July 28, 2015

Careers in the Spotlight

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Brian Duke ’16 has always been good at math and science, but music has been his passion.

“I have always enjoyed building things and working with my hands.  My dad and my grandpa studied engineering, so it just made sense for me to follow in their footsteps,” he explains. “My dream is to tour the world with a band and spend my time making music. If I can’t get that to pan out then I will try to find a job that incorporates my love for music and the skills I have learned through my engineering studies.”

Through Lafayette’s externship program, Duke got a chance to explore one of these opportunities during a job shadowing experience with Catherine Corkery ’13, executive assistant to the general manager of Marketing and Promotions at Atlantic Records in New York City.

Duke is one of 328 students who participated in the externship program this year under the guidance of 211 hosts, made up of alumni, parents, and friends of the College.  During an externship, students spend two-five days during the January interim observing and interacting with professional hosts in their workplace and gaining firsthand insight into specific careers or industries that interest them.

Ben Haaz ’03, manager of digital video operations for ABC Television in Burbank, Calif., goes over some production simulations with Tim Gaziano ’15.
Ben Haaz ’03, manager of digital video operations for ABC Television in Burbank, Calif., goes over some production simulations with Tim Gaziano ’15.
Elizabeth Nelson ’16 learned the importance of shrewd strategy for business start-ups when she shadowed Tarush Agarwal ’10, senior manager for business development at Toca Boca in San Francisco.
Elizabeth Nelson ’16 learned the importance of shrewd strategy for business start-ups when she shadowed Tarush Agarwal ’10, senior manager for business development at Toca Boca in San Francisco.
Marie Garofalo ’10, an internal communications associate at Disney Consumer Products in Glendale, Calif., discusses career goals with Shyla Watson ’15 and Brittany Flynn ’15.
Marie Garofalo ’10, an internal communications associate at Disney Consumer Products in Glendale, Calif., discusses career goals with Shyla Watson ’15 and Brittany Flynn ’15.
Jason Sheng '15, Brian Duke '16, and Kiyah Holloman '15 learned about the music industry from Catherine Corkery '13, executive assistant to the general manager of Marketing and Promotions for Atlantic Records in New York City.
Jason Sheng '15, Brian Duke '16, and Kiyah Holloman '15 learned about the music industry from Catherine Corkery '13, executive assistant to the general manager of Marketing and Promotions for Atlantic Records in New York City.
David Hammer, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, goes over a brief prior to a court hearing with Robert Sanchez '16 and Jennifer Minervini '15.
David Hammer, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, goes over a brief prior to a court hearing with Robert Sanchez '16 and Jennifer Minervini '15.
Jessica Deutsch '15 and Christopher Zacarias '16 learned about the business of baseball with David Buck '86, senior vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jessica Deutsch '15 and Christopher Zacarias '16 learned about the business of baseball with David Buck '86, senior vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Bill Faust '02, an engineer with Turner Construction in Philadelphia, Pa., goes over blueprints and explains the work on a construction site with Dejana Harris '16 and Jaime Sheppard '17.
Bill Faust '02, an engineer with Turner Construction in Philadelphia, Pa., goes over blueprints and explains the work on a construction site with Dejana Harris '16 and Jaime Sheppard '17.
Mitchell Winter ’79, senior vice president of Wealth Management for Merrill Lynch in New York City, gave a preview of the investment industry to Samuel Kalra '16 and Yihang Du '16.
Mitchell Winter ’79, senior vice president of Wealth Management for Merrill Lynch in New York City, gave a preview of the investment industry to Samuel Kalra '16 and Yihang Du '16.
Cassidy Taylor ’17 and Adam Valavanis ’17 got a firsthand look at the journalism field during a four-day job-shadowing externship with Jeanne Straus P’13, president of Straus News in Chester, N.Y.
Cassidy Taylor ’17 and Adam Valavanis ’17 got a firsthand look at the journalism field during a four-day job-shadowing externship with Jeanne Straus P’13, president of Straus News in Chester, N.Y.

Lafayette’s externship program is one of the hallmarks of Career Services’ Gateway program, which outlines four steps for students of any major and at any stage of the career search to prepare for life after graduation. Each step coordinates with a class year and is designed to help students explore options, gain experience, and plan for the future.

Read more about Gateway.

This year, externships took place in more than 15 states across the country and Washington, D.C. at hundreds of companies and organizations. Here is a sampling of companies:

  • Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
  • American Cancer Society
  • Atlantic Records
  • com
  • Cisco Systems
  • Comcast
  • Converse
  • Crayola
  • Disney Consumer Products
  • Fox Sports
  • P. Morgan Chase
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Larry King Now
  • Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives
  • Merck
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Mount Sinai Medical Center
  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • PBS
  • Pfizer
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • Walt Disney Company
  • Visa
  • Wells Fargo
  • YouTube/Google
Categorized in: Academic News, Alumni, Connected Communities, News and Features

1 Comment

  1. Ada says:
    August 14, 2015 at 3:16 am

    That’s a very good chance for Duke. And also the externships provided by the big companies provide students with opportunities to closely observe the job they are interested in before they officially get into them.

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