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.
Eden Melamed, Class of 2026 entrepreneurship major with minors in piano performance and music management, spent her summer as a marketing intern at Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI).
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Melamed: I found out about this internship at the Entrepreneurship Career Fair, and I was immediately drawn to the JSSI employees. They were eager to talk about why they were passionate about the business aviation industry and why they joined JSSI. Also, spending an entire summer in Chicago seemed like an offer I could not pass up!
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Melamed: I strategized and led the first ever JSSI YouTube advertising campaign. After conducting research, I learned that I could utilize Google Advertising to target people who research our competitors, while also leveraging YouTube’s platform to place the ad in front of the right audiences. These audiences are specifically potential customers for JSSI’s Hourly Cost Maintenance program. I pitched this idea to my team and the CCO, created a storyboard for our graphic designer to produce a video ad, and launched the campaign. Through this project, I gained valuable skills in delivering, pitching, leading, and supporting a project with research. After leaving the internship, I was told that the ad has led to a high-quality lead!
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Melamed: One learning experience that is unique to JSSI was my week-long visit to JSSI’s Parts & Leasing warehouse in Kentucky. This trip gave me a valuable perspective on the operational side of the business and deepened my understanding of what I was working on at my desk. I was able to see and deal with aircraft parts, and it was an eye-opening and essential part of my learning experience.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Melamed: In the Horn program, I have developed skills in testing ideas through my UX class, and have gained skills in project management, leadership, and collaboration in all my classes. One specific class that stands out to me is Entrepreneurial Marketing, as I was able to work with a real startup and present marketing recommendations to the founder. I have been able to apply what I have learned in these classes to my role at JSSI.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Melamed: A challenge I faced during my internship was learning how to balance a fast-paced environment with multiple projects. Because I was so busy and my team moved quickly, I often had to make decisions about which tasks to prioritize in order to be more efficient. At first, it was difficult to manage, but learning how to prioritize has helped me. By the end of the internship, I felt confident in handling a demanding workload.
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Melamed: My goal is to build a career in marketing. This internship pushed me closer to my professional goals by giving me hands-on experiences in multiple areas of marketing; event planning, social media marketing, digital marketing, content creation, and more. I especially enjoyed digital marketing after launching an ad campaign, and can see myself doing this in the future. In terms of the business aviation industry, it is such a niche field and everyone I worked with was inspiring and passionate. I would be eager to continue working in this industry post-grad.