More than 100 Southern Connecticut State University students have gained hands-on professional experience while supporting nonprofit organizations across the region through a program that makes paid internships accessible to both students and their nonprofit hosts.
The School of Business’ IMPACT Internship Program pairs students with nonprofit organizations for paid, semester-long internships. Now in its sixth year, the program is supported by alumni and community partners, including Liberty Bank.
Approximately five students participate each spring. Each student completes 150 hours with a host organization, receives a $2,625 stipend, and earns three academic credits. Donor funding covers most of the stipends, allowing nonprofits that may not have the resources to pay interns to provide additional support to Southern business students.
For international business major Ana Ruiz, ’26, the experience has provided a bridge between college and what comes next.
“Being a senior comes with a lot of uncertainty about what’s next. The IMPACT internship program gives students like me the chance to apply what we’ve learned in the classroom to real, meaningful work while earning credit and a stipend,” Ruiz said. “Through my internship at MATCH, I’ve built real skills in employee onboarding, time management, and problem-solving while supporting work that directly impacts people navigating the path to employment.”
Preparation begins before students arrive at their internship sites. During the fall semester, participants receive personal and professional development training, after which a committee of staff from the School of Business’s Lindy Lee Gold Leadership Suite pairs them with nonprofit organizations based on their interests and skills and the organizations’ needs.
A kickoff event early in the spring brings together interns, nonprofit hosts, faculty advisors, and School of Business leadership. Interns reconvene during the semester, and an end-of-year celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and highlight their contributions to their host organizations.
The IMPACT Internship Program was inspired by Jerry Brennan, ’76, whose financial support and commitment helped establish the initiative about six years ago. His vision helped create a model connecting students seeking professional experience with nonprofits that can benefit from emerging business talent.
“Opportunity and leadership are two key reasons for the IMPACT program,” Brennan said. “We want business students to understand that there are excellent professional opportunities within nonprofit organizations where they can make a positive impact, while also recognizing the importance of community involvement in developing leadership qualities. As a Southern business school alumnus, I’m grateful to see the program reach this milestone and honored to give back to the university that helped shape my success in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.”
Additional donors and community partners have helped sustain the program; one such partner is Liberty Bank, which has contributed $10,000 annually for the past several years. Its support primarily funds student stipends, along with a portion of the program’s training and events.
“The IMPACT Internship Program gives us the opportunity to support young people as they begin their career journeys while also putting their newly gained business knowledge to work for nonprofits in our communities,” said Toral Maher, foundation manager and executive director at Liberty Bank. “It’s truly a win-win — students gain meaningful, real-world experience while local nonprofits benefit from their skills and fresh perspectives, and we’re proud to continue supporting the program.”
The program is overseen by Patty Conte, internship coordinator for the School of Business, who works with colleagues to coordinate student placements and relationships with participating nonprofits.
“What makes the IMPACT program so valuable is that students gain experience and academic credit in their business concentration while also being introduced to the nonprofit world,” Conte said. “The experience strengthens their résumés, builds their professional skills, and often opens doors to additional internships and full-time opportunities. We’ve seen it be truly life-changing for many of our students.”
Through IMPACT, students gain professional experience, academic credit and connections in the community, while nonprofit organizations gain additional capacity to advance their work — a model that benefits students, host organizations, and the communities they serve.
