UMBC Students Find Success with Shriver Center Internships/Co-Ops

Unlike most college students, junior biological sciences major Rasheeda Johnson is not worried about finding an internship next summer. Her only concern – albeit a good one – is deciding whether or not to accept an internship offer from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Johnson’s work ethic and demonstrated ability to learn quickly prompted her supervisors at the Pennsylvania-based company to offer her another summer position.
Johnson spent the summer in Wyeth’s Biotransformation Division working closely with William De Maio, a Wyeth principal investigator, testing the carcinogenic levels of drugs. Johnson, who hopes to pursue a M.D./Ph.D. upon graduation, said she will very likely accept the internship next year. Though Johnson’s fortune may seem rare, she’s not the first UMBC student to acquire a second internship offer. Many students that have completed an internship or co-op through UMBC’s Shriver Center are often invited back by their employers.
“The Shriver Center is dedicated to providing employers with the talent and energy that UMBC students offer. In fact, many employers continue to request additional student interns and co-ops each semester as a result of UMBC’s strong and well-qualified applicant pool,” said Christine Routzahn, associate director of internships and cooperative education at the Shriver Center.
Located on the main floor of the Public Policy building, the Shriver Center helps UMBC students gain professional experience through internships and co-ops. Staff at the Center have witnessed a significant increase in the number of student placements over the last three years. So far this year, Shriver Center staff secured, coordinated and monitored 979 internships and cooperative education placements for UMBC undergraduate and graduate students, representing a 50 percent increase since 2003. The Center has partnerships with over 430 private, government and non-profit organizations that hire UMBC students for their internship or co-op programs. Some even guarantee students a position after graduation. And the best part: 80 percent of the internships and co-ops are paid.
“The Shriver Center sells itself. Students are able to earn credit and money at the same time. They’re able to get more experience and get started on what they want to do in the future,” said Routzahn.
Irving Rodriguez, a senior information systems major, agrees. “Internships and jobs allow you to apply what you learn in school, and you can see yourself adding value to the company.”
Rodriguez’s internship with the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he is helping draft a policy on cyber security, is his second through the Shriver Center. To draw up the guidelines, Rodriguez relies on the lessons he learned in his Ethics of IT class and from his first internship with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Rodriguez, who began working at the agency just three weeks after VA officials reported that data was stolen from one of its laptop, provided consultation on cyber security procedures to his VA colleagues. As a result, Rodriquez has gained attention from top employers such as IBM, and was recently asked by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to conduct independent research on the topic.
The Center offers fall, spring and summer placements and provides personalized attention that will ease the job-related jitters of any student. UMBC students can get tips on improving their resume or participate in a mock interview with a coordinator from the Center. In addition, staff will discuss career interests and monitor a student throughout his or her internship experience.
“We’re a very hands-on office,” said Casey Miller, coordinator for internships and cooperative education. “In the end, it’s all about making sure students have a good experience.”
Currently, all on-campus, internship, co-op, community service and part-time and full-time job postings from The Shriver Center and Career Services Center are now available on-line through UMBCworks. Students interested in jumpstarting their careers with an internship, co-op, or service placement can consult the Shriver Center by calling 410-455-2493 or visiting www.shrivercenter.org.