{"id":121288,"date":"2026-02-03T14:29:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/121288\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:29:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:29:42","slug":"why-internships-are-a-signature-feature-of-the-queens-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/121288\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Internships are a Signature Feature of the Queens Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Feb 02, 2026
\n By Queens University Communications\n <\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

At Queens University of Charlotte, the path to graduation is more than just classroom learning \u2013 it\u2019s about access to real-world experiences. Queens students are required to complete an internship before they graduate. Undergraduates often secure these opportunities by working with the team in Queens\u2019 Vandiver Center for Career Development, an integral part of the university that is dedicated to supporting students through this process.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy combining employer-taught training with meaningful internship experiences, Queens prepares students to be career-ready,\u201d said Angela Tsuei-Strause, executive director of the Vandiver Center for Career Development. \u201cThis hands-on approach, woven into our academic and co-curricular offerings, gives Queens students a distinct advantage as they transition into the professional world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The internship requirement is an important element of the Queens curriculum, ensuring every student leaves with hands-on experience, professional connections, and a clear vision for their future. It is the primary way Queens moves students toward being professionally prepared. But what is the true value of an internship?<\/p>\n

We recently connected with two students who shared how their experiences transformed their academic journeys:<\/p>\n

Madi Clack \u201926: Finding Clarity Through Exploration<\/p>\n

For Madi Clack \u201826, a native of Burlington, NC, the internship requirement was a chance to test different career paths.<\/p>\n

\"Madi<\/p>\n

\u201cCompleting an internship before graduating is important because it provides insight into what kind of career you may want in the future,\u201d said Clack. \u201cAs a personal example, my internship reinforced my desire to pursue a career in conservation and helped me narrow down which specific conservation path I wanted to continue after graduating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clack pursued her passion for conservation by interning at Discovery Place Science in the heart of Charlotte. Her experience taught her vital transferable skills. \u201cDuring my internship, I learned valuable lessons in time management and communication. These are things that I will need to apply in any aspect post-grad, whether at graduate school or a career in conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her advice for students approaching the internship search is rooted in thoughtful self-assessment. \u201cWhen figuring out what type of internship to pursue, think about the types of careers you\u2019re interested in,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring my time at Queens, I completed two internships. If I hadn\u2019t, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to compare careers in plant conservation and animal conservation. Exploring both paths helped set me on the right path for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the organizations working with these students, the goal is to provide a foundation that lasts far beyond a single semester. \u201cAn internship is often a student\u2019s first step into the professional world, and Discovery Place is proud to help shape that journey by teaching skills that foster curiosity, responsibility, and lifelong learning,\u201d said Elliot Provance, senior director of collections at Discovery Place. \u201cInternships with the Living Collections team provide students with practical, transferable skills that serve them well long after their time at the museum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bella Swanson \u201826: The Power of Flexibility and Connection<\/p>\n

Bella Swanson \u201826, hailing from Elmhurst, Illinois, sees the internship requirement as a critical bridge between academic life and professional success.<\/p>\n

\"Bella<\/p>\n

\u201cInternships allow you to gain hands-on experience that gives you a glimpse of what your future career could be, while also building valuable networks and helping you develop your skills and professional relationships,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As a graphic design student, Swanson gained valuable agency experience as a graphic design intern at Pinckney Harmon. Her biggest takeaway was the importance of human connection and continuous learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing I learned is the value of being open to new experiences, whether it\u2019s an invitation to lunch with a coworker or constructive feedback on a project,\u201d said Swanson. \u201cI also learned not to be afraid to ask questions. Doing so not only ensured that I was on the right track, but it also helped me build stronger connections with my colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

For younger students starting their journey, Swanson emphasizes the need for resilience and a \u201ccan-do\u201d attitude. \u201cStay adaptable,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing flexible helps you stay productive, and it also makes others more eager to work with you because you can multitask and adjust to different situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swanson\u2019s proactive mindset is precisely why local business leaders value the Queens partnership. \u201cWorking with Queens University of Charlotte allows us to connect with talented, motivated students who bring fresh ideas and energy to our work,\u201d said Glenn Harmon, partner at Pinckney Harmon. \u201cInternships and networking events help us build real relationships with students, offer hands-on experience, and help shape the next generation of creative professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n

These student experiences highlight the true purpose of the Queens internship requirement. It\u2019s not just a box to check \u2013 it\u2019s the bridge that transforms students into prepared, connected, and career-ready professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Feb 02, 2026 By Queens University Communications At Queens University of Charlotte, the path to graduation is more…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9265,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":{"0":"post-121288","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-queens","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-queens","12":"tag-queens-headlines","13":"tag-queens-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}