This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Michelle Vaisberg ’04 (Richboro, Pa.) recently gained experience in interpersonal relations by working at Maxim magazine in New York City.
A double major in government & law and anthropology & sociology, Vaisberg worked in the special events and marketing department under Tahleen Varian, marketing coordinator.
“Michelle did a great job,” Varian says. “She was very outgoing, and was a go-getter. She put her mind to things to get them done.”
Vaisberg was in charge of managing the budget, seeking sponsorship for event gift bags for celebrities, and providing support with branding and the production of client-driven events.
“She was confident on the phone, and was very self-reliant,” says Varian.
“I gained experience in interpersonal relations,” Vaisberg says. “I also gained insight into dealing with individuals on both a professional and personal level. Most notably, I learned to work productively in the dynamic of a group setting.”
“Internships differ from the college course load,” she notes, “in that the responsibility to perform well reflects on more than just your personal sense of achievement, it reflects the outcome of the work you produce on behalf of the company that employs you.”
Varian believes that Vaisberg’s attitude about learning helped her have a positive experience.
“I think our internship program is unique in that the more effort and energy an intern puts in, the more that person will get out of it, and the more responsibilities they will be given,” she says.
Vaisberg also interned with 20th Century Fox last spring, where she had the opportunity to assist with press junkets for the releases of films such as Phone Booth, Daredevil, and Down with Love, and also ushered for the Tribeca Film Festival.
After getting a taste of entertainment law at NBC through Lafayette’s alumni externship program, Vaisberg served an internship at the broadcasting network’s Program Content and Standards Department in the summer of 2002. Her work influenced the content of network programs and provided a considerable advantage in her career pursuits.
In addition to the internships and externship, she conducted an independent study last fall under David Shulman, assistant professor of anthropology and sociology, to determine exactly how corporate and personal images in the entertainment industry are shaped. She presented her research at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society.
“I feel that experiential learning is the most rewarding type of work a student can do,” she says. “The combination of prior academic knowledge and work in which one can apply what they know creates outstanding results.”
“Furthermore,” she adds, “this is a world where networking can be both a tremendous help and of dire need to students leaving the safety of campus life and entering the impersonal perils of competition for jobs that are few or may no longer exist. Building a foundation of references and business connections is integral in a student’s academic and personal growth.”
Although she has much off-campus experience, Vaisberg is quick to credit Lafayette’s impact on her growth as a student.
“The academic environment at Lafayette offers diverse resources from which to gain knowledge, and faculty who are available and useful.”
Vaisberg is new member educator for the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and serves on the student/professor relations board for Residence Hall Council.