CAS Student Interns with the Clinton Foundation
DJ DeLong
Creative writing and history major
College of Arts and Sciences, Marketing and Communications student employee
Shember, a public relations major and Spanish minor, has taken the initiative to gain hands-on experiences to learn about different areas of communication and public relations. Her first opportunity was as a public relations and communications intern at the WMU Haworth College of Business. While there, Shember wrote press releases and feature stories, interviewed professionals from many areas of expertise, and provided project management and collaboration with graphic designers and print vendors. Shember said, "It was exceptionally beneficial; my time there gave me real insight to the professional world and an understanding of things like prioritization and time management, office collaboration and professional etiquette, things you just can't learn in a classroom." According to Shember because of her internship at WMU she felt confident enough to apply for an internship with the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
The Clinton Foundation builds partnerships between businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments and individuals to find solutions that last and transform lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be tomorrow. Their focus is to improve global health and wellness, increase opportunity for women and girls, reduce childhood obesity, create economic opportunity and growth and help communities address the effects of climate change, among other global challenges. Shember discovered the Foundation by interviewing WMU alumnus Bo Miller.
Miller previously worked with the Clinton Foundation and was more than willing to work with Shember to further discuss ways he could help her get involved, including giving her a recommendation during the hiring process. Following the discussion with Miller and after spending a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Shember knew that her interests lied in international work and that she wanted to gain experience with an internationally focused organization. She said, "I knew from prior experience with nonprofit organizations that I wanted to work where I knew that my contributions were making a significant and positive impact." The Clinton Foundation was the perfect fit for her because of their international impact, helping millions of people each year in a wide variety of areas. "It is an organization I truly admire," Shember comments.
Shember was selected as a Communications Intern. Her responsibilities include handling Clinton Foundation press inquiries and incoming correspondence, working on press releases, conducting research and brainstorming new media opportunities. She also gains experience and exposure to media monitoring and strategy.
Even though graduation is still a year away, Shember is confident that the internship experience with the Clinton Foundation will have a significant impact on her goals and future aspirations. She knows how important internships are to students academic career. "Having relevant experience on your resumé and being able to walk into an interview and say that you wrote this published article or worked on this project in a real business environment sets you apart," she said. She also emphasizes the importance of networking, especially for letters of recommendation, whether it’s to pursue a graduate degree or for career advancement.
When asked what advice she would offer current WMU students considering internship experience Shember recommends using Bronco Jobs. She says it is a great jumping off point and allows access to a large database of internships, both on- and off-campus. She also stated that students should have an idea of what kind of industry or organization they see themselves in. "It’s important to work where your passions and interests lie; that's where you'll do the best work and get the most out of your experience," she says.
One of the guiding principles for the Clinton Foundation is, "No one has all the answers, but we can bring together the people who can find them." WMU works in the same fashion. WMU will direct students to faculty, staff, alumni and resources that will make sure they find the answers they are looking for as they move from their collegiate career into their professional career.