This summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and practical hands-on experience. Lerner College students pursued an array of internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.
Our “My Summer Internship” series highlights these unique experiences, showcasing how students translated classroom knowledge into real-world success.
Alyssa Jernegan, Class of 2027 marketing and operations management double major, spent her summer as a corporate east sales intern at CDW.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Jernegan: I found out about this internship through Handshake. I pursued it because I felt like I could develop skills from both of my majors.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Jernegan: The most exciting project I completed during my time at CDW was a shadowing project. We shadowed many different team members and put everything we learned together into a final presentation. It was exciting to hear about all of the perspectives.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Jernegan: From this internship, I feel like I learned how to put myself out there to a level I would not have elsewhere. We started off the experience with a trip to Chicago. We spent the week meeting so many people from different backgrounds. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Jernegan: I was able to apply skills that I’ve learned at Lerner to my role when I had to do data analysis. These skills allowed me to successfully help my team with sales data.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Jernegan: A challenge I faced during my internship was learning how to communicate in a corporate setting. I overcame this issue by stepping out of my comfort zone and learning from those around me.
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Jernegan: My career goals are to work long-term at a company where I can constantly develop my skills while also benefitting my team. I think this internship will push me closer to my career goals because I learned such a wide range of important skills.