While relatively new to 乱伦视频, Moses-Brownson has been deeply engaged with NAAHP for many years. Moses-Brownson co-chairs the NAAHP Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, sits on the Regional Board of Directors for SAAHP (the Southeastern Association for Advisors in the Health Professions), is part of the instructional team for the NAAHP Leads: Regional and National Leadership track professional development program, and serves as a liaison between NAAHP and the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) LASOR (Learner Access, Student Opportunities, & Retention) working group.

Since joining 乱伦视频 in 2024, Moses鈥態rownson has helped transform Health Professions Advising through new courses, expanded programming and strategic partnerships that support students and alumni pursuing careers in healthcare. Central to this impact has been a new suite of courses co鈥慸eveloped with Yuko Miyamoto, director of health professions advising and associate professor of biology, and Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career advising for pre-graduate school. Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto created an application preparation course focused on helping students understand timelines, requirements and competencies for health professions programs.

Moses-Brownson and Lumpkin developed a standardized test preparation course designed to support students preparing for exams such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, and LSAT, which focuses on the non-content aspects of test preparation while providing deeply discounted access to high-quality test prep resources. These courses give students structured guidance, peer support and staff expertise as they move from exploring professional careers to actively applying.

Moses鈥態rownson has also prioritized outreach to prospective students and the broader community, reflecting 乱伦视频鈥檚 commitment to access and engagement. In 2026, Health Professions Advising and the Student Professional Development Center co-hosted Health Professions Exploration Day, welcoming local high school students and Union County Schools to campus to learn about a wide range of healthcare careers and see how 乱伦视频 can help them prepare for those futures. The event connected visitors with faculty, advisors, and current students, highlighting both the breadth of health professions and the many academic and co鈥慶urricular paths available at 乱伦视频.

To deepen connections between 乱伦视频 students and health professions programs, Moses鈥態rownson and the SPDC brought a health professions expo to campus, inviting schools and programs to meet directly with students. The expo gave students the chance to ask questions, compare programs, and build relationships with admissions representatives, all while receiving advising support on how to present their experiences and plan next steps. This kind of face鈥憈o鈥慺ace engagement helps students see the full landscape of opportunities, from medicine and dentistry to physician assistant programs, nursing, genetic counseling, nutrition/dietetics, pharmacy and other fields.

Another key initiative has been a partnership with Alamance Community College to offer an EMT course hosted primarily on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus. By making this training more accessible, Health Professions Advising has opened additional pathways for students to gain hands鈥憃n clinical experience and patient contact hours, which are critical components of competitive applications to many health professions programs. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to preparing students not only academically, but also through meaningful, real鈥憌orld exposure to healthcare settings.

On campus, Moses-Brownson has worked to develop new opportunities for students to engage in the transformative experiences that prepare students for the competitive application processes in the health professions. A partnership with Belk Library, specifically with Engineering & Physical Science Librarian and Assistant Librarian Ellen Cline, and Coordinator of Research and Publishing and Associate Librarian Jesse Akman, has provided a pathway for underclassmen who cannot access traditional research opportunities to pursue evidence synthesis research opportunities with mentorship and support from library staff.

Alongside these programs, Moses鈥態rownson has worked to deepen individualized advising and application support for both current students and alumni. Health Professions Advising offers one鈥憃n鈥憃ne appointments, workshops, and resources to help students design an academic plan, understand professional competencies, and prepare strong, reflective applications. Students can meet with Moses鈥態rownson through the 乱伦视频 Job Network using the 鈥淧re鈥慔ealth Advising鈥� appointment types and can connect with Miyamoto by emailing ymiyamoto@elon.edu to schedule advising focused on academic planning and application processes.

Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto lead a Health Professions Advising program that supports hundreds of students and alumni as they explore, prepare for, and pursue a wide range of health careers. The NAAHP Outreach/Engagement Award underscores how intentional advising, new courses, campus鈥慶ommunity partnerships, and accessible programming can shape students鈥� pathways to becoming healthcare professionals, both at 乱伦视频 and beyond.

The annual recognition honors emerging public relations professionals making their mark on the industry in the early stages of their careers. For Gibson, the recognition gave her a chance to appreciate how much she and HCM have grown in a relatively short time.

鈥淧RNEWS is one of the most respected platforms in the industry, so it鈥檚 an honor to be recognized,鈥� Gibson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent the past few years watching Hannah Cranston Media grow from a team of three to a team of more than 20, and most days I鈥檓 too deep in pitching and problem-solving to stop and think about how far we鈥檝e come.鈥�

While Gibson has built her career in public relations, many of the skills that guide her work today were developed through her experiences as a journalism major at 乱伦视频.

The Honors Fellow was heavily involved with 乱伦视频 News Network as an anchor and multimedia journalist, while also participating other immersive experiences like FreshTV. Those opportunities helped establish a foundation in storytelling that she continues to draw upon while working on the public relations side of the media industry.

鈥溌衣资悠� gave me a passion for storytelling and a tenacious curiosity, both essential to my career,鈥� Gibson said. 鈥淲orking as a reporter and anchor with ENN taught me what it takes to build a good story, and what makes people actually connect with one 鈥撀爐he human element has to come first.鈥�

That journalism background, Gibson said, has proved especially valuable as she develops stories and works directly with reporters.

鈥淚t鈥檚 shaped how I think about what a good story looks like and made me a better resource to the journalists I work with today,鈥� she said.

Following graduation, Gibson spent three years with Jennifer Bett Communications before joining HCM in early 2024 as senior manager of public relations. She was promoted to director of public relations and business development six months later.

In her current position, Gibson oversees the agency鈥檚 consumer packaged goods, women鈥檚 health and wellness client roster, with responsibilities spanning client strategy and media relations. Her work can range from developing pitch strategies with colleagues to staffing events with reporters and cultivating media relationships. 鈥淢y job changes shape depending on the week 鈥� which is one of the best parts,鈥� she said.

Gibson credits much of her professional growth to learning the importance of surrounding herself with people committed to their work and to one another.

鈥淏et on people over playbooks. In an industry built on relationships, we can teach anyone to write a pitch or find the right story 鈥� but working alongside people who are passionately determined and hungry to see their teams succeed is an irreplaceable, unteachable quality.鈥�

鈥� Amanda Gibson 鈥�21

Gibson also points to retired 乱伦视频 faculty members Rich Landesberg and Glenn Scott as influential mentors. She credits Landesberg with instilling a respect for journalism鈥檚 ability to serve communities, an outlook that has influenced the brands and people she chooses to work with. Her research with Scott examining how stories are told around major events also continues to inform her approach to identifying stories and perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.

Those lessons, along with the relationships she developed during her undergraduate years, remain important to Gibson five years after graduating.

鈥淏eyond the classroom, the friendships and mentors I found at 乱伦视频 continue to be a bedrock of both my life and my career,鈥� Gibson said, 鈥淚鈥檓 endlessly grateful for my time Under the Oaks.鈥�

As digital editor at WUSA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., Rosenthal handles a wide range of responsibilities, from writing for the station鈥檚 website and producing social media content to gathering sources and reporting in the field. The journalism major said she fell in love with news reporting when she was in high school, which led her to apply to 乱伦视频.

鈥淚 joined my high school newspaper club in ninth grade, and it was the 2016 election season,鈥� Rosenthal recalled. 鈥淭here was a ton of news, and I got the 鈥榥ews bug,鈥� and I’ve been doing it ever since.鈥�

At 乱伦视频, Rosenthal found opportunities through student media to develop her reporting skills outside the classroom.

鈥淚 feel like the hands-on experience that I got working with my peers and friends, and actually going out and doing reporting, and putting together a paper every week showed me more of the skills that I use on a day-to-day,鈥� Rosenthal said.

She also credits The Pendulum鈥檚 critique sessions with teaching her how to receive feedback and use it to improve her work.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to qualify a mistake or qualify a reason why you did this or that,鈥� Rosenthal said. 鈥淲hat I learned so much from critique was how to take feedback and move forward and use that in the next piece. Now I鈥檓 somebody who asks for feedback all the time because, I think, in part, because of those critiques.鈥�

Those lessons have followed Rosenthal into her professional career. Earlier this year, she spent three weeks covering a murder trial in Fairfax, Virginia, an assignment she described as a significant learning experience.

鈥淢y station sent me to a murder trial in January, and I spent three weeks covering a very high-profile case every day in court, and that has been a huge learning and teaching moment for me,鈥� Rosenthal said. 鈥淚 feel like I learned so much from covering this trial, especially as somebody who has covered many court hearings and smaller things.鈥�

For current 乱伦视频 students interested in journalism, Rosenthal recommends getting involved in student media early and pursuing the subjects that interest them.

鈥淢y biggest advice is to be involved in student journalism,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust start doing stories and meeting people and doing things that are out of your comfort zone. When I was at 乱伦视频, I was interested in courts. I would go to the courthouse in Graham to pick up court documents for stories, and go to the police station, and pick up crime numbers, and things like that. If there’s something that you’re interested in, just start doing it.鈥�

Like Rosenthal, Phengsitthy discovered her love of writing through her high school newspaper, where she served as editor-in-chief. She brought that interest to 乱伦视频, double majoring in Communication Design (now Visual Communication) and Media Analytics while becoming heavily involved with 乱伦视频 News Network.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a writer,鈥� Phengsitthy said. 鈥淚 know that people don鈥檛 really like talking about high school when they talk about their experience, but high school is when I really started.鈥�

Phengsitthy served as design chief of The Pendulum during her sophomore year and managing editor as a junior. She credits those experiences with providing the foundation for her professional journalism career.

Everything I did in 乱伦视频 News Network is what set me up for my journalism experience today. I joke with my friends that ENN was like my third degree in college because I got so much done and learned so much there. From just writing every single day, that’s what helped me get better.

鈥� Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥�23

While at 乱伦视频, Phengsitthy interned with Bloomberg Law on its environment desk. Following graduation, she returned to the organization through a rotational program and now works as a health reporter. In that role, she has covered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug pricing and other complex issues affecting the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

Her work at Bloomberg Law requires reporting on complex subjects, but Phengsitthy said young journalists shouldn鈥檛 feel pressure to become experts on every topic they cover. Instead, they should focus on developing the skills necessary to find knowledgeable sources, understand complicated information and explain it clearly to readers.

鈥淏e an expert in being a reporter and writing and learning how to break down information for your readers,鈥� Phengsitthy said.

Phengsitthy also encourages 乱伦视频 students to complement their campus journalism experience with internships that allow them to apply their skills in professional settings.

鈥淵ou can have all the skills, and you can have all the clips that you have from ENN, but it鈥檚 more powerful if you go and get to apply them somewhere else,” she said, noting the value of internships. “The more experience you have, the better.

鈥淭he job market is really hard right now, but I feel like if you鈥檙e able to show that you can get your foot in the door somewhere, that鈥檚 good.鈥�

鈥淚 was ashamed. I was embarrassed. I kept everything to myself,鈥� Henze said.

In May 2023, a call that appeared to come from the Wells Fargo fraud department set off a three-week scheme. The people on the phone claimed Henze鈥檚 identity had been tied to money laundering, then posed as federal officials offering to help. They sent badges, letters and other documents that looked real.

By the time Henze understood what was happening, the scammers had emptied her savings, retirement and investment accounts, maxed out her credit cards and stolen more than $250,000.

Henze now speaks openly about the scam, works with groups that support financial education and talks with other victims. She is also an education and outreach specialist at 鈥榮torytelling with data,鈥� where she builds partnerships and programs for students and educators.

Her 乱伦视频 experience still shows up in that work. Henze majored in human service studies, joined the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program and still calls mentors she met on campus. She recently spoke with Today at 乱伦视频 about the path from Menlo Park, California, to 乱伦视频, the career she built after graduation and why telling the hardest part of her story has become part of her recovery.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You grew up in Menlo Park, California. What brought you across the country to 乱伦视频, and what shaped your experience once you arrived?

A: I was looking at smaller liberal arts colleges, but I wasn鈥檛 necessarily looking to go far from home. A neighbor who had moved from North Carolina told us she had heard 乱伦视频 was a great school. My mom and I visited during my junior year of high school, and I immediately fell in love with it. There was a particular energy I had not felt on other campuses. The tour, eating in the dining hall, seeing a residence hall and meeting students all felt thoughtful and welcoming. I knew pretty quickly that 乱伦视频 was the right choice for me.

I majored in human service studies with minors in business administration and leadership studies. I was also an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow and served on New Student Orientation Head Staff.

Two mentors stand out. Professor Chris Leupold taught my first psychology class, which was also my first class at 乱伦视频. I took several more classes with him, and we still talk frequently. He has been a mentor throughout my career. Rex Waters, former dean of student development and led the Leadership Fellows program, was also tremendously influential.

乱伦视频 gave me more than book learning. Leadership, communication and long-term professional development were built into the experience, and that has stayed with me.

Q: How did those experiences guide the career you built after graduating in 2012?

A: 乱伦视频 Career Services connected me with SPX Corporation at a career fair. I joined its human resources rotational program in Charlotte in June 2012, one month after graduating.

Human resources brought together the things I cared about in psychology, social work and human services with the business side of an organization. After several years in HR, I moved into organizational effectiveness, change management and strategy work. In 2023, I started my own consulting business and worked with nonprofits, small businesses and universities. One of my favorite projects brought me back to 乱伦视频 to work alongside the university鈥檚 Human Resources team.

Today, I work for 鈥榮torytelling with data,鈥� where I build education partnerships and programs. Leadership Fellows helped me develop the curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset I still use to understand what people need, create a solution, try it and adjust when it does not work the first time.

Q: What happened in May 2023, and what helped you decide to share it publicly?

A: It started with a phone call. My caller ID said 鈥淲ells Fargo Fraud,鈥� and I banked with Wells Fargo, so I answered. The caller told me there was suspicious activity connected to my account and that the transfers were tied to money laundering. Then I was transferred to someone who claimed to be with the Federal Trade Commission.

I panicked. I thought someone had stolen my Social Security number and that I could be blamed for a crime. Over the next three weeks, the scammers walked me through gift-card purchases, wire transfers and bitcoin transactions. They told me I was securing my money. In reality, I emptied my bank accounts, my 401(k) and my investment accounts. I also maxed out my credit cards.

It is easy to look back and ask why anyone would do those things. In the moment, these people knew how to keep me afraid and earn my trust. They already had personal information about me. When I questioned them, they sent what looked like official badges and signed letters. Every skeptical question had a believable answer.

They stole more than $250,000. That money represented years of work. I had been saving since I started working as a teenager, and I began contributing to my 401(k) as soon as I got my first job after 乱伦视频.

At first, I did not tell people because I felt ashamed and embarrassed. Part of healing was accepting that it was not my fault. I cannot change what happened, but I can share what I learned. If my story helps one person pause before acting, or helps another victim feel less alone, then speaking about it matters.

Q: What do people misunderstand about scams like this, and what have you learned from other victims?

A: People still picture an obvious phishing email or a call that sounds suspicious right away. Those scams exist, but criminals can also spoof a familiar phone number, find personal information online and create documents that look legitimate. They create urgency because panic makes it harder to slow down and question what you are hearing.

Since I began sharing my story, people have contacted me about their own experiences. Some lost $500. Others lost $5,000 or much more. The amounts are different, but the shame and isolation can feel the same.

Those conversations have helped me heal. I have also spoken with Wisconsin law enforcement officers about how they can support fraud victims and volunteered with SecureFutures, a Milwaukee nonprofit that teaches financial skills to young people. Knowing that I might help someone recognize a scam or simply remind a victim that they are not alone brings me a lot of joy.

Q: What changes would you like to see for people recovering from fraud?

A: Victims need practical support right away. I was employed and still had a mortgage, bills and groceries to pay after losing everything. Friends and family helped me, but not everyone has that kind of support system.

I would also like to see a simpler reporting process. I had to repeat my story and submit the same documents about seven times to different agencies. Each report took hours, and each retelling brought me back into the trauma. I understand that agencies have different responsibilities. I still hope they can make the process easier for people who are already overwhelmed.

Q: What can readers do now to protect themselves?

A: First, slow down. Scammers want you to panic and act before you talk to anyone else. Caller ID is not proof of who is calling. Hang up, then contact the bank, company or government agency through its official app, website or the number on the back of your card. Talk with someone you trust before moving money or sharing information. A bank or government agency will not tell you to buy gift cards or move money to 鈥減rotect鈥� it.

Use a strong, different password for each account and turn on multifactor authentication wherever it is offered. Never give an unexpected caller a verification code. I also encourage people to request an IRS Identity Protection PIN, which adds protection against someone filing a federal tax return with your Social Security number.

A few extra minutes can prevent years of stress and recovery.

Q: What do you want current 乱伦视频 students and recent graduates to carry with them?

A: Life is not always going to follow your plan. Challenges will come, and you get to decide what you do with them. You can learn, build resilience and use what happened to help other people.

There is a Latin phrase I live by now: amor fati, or 鈥渓ove of fate.鈥� To me, it means trusting that whatever life brings can shape what comes next. You cannot control everything that happens to you. You can control how you respond.

People who experience identity theft can report it and build a recovery plan at . The Federal Trade Commission accepts fraud reports at , and the FBI鈥檚 Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts reports at . The IRS explains how to request an . Learn more about teen financial education and volunteer opportunities at . Henze also created a with additional information for protecting yourself and responding to fraud.

The impact of reading

For Lyric Gregory 鈥�28, that impact is measured one child, and one book, at a time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. I feel like I鈥檓 making such a big difference,鈥� said Gregory. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 actually contributing to making Alamance a little bit better.鈥�

Gregory, a psychology major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is spending his summer as an intern with Alamance Partnership for Children, a nonprofit organization serving young children and families throughout Alamance County. He supports the organization鈥檚 efforts to provide supplies to families in need, advance literacy initiatives and redesign its library and children鈥檚 area.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really cool feeling to give a child a book and see their eyes light up,鈥� Gregory said. 鈥淚 never thought kids would be so excited to see books. There was this one kid, just seeing the joy on his face when he asked his mom, 鈥楲ook, they鈥檙e going to have books. Can I have one?鈥� It hit me in the feels.鈥�

Launched in 2021, Campus Alamance connects 乱伦视频 students with paid internships throughout Alamance County while helping build a pipeline of talent for local organizations. Since its launch, 97% of participants have reported their internships were valuable to their professional development.

Gregory has long been fascinated by psychology and hopes to become a child therapist. He said the internship has strengthened his passion for helping others.

鈥淚鈥檓 already motivated, but it motivated me even more to continue to pursue psychology, because I鈥檓 looking at people in this office who still have the same passion as me, and they鈥檙e making a difference,鈥� he said.

鈥楻eal time鈥� experience

Like Gregory, McKenna Blount 鈥�27 entered college with an interest in psychology. A psychology major with minors in and criminal justice studies, Blount wanted an internship that combined both fields but initially struggled to find opportunities that fit her interests.

Through the Student Professional Development Center, she connected with the Campus Alamance Program and secured an internship with the Burlington Police Department, where she works with both the Aerial Reconnaissance & Tactical Intelligence Center (ARTIC), and the Crime Scene Investigation unit.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of broad experience in the police department,鈥� said Blount, who is from Raleigh. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e super flexible, just letting me have as much experience that I possibly can.鈥�

In ARTIC, a real-time crime center, Blount assists officers by monitoring camera systems and databases during active investigations. In the Crime Scene Investigation unit, she observes investigators and gains firsthand experience with forensic work.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how interested I was in the law enforcement aspect of things,鈥� said Blount. 鈥淚 thought I was more interested in the psychology aspect. It鈥檚 really nice to meet people outside of the 鈥樎衣资悠� bubble.鈥欌��

Connecting the community and history

Katie Baylett 鈥�27, a strategic communications major from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is also gaining hands-on professional experience through Campus Alamance as a social media intern for the Alamance Historical Museum.

鈥淭he internship has helped me know how to work and navigate in a professional environment,鈥� Baylett said. 鈥淚 took a class at 乱伦视频 where we briefly touched on the local history and the textile industry history of Alamance County specifically, but this has really given me hands-on experience and helped me connect with the local community and also just connect with the local history.鈥�

Baylett develops the museum鈥檚 social media content calendar, creates photo and video content, updates the museum鈥檚 website and assists with an email marketing campaign. A key part of her role is translating the work of museum staff into engaging, accessible content for the public.

鈥淢y classes at 乱伦视频 have helped me know how to create a social media calendar and have helped me know how to navigate a wide variety of systems that I am using with my internship,鈥� she said.

Internships are a central part of the 乱伦视频 experience. Through the university鈥檚 Experiential Learning Requirement, students must complete two of five 乱伦视频 Experiences: internships, service, leadership, undergraduate research or global engagement.

For Blount, the internship has also changed how she sees the community surrounding campus.

鈥淵ou take the same three roads to get where you need to go as an 乱伦视频 student, and I had no idea how much more goes on in Burlington,鈥� Blount said. 鈥淭his internship has really benefited my professional career development.鈥�

Calling the biggest fan of 鈥淭he Joe Murray Show,鈥� 98.5 The Sports Hub鈥檚 weeknight program, might be an understatement. The sport management major estimates she tuned in to the Boston-based program nearly 300 times last year. So, when the station offered her an internship this summer, she knew it was the perfect fit.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really well-rounded internship, and that鈥檚 what I think is truly going to help me,鈥� the aspiring sports broadcaster said.

While Marchand鈥檚 shift at the radio station doesn鈥檛 start until 6 p.m., she has her hands full with a wide range of duties the rest of the night. She answers incoming calls from listeners, assists with the station’s YouTube stream and creates graphics for social media. But what excites her the most is the chance to go live on the air.

鈥淭hat’s probably the biggest opportunity I’ve had,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s really nice that they trust me to go on the radio with thousands of people listening.鈥�

Early in the internship, the show’s producer wrote an entire segment for Marchand, giving her the chance to discuss the New England Patriots on the air. A few weeks later, she was helping the station’s social media team cover one of the most consequential days in Boston sports, following the Celtics’ blockbuster trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Those opportunities grew from a connection Marchand had pursued long before the internship began.

Because internships at 98.5 The Sports Hub aren’t publicly posted, Marchand said networking is essential. In fact, when Marchand initially sent Joe Murray a message on LinkedIn during her freshman year, securing an internship wasn鈥檛 on her mind.

鈥淔unny enough, he left me on ‘read’ the first time I messaged him,鈥� Marchand said. 鈥淎 year later, I reached out again and said, 鈥楬ey, I waited a year. I’d still love to find time to chat. I know you’re really busy.鈥� The second time, he answered.鈥�

When he finally responded, Murray asked a question that changed everything.

鈥淒o you know Katie Bennert?鈥� he wrote back, referencing the 2024 乱伦视频 graduate who both interned and worked at the station. Marchand had never met the 乱伦视频 alumna, but had heard positive things about her from friends involved with 乱伦视频 Sports Vision. That shared 乱伦视频 connection prompted Murray to invite Marchand to tour the studio over Winter Break. That鈥檚 when he offered her a spot to join his production team.

鈥淚 decided that this would be the best opportunity for me, working at a major market Boston sports radio station, and it’s been amazing,鈥� she said.

While her internship began this summer, Marchand is no stranger to sports broadcasting. During her first two years at 乱伦视频, she has contributed to more than 50 乱伦视频 Sports Vision broadcasts as a play-by-play announcer, sideline reporter and more. This past year, she became the youngest of three student hosts to call 乱伦视频 Division I football games on the radio and co-hosted her own sports radio show with Scott Katz 鈥�26. She has also worked more than 90 shifts with 乱伦视频 Athletics, gaining additional behind-the-scenes experience in game-day operations.

鈥淏eing able to have that on my resume at just 19 years old, where a lot of people may not have those opportunities 鈥� I think that that’s really what 乱伦视频 has helped me with,鈥� Marchand said. 鈥淚 don’t think I would have gotten those opportunities anywhere else.鈥�

At 乱伦视频, Marchand has sharpened her on-air delivery and become comfortable working in a studio environment. Now she’s learning how to be more creative producing content centered on sports conversations rather than live competition. She’s also learning to separate her professional responsibilities from her passion as a fan.

Growing up just an hour outside Boston, Marchand has been a fan of the city’s professional sports teams since she was young. In August, she’ll attend Patriots training camp to capture photos and create content for the station.

“You do have to separate being a fan from your professional work, so I can’t fangirl over them when I’m there,” she said. “I have to be professional.”

While Marchand’s own initiative opened the door at 98.5 The Sports Hub, she credits the guidance she received at 乱伦视频 with helping her walk through it. Assistant Professor of Sport Management Khirey Walker, in particular, played an important role in her internship search.

鈥淗e is just one of the most passionate, hardworking, selfless and kind people that I know at 乱伦视频,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e will literally drop anything to help any of his students.鈥�

This fall, Marchand will continue her journey through The Sport Experience in Charlotte, where she’ll live, intern and study while expanding her experience in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports business markets.

Students and alumni in Washington, D.C., visited American University’s School of Public Affairs, where they learned about graduate education, careers in public service, and the many opportunities available through advanced study in law, business, and public and international service.

In New York City, students and alums were welcomed by Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business for an evening exploring graduate programs across multiple disciplines, including social service and the humanities. A highlight of both programs was the meaningful engagement with 乱伦视频 alumni living and working in the city, who shared candid reflections about the transition from college to career, pursuing graduate education, and building fulfilling professional lives. Together, the university partners and alumni provided students with both practical information and authentic perspectives that encouraged them to imagine new possibilities for life after 乱伦视频.

The experiences reflect 乱伦视频’s commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose through intentional collaboration across campus. By bringing together the career expertise of the Student Professional Development Center, the immersive learning opportunities offered through Study USA and National Campus Programs, and the lifelong connections fostered by Alumni Engagement, students were able to explore graduate education while strengthening their professional networks and broadening their vision for the future.

Bishop is serving as a summer intern at the Office of Historic Alexandria, which oversees all the museums in Historic Alexandria. During her internship, she catalogs artifacts in the city archives, assists with citywide events and cleans museum collections. One of her biggest projects has been designing and proposing an interactive activity to accompany an exhibit at the Alexandria Black History Museum.

“Since being at this internship, I have learned how different departments in the museum environment interact with each other,鈥� Bishop said. 鈥淚 have worked with museum educators, archivists, archaeologists and directors and have seen how their roles overlap and work together. I鈥檝e also learned practical skills like collections handling, through cleaning the collections, and archival practices.鈥�

Bishop鈥檚 favorite part of the internship has been working with her co-intern to develop the interactive activity for the Moss Kendrix exhibit at the Alexandria Black History Museum.

鈥淚 have loved getting to apply the research processes I鈥檝e learned in my art history and history classes at 乱伦视频 to a real-world exhibition,鈥� Bishop said.

While searching for an internship to accompany Capital Connections, a Study USA program in Washington, D.C., Bishop expanded her search beyond the city. She discovered Old Town Alexandria community-centered network of museums, preservation projects, archaeology and public programming. She jumped at the opportunity to work in a smaller office where she would get hands-on, diversified experience in several areas of museum work.

She learned about the internship through George Mason University鈥檚 database of history internships, which was recommended by Cindy Sweeney in the Student Professional Development Center.

The internship has helped Bishop explore different areas of museum work while preparing her for a future career in the field.

鈥淭his internship has exposed me to several areas of museum work that I was not previously familiar with, which has allowed me to test which parts I enjoy and want to pursue further,鈥� Bishop said. 鈥淚 will take away significant hands-on experience in the museum space and strong connections with several staff members at the Office of Historic Alexandria.鈥�

As she enters her senior year at 乱伦视频, Bishop has developed a passion for museum education, an area she is considering pursuing in graduate school. After graduation, Bishop plans to gain professional experience before attending graduate school.

As thousands of soccer fans streamed toward San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, draped in national flags and chanting hours before kickoff, the energy was palpable.

Swiss fans dressed as cows rang cowbells, Australian fans carried enormous inflatable kangaroos, and Jordanian supporters congregated early outside the gates, waving oversized flags and singing in unison. Together, they created the spectacle that makes the FIFA World Cup unlike any other sporting event.

For , those moments were part of her daily routine during the tournament鈥檚 opening stages.

As a ticketing operations manager for FIFA, the 乱伦视频 graduate spent several months helping fans enjoy the FIFA World Cup. While much of her work happened behind the scenes, Cirby handled everything from validating each seat in the stadium and accessible seating requests to one of the tournament鈥檚 toughest challenges: helping fans who unknowingly purchased counterfeit tickets.

鈥淭he more games have been played, the more variations of fake tickets have come out,鈥� she explained.

While resolving ticket issues is part of the job, it represents only a fraction of Cirby’s experience. For all six Bay Area matches 鈥� including Team USA鈥檚 Round of 32 win 鈥� she served as the stadium ticketing manager and welcomed more than 410,000 fans to the region she grew up in.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the World Cup,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 once in a lifetime to be able to be part of an event like this.鈥�

Cirby joined FIFA in January after nearly six years with the San Francisco Giants, where she built a career in ticket operations and services with her hometown team. But the opportunity to work the World Cup was one she couldn’t pass up.

鈥淚 was just kind of looking for jobs casually, just to see what was out there, and I threw in an application 鈥� and then it worked out,鈥� Cirby said.

Her responsibilities have stretched far beyond match days. Cirby helped hire local stadium staff, prepare cross-functional training for various departments, and ensure FIFA’s ticketing spaces were ready before fans arrived. Once matches began, she moved between entrances and ticket offices, supporting staff and assisting fans whose tickets would not scan, who needed accessible seating accommodations, or who could not locate their tickets.

The role also gave Cirby a front-row view of the tournament’s global fan culture.

鈥淚t鈥檚 mesmerizing to see these fans and the passion that they have,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 get to see the full fan marches, but I get to see them arrive at our entrance and go through our turnstiles, and they鈥檙e still chanting and cheering.鈥�

Cirby’s path to FIFA began at 乱伦视频, majoring in sport management. She fondly remembers attending MLB’s Winter Meetings with her classmates, where she placed resumes in the mailboxes of organizations with job openings.

鈥淚 probably put 20 to 30 resumes in and got a couple of interviews, but that鈥檚 how I got my first job with the Atlanta Braves right out of college,鈥� Cirby said.

That first role with the Braves eventually led to opportunities with the Giants and, ultimately, FIFA. Looking back, Cirby encourages students interested in the sport industry to cast a wide net.

鈥淗onestly, just apply,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淧utting yourself out there and applying can make a real difference.鈥�

Her World Cup assignment also demanded resolution. For nearly two months, Cirby was based at a hotel in Santa Clara with other FIFA staff because of the long hours and the proximity to the stadium. The work has been especially demanding because Cirby has been doing it with a torn ACL, an injury she sustained this spring playing in a rec league kickball game. After consulting with doctors, she decided to postpone surgery until after the tournament.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really funny to be like, 鈥楴ot only am I working the World Cup, but I鈥檓 walking like 25,000 steps a day on a torn ACL,鈥欌�� Cirby laughed.

With surgery scheduled for late August, Cirby is looking forward to a well-earned break 鈥� and where her career will take her next. But this experience has reaffirmed why she chose a career in sports.

鈥淚 grew up playing soccer through high school, and I鈥檝e continued to be a big fan,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淪eeing supporters from so many different countries bring that passion to every match has been the best part of the job.鈥�

The strategic communications major is serving as a strategy and account intern, where he rotates between McKinney鈥檚 strategy and account teams. With a few weeks of the internship behind him, Arrasmith said the transition has been seamless thanks to the strong sense of community at the agency.

鈥淓veryone here is so welcoming,鈥� Arrasmith said. 鈥淓ven though I’m the youngest person both in the agency and in my internship class, I don’t feel out of place.鈥�

Arrasmith said McKinney has been on his radar for years. After his early exposure to the agency, he regularly checked the company’s internship page in hopes of one day earning a spot in the program.

As an account management and strategy intern, Arrasmith helps bridge communication between the agency and its clients. While the role has introduced new challenges, he arrived with a foundation built through classroom experiences and leadership roles at 乱伦视频.

For the past two years, Arrasmith has been involved with 乱伦视频’s student-run communications agency.

Arrasmith has served as an account supervisor with Live Oak and credits the organization for preparing him for the fast-paced agency environment.

鈥淚 feel I have a good grasp of what’s going on and what people are talking about,鈥� he said.

While familiar with agency work, Arrasmith said the internship has broadened his understanding of how different departments collaborate to serve clients.

He’s also gained exposure to an industry he knew little about before arriving at McKinney. Working with the agency’s health division has required him to learn healthcare terminology, pharmaceutical companies and industry-specific concepts.

鈥淚 didn’t know anything about health or pharma, so it’s been a lot of just taking the time afterward to educate myself,鈥� he said.

Despite the learning curve, Arrasmith said the experience has reinforced the value of curiosity and continuous learning.

鈥淚 found great success in just always asking questions, always wanting to learn the most I can about a subject, because that shows people that you are interested, you’re engaged, and you actually care about what you’re doing,鈥� he said.

As he enters his third year at 乱伦视频, Arrasmith hopes to leave the internship with meaningful relationships across the agency, developing a network he can lean on for guidance. To make that happen, he has set a personal goal of taking at least 10 colleagues out to lunch before the summer ends.