston is a senior communication studies major.

“I didn’t expect to gain interviewing skills during my internship. I spent time visiting other internship sites within my cohort, conducting interviews and writing articles based on those conversations. Through that process, I learned how to guide a natural, flowing conversation, listen actively and ask meaningful follow‑up questions.”

Gabby Rivera was a marketing and content creation specialist for the UNC Charlotte Career Center. Rivera is a senior communication studies major.

“Working at General Motors Performance Power Units has been my first experience in both the automotive industry and professional motorsports. Although I came into the role with a year of additive manufacturing experience, I quickly realized how differently manufacturing principles can be applied for the objective of Formula 1 performance. The technical level of the engineers around me and the pace at which the team operates have encouraged me to expand the way I think as an engineer. Even observing how experienced engineers evaluate problems, collaborate across disciplines and make decisions has been extremely valuable.”

Kameran Blake was an additive manufacturing engineering intern for General Motors Performance Power Units, the power unit program for Cadillac F1. Blake is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.

“One unexpected skill I developed was the ability to better optimize my time and deliverables. Corporate work naturally has ebbs and flows — meetings, deadlines and shifting priorities — but I learned that real productivity comes from balancing focused work with intentional rest.  I developed an internal optimization with hours of focus and the ability to hold vast amounts of information that I could then apply to a project.”

Aseem Bradley was a data scientist and data analyst for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. Bradley is a senior majoring in computer science.

“The patients have been my greatest teachers. Seeing the strength they bring into every class has completely changed my perspective on what living with cancer can look like. Their determination to keep moving and continue investing in their health has been one of the most inspiring parts of this experience.”

Allison Wade was an exercise physiology intern at the Novant Health Cancer Rehab and Wellness Center. Wade is working on her master’s degree in kinesiology.

“Professor Erin Washburn made a tremendous impact on me during my internship this summer, as did everyone who was a part of the Mebane Early Literacy Center Summer Reading Camp. This was my third summer participating in the camp, and each year I leave with a deeper understanding of what it means to be an educator. While I have grown tremendously in my teaching knowledge and skills, I have also grown personally and gained a greater appreciation for the lasting impact educators can have on their students.”

Avery Larkin was a literacy instructor for the Mebane Early Literacy Center Summer Reading Camp at UNC Charlotte. Larkin is a senior majoring in adaptive special education.