Last spring the School of Business kicked off IMPACT Greater New Haven, an innovative new internship program that pairs business students with local nonprofit organizations. This paid, for-credit internship program provides training and opportunities for students to develop professional skills and an appreciation for the importance of community engagement.
The Greater New Haven region is rich in culture and has a strong nonprofit base that works tirelessly to enrich the lives of its residents. Southern students have a strong commitment to giving back and are hungry for experiences to learn from local organizations.
Nonprofits rarely have the resources to offer paid internships and since Southern students work an average of 27 hours per week, they are often unable to fit unpaid internships into their schedules. IMPACT Greater New Haven program provides payment to these interns through the generosity of donors, which allows our students to learn in a real-world setting while giving back to the community at no cost to the nonprofit organization.
Students are placed in a 150-hour internship at a local nonprofit organization. This affords the students real-world business experience as they develop an appreciation for the important work done by nonprofits.
Current economics senior Maxwell Gaulin says about his current internship with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC), “This internship has been a great opportunity to supplement my education at SCSU with real-world experience. I have gotten to see the economy that I have always been a part of from a different angle, which is invaluable. Through hands-on mentorship, I have been able to reach out to businesses in the area and see the challenges they are facing and help them overcome them.”
Anne Benowitz, Director of Economic Development at GNHCC says, “The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and our Economic Development Initiative has had a fantastic experience with our SCSU Interns. The program is a huge benefit to the business community and a great way for students to get real life experience. SCSU’s Business School has provided two fantastic interns this semester and they have been engaging our business community, helping to understand each organization’s needs and bringing resources to support growth in the Region. Maxwell brings a great deal of knowledge, speed and professionalism to our efforts and has been a pleasure to have aboard. We love having SCSU students learn about economic development and how it intersects with so many different types of businesses.”
Diana Alcazar, a junior marketing student, says “Through the SCSU Business Success Center I have been given the opportunity to intern at Cornell Scott Hill Health Center. This has helped me apply the tools and skills learned in class to a ‘real world’ scenario. Working with Mrs. Esdaile-Bragg in the CSHHC Marketing Department has shown me how intricately the department is run. Her team is full of wonderful women who truly excel at what they do. I am so grateful to have chosen such a great school that has provided me with amazing opportunities!”
And Carlah Esdaile-Bragg, ‘81, director of marketing and community relations at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, says, “Working with Diana has been an amazing experience for us. I am so very impressed with her and my staff feel the same way. We have given her assignments each week of increasing significance and skill. She has written and recorded a radio commercial and successfully updated a complex advertisement schedule among other duties. She has done exceptionally well. As a result, I have recommended her for an employment opportunity upon graduation.”
Business students or local nonprofit organizations interested in hearing more about the IMPACT Greater New Haven internship program can contact Patty Conte at contep2@southernct.edu.
