When shots sounded at the , Ben Bascuk’s first instinct was to reach for his phone to start reporting.

Bascuk ’27, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the , was attending the event as a White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) scholar and was seated in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton. Recounting the events to Íű±ŹĂĆ Today, he says he heard a series of muffled pops.

At first he thought it was an issue with the music playing—or a tray being dropped or someone pounding on a table.

“Those noises were anything but gunshots,” Bascuk says. “When the music stopped, I sat there staring at the back of the room. The room fell into an unnerving quiet. Around me, students began ducking under tables as red wine seeped across white tablecloths.”

Soon Secret Service agents rushed past, shouting “shots fired, get down,” he says. The agents brushed against his chair as they moved toward the stage, where counter assault teams raised weapons toward the crowd from the podium.

Bascuk says he watched as Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was escorted out behind him.

With one hand gripping the back of his chair, Bascuk says his other hand held his phone, recording. He soon called his mom and began answering a flood of texts to let loved ones and friends know he was safe.

“Moments later, a CSPAN photographer told me the shots had been fired in the hotel lobby, not inside the reception room,” Bascuk says. “That was the relief I needed to start reporting.”

The man accused of attempting to storm the dinner early into the evening allegedly tried to run near the ballroom, exchanging gunfire with Secret Service agents. The man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was tackled and taken into custody. He has been of President Donald Trump.

Once he knew the danger was not immediate, Bascuk, who has been interning for Spectrum News in Washington, D.C., made his way to his network colleagues in the banquet room. He began sending updates to , the University’s student-run television station, and his Spectrum colleagues.

In the hour following the shooting, Bascuk says he went fully to work in reporter mode “without fully processing what had happened.”

“I wouldn’t say I was ever scared or in fear of danger,” he says. “I was shocked and startled. Others, especially those closer to the back, experienced it differently. Some cried, some gasped and others . In that moment, there was confusion, but not chaos. My first priority was making sure my family knew I was OK.”

Even when focused on reporting, he says it was important to take a moment “to be human.”

“Journalists are some of the most loving, caring and kind people you will ever meet, and that was truly on display [that] night,” Bascuk says. “Reporting in crisis situations isn’t something you think about in the moment or even remember after. What I do remember are the conversations I had and the faces of those around me.”

Bascuk has been in Washington for the spring semester reporting for Spectrum News while studying away at . The dinner was his first time reporting on an active scene.

In those moments, he says he found, “instinct is everything.”

“Instinct comes from practice,” he says. “Before any reporting happens, you have to protect your own safety and the safety of others, mentally and physically. Every story, no matter how small, helps build the skills you’ll rely on when you least expect it. A live shot from a derby race, a feature of a local butcher shop or a story about Christmas lights—each one builds the instincts you’ll rely on when it counts.”

Newhouse Dean Mark Lodato was also in attendance that night, present as a guest of alumna Weija Jiang G’06, the current WHCA president and senior White House correspondent for CBS News. , Lodato pointed to Bascuk’s reporting during the unsettling circumstances.

“Ben, like so many other journalists in the room, jumped into action and reported for,’s student-run television studio,” Lodato wrote. “I want to note when the Newhouse team checked in on Ben, he immediately replied to let them know he was safe, so not only was he being a professional journalist, but he was also keeping the school informed.”

Bascuk, for his part, says he’s not sure he could have continued to report the events of the evening without the support of his fellow WHCA scholars and Spectrum colleagues.

“They were my crutch in the moment and in the days that followed,” he says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a strong support system in Washington, D.C., Syracuse and back home in Ohio. I’m deeply grateful to my friends, family, professors, the WHCA and my mentors for their continued support and outreach after [that] night. The Newhouse community was spread throughout the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, and somehow, I was able to connect with so many of them before and after everything unfolded.”

Even with what he experienced, Bascuk says it was an honor to attend the dinner.

“Although the evening didn’t go as expected, it hasn’t discouraged me from reporting; in fact, it reinforced just how vital storytelling is to our democracy,” he says.

While a summer internship lasts a few months, the impression students make can launch a career.

For students who want to land a full-time position, it’s all about making a great first impression. And as Career Services Director says, you don’t get a second chance to establish a professional identity in the workplace.

“A first impression isn’t just a moment; it shapes how every interaction after that is seen at the company,” Capozzi says. “From day one, employers are watching to see how interns carry themselves, whether they’re curious about the work and how they treat people at every level of the organization.”

Summer internships are an opportunity where students will either confirm they’re on the right career path or realize they need to reassess. Capozzi says students should devise short- and long-term goals using the FIT (function, industry and type of organization) lens.

“An internship is the perfect time to do a career pressure test, whether that’s the job function you’re doing, the industry you’re in or if the culture of the organization resonates with who you are,” Capozzi says. “That information is extremely valuable as you set your goals moving forward.”

Capozzi shares how students should prepare for their summer internship and offers tips from employers on how to make a great first impression.

Students everywhere commonly dream of gliding straight from a high-profile internship into a job with the same employer. That dream came true for three sport management majors from David B. Falk College of Sport who interned at The Montag Group in recent years.

Based in New York City, The Montag Group represents more than 200 of the nation’s top sports broadcasters, along with coaches, chefs, and entertainers (see accompanying story). Its Founder & President is Sandy Montag ’85, a highly respected 40-year veteran of the sports industry.

Using Falk College Connections

To get her internship, Caroline Johnson ’21 started by connecting with Kate Ruben ’15, who was The Montag Group’s intern coordinator. Today, Ruben is director of brand marketing for Excel Sports Management. She’s also a member of the , a group of Falk College’s most committed young alumni who provide guidance to current students.

Johnson interviewed and got the internship. But disaster hit only a few months before her start date. In March 2020, much of the country began shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montag Group decided to continue its internships, but to make them remote.

“I was completely remote,” Johnson says, “but I still loved it. They did a great job of making me feel like I was still part of the team.”

The diverse projects helped her see what areas of sport management interested her the most,  Johnson says.

She interned from June through December 2020, an unusually long time because The Montag Group let Johnson add her capstone project to the normal three-month internship. Then near the end came a surprise: Ruben told Johnson that Sandy Montag was looking for a new executive assistant and asked if she was interested in the job.

“I obviously said yes,” Johnson says.

She says she believes Ruben helped pave the way for her hiring.

Johnson still had to finish her final semester at Falk College, so between classes she had Zoom calls with Montag’s current assistant to learn the job. She started working at The Montag Group immediately after graduating.

The Montag Group was acquired in 2022 by THE·TEAM, and today, Johnson is senior manager of operations for the company’s in-house speaker’s bureau. Once a client signs a contract for a speaking appearance, Johnson takes over to handle all the logistics.

“No two events are the same,” Johnson says, “so it’s a lot of variation day-to-day, which I like.”

Falk College’s sport management program is “completely the reason I am where I am today in my career,” Johnson says.

“The attention you get as a student is just one of a kind, and the professors are so knowledgeable and they have real-world experience,” she says. “They really stressed the importance of putting yourself out there professionally, putting your best foot forward professionally, and making connections as early as possible with people in the industry.”

Johnson made many of those connections through her work with the Íű±ŹĂĆ chapter of , where she served as vice president and then president, and with the . In her junior year, Johnson co-chaired the club’s annual . Her work in both groups gave Johnson many opportunities to connect with Falk College alumni.

Creating His Own Job

As his remote internship at The Montag Group started winding down, Luca Giacobbe ’22 was on a companywide Zoom call when someone said the agency was going to hire a couple of entry-level people.

“I’m the only one on the call that wasn’t working for the company full time,” Giacobbe says, “So my alarm bells start going off. How can I get considered for one of these jobs?”

He told the agency’s internship coordinator that he was “super interested” in staying, and she told him to hang tight because they were early in the process. He continued working hard, both on projects and on developing his colleagues’ trust. Those efforts included spending a week in Manhattan at The Montag Group’s office so he could meet his colleagues in person.

A day or two before his internship ended, a new meeting suddenly appeared on Giacobbe’s calendar. It was with Sandy Montag.

Montag told Giacobbe that he’d done a great job, and a lot of his colleagues had advocated for hiring him. Would he like to be Montag’s executive assistant? After thinking it over, he said yes.

From that start, Giacobbe has risen to become the agency’s communications manager – a new position he created with guidance and support from his colleagues.

“There’s opportunity for our agents and our clients to be out talking about the sports industry and to position ourselves as thought leaders,” Giacobbe says.

Speaking engagements, panel discussions, podcasts, social media, article placements and other outlets all offer opportunities, he says.

At Falk College, Giacobbe remembers that professors and advisors, including advisors specifically dedicated to internships, emphasized networking and connecting students with alumni.

“The biggest thing that I learned from Syracuse was about relationships and building meaningful ones, not just having a call with someone and not talking to them again,” Giacobbe says.

Millions of soccer players across the globe compete on surfaces that are anything but the manicured, perfectly marked grounds of televised competitions.

Student researcher ’26 understood that across West Africa and in many other countries, soccer (known throughout much of the world as football) is played on compacted sand, gravel lots, dirt patches and worn urban grounds. The industrial and interaction design major in the (VPA) also recognized that most commercially available soccer boots fall far short of the needs of players who compete on those rough, improvised, uneven surfaces. He recognized that those playing conditions demand different performance qualities than the footwear mainstream athletic shoe manufacturers offer.

“My goal is to study these overlooked playing environments and design footwear that better supports performance, comfort, durability and accessibility for the people who use it,” Barrie says. “Ultimately, I want to show how footwear design can become more inclusive, locally responsive and socially meaningful when it is rooted in the needs of a community.”

Research ‘On the Ground’

With his research project, “Boot of Dreams: Designing Soccer Footwear for Informal Play in West Africa,” Barrie has been doing just that. His work is guided by , a professor of practice in VPA’s , whom Barrie calls “a role model whose guidance extends well beyond the classroom, shaping how I think about design, responsibility and purpose.”

Barrie is also working with , professor and director of the School of Design, who helped him secure travel funding in addition to his research stipend from the (SOURCE). Those funds enabled him to travel to Guinea for firsthand research with soccer players there.

“That was an opportunity that helped me move beyond assumptions about what players need and gain an actual understanding of their experiences,” Barrie says.

As someone who has lived in both Guinea and the United States and traveled widely around the world, Barrie brings a true global perspective to his work. It’s a viewpoint that informs his understanding of how different communities approach sport and design and deepens his insight into underrepresented players and their environments.

Careful Listening

Barrie says his research in Guinea had a major impact on the design of his soccer cleat.  In addition to learning that many players use footwear that is incompatible for their playing conditions, he also recognized that many rely on just one pair for a long period of time. When that pair wears out too quickly,  it affects more than just comfort or performance; it can cause players to miss practices and games and lose consistency in development, he says.

“That insight shifted my thinking,” Barrie says. “Instead of approaching the project like a traditional cleat made mainly for formal field conditions, I began thinking about a shoe designed specifically for the realities of informal West African play
 prioritizing durability, comfort and longer wear while also considering traction and support for the kinds of surfaces these players actually use.”

Design for Real Needs

For Barrie, this project  allowed him to explore how thoughtful, research-driven design can respond to real-world needs rather than simply following market trends. It also helped lead him to a career in footwear and product design that addresses community challenges and creates solutions.  An internship at last year became a “foot in the door” for a new career there; after graduation, he begins a role as a Designer II, Promo Color, Materials & Graphics Design staff member for Nike’s Jordan brand.

“‘The Boot of Dreams’ is about creating a shoe for players who continue to defy the odds and dream through the game,” he says. “The right footwear can help young players stay on the pitch longer, practice more consistently and keep pursuing what they love.”

For more than a decade, The Montag Group, the New York City agency that represents many of the nation’s top sportscasters, has been a pipeline into sports broadcasting and management for interns from the and seniors pursuing their capstone projects.

Sandy Montag ’85, the company’s founder and president and a legend in the sports industry, admits he bleeds Orange. But Montag says he’s partial to Íű±ŹĂĆ students because they’re better prepared than students from other universities.

“I think with Syracuse interns you know what you’re getting,” Montag says. “They’re hardworking and they really have their finger on the pulse of the industry. They’ve studied it, they’ve asked the right questions, they’re industrious, they take charge and they don’t always need a lot of direction.”

That strong background is essential because interns at The Montag Group may undertake a variety of projects involving research, marketing, development and team building.

“I have found that Syracuse students are the best positioned to really jump into a company and do some real work while they’re here,” Montag says.

Some Falk College interns slide straight into full-time jobs at The Montag Group when their internships end.

Most of The Montag Group’s 200-plus clients are sportscasters, including industry leaders such as Bob Costas ’74, Mike Tirico ’88, Scott Van Pelt, Beth Mowins G’90, Jim Nantz, James Brown, Tracy Wolfson, Rebecca Lobo and Julie Foudy. It also represents entertainers, chefs, coaches and athletes in their off-the-field projects.

Communication is key to the agency’s business, and Montag says Syracuse students have better communications skills than most others.

“Some students that come in want to tell you everything that they know,” he says. “I was taught that you learn more by listening than by talking. Syracuse students ask really good questions, not just how I got started but questions specific to our industry about representation and what we look for in a good broadcaster. I like inquisitive people who ask good questions and who you can tell have a real interest in what you’re doing.”

A large majority of The Montag Group interns are from Syracuse, Montag says. Most are from Falk College, although some come from the . The agency typically has one or two interns each semester and two or three in the summer, along with capstone students.

Learning the Business With John Madden

Montag was a sports nut from a young age. He remembers at age 8 waiting after the end of basketball games at Madison Square Garden so he could snag the notes and stat sheets of his idol, Marv Albert ’63, commonly known as “the voice of basketball” for his broadcasts of NBA games. Ironically, years later Montag became Albert’s agent.

He was on the varsity basketball and soccer teams in high school but didn’t play much. While on the bench, he kept stats. He also started writing game stories for his local newspaper.

The powerful relationship between Montag and Íű±ŹĂĆ almost didn’t happen. Dreaming of a career in sports broadcasting, he applied for admission into Newhouse. The alternative that was presented to him by Syracuse was a degree in speech communications in the , which he accepted, knowing he could still take a few classes at Newhouse outside of his major.

“I quickly pivoted into production and stats work,” he says.

Montag honed his resourcefulness during his years at Syracuse. He got a job writing for the , the independent student newspaper. When a guy in his dorm who was the lead football manager said the team needed another manager, Montag jumped at the opportunity.

As he worked in the athletic office one day, someone said ESPN was on campus and needed a person to do stats for that night’s basketball game.

“I’m like, I’ll do that in a second,” Montag remembers.

He sat in the front row at the game next to broadcaster Dick Vitale, to whom he fed point and rebound stats. ESPN paid him $50. Forty years later, Vitale has been a longtime client and friend of Montag.

The ESPN producer said he’d pay Montag $100 the next week for two days’ work if he could get to Pittsburgh. Recalling that an upstart airline, People Express, had an ad in the Daily Orange offering an hourly wage and free travel to employees, Montag hustled to the Syracuse airport. He got a job doing reservations one day a week and made it to Pittsburgh.

It was the first of 100 such assignments that eventually found him working stats after graduation for John Madden, who had shifted from an accomplished NFL head coach to sportscaster. That led to him becoming Madden’s assistant, traveling with him from game to game by train (Madden’s preferred mode of travel). Without the distraction of cell phones and other electronic devices, they talked, played cards and drank beer.

“We hit it off and developed a relationship,” Montag says.

During the Fall 2025 semester, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was strengthened by the dedication and professionalism of its student employees.

Working in multiple units across DPS, these students supported essential operations that help DPS serve the campus community. Their work reflects not only completed tasks—but also meaningful skill development and a deeper understanding of what it takes to keep a campus the size of Syracuse safe.

Building Trust Through Storytelling

In the Communications and Marketing department, Alexa Selter ’26 and Lily Mallette ’27 played a key role in shaping messaging and strengthening the relationship between DPS and students.

Selter shared that what she enjoys most is “telling stories that have an impact,” noting that each campaign contributes to building trust and connection. The position expanded her understanding of DPS: “I now recognize how deeply involved they are in our community. It motivated my goal of helping spread their message and guide more students in understanding the people and mission of the department.”

Mallette echoed this sense of purpose, reflecting on how developing outreach campaigns and creating graphics has helped her grow in design, communication and creative direction. “Thoughtful design and messaging can make a real difference in engaging a community and keeping it informed,” she says.

Their supervisor, Kiana Racha, internal communications and marketing manager,  expressed deep appreciation for their work, praising Selter and Mallette for exceeding expectations. “They came up with amazing projects of their own that have helped the Department of Public Safety connect with and keep our campus safe,” says Racha.

Monitoring Campus Security

The Video Security unit benefited from the work of Charlize Wen ’29 and Donghwan Lee ’26, who supported the reliability of the campus camera network and related technology.

Wen says her favorite part of the role was working with new technology and software used in video forensics. She also emphasized how much she has grown professionally, particularly in communication and confidence.

Lee shared that he valued the independence and responsibility that came with monitoring campus cameras, saying that the experience taught him the importance of precision and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

Their supervisor, Courtney Albiker, project manager, Security Services, praised their performance, noting that both students quickly became valuable contributors. She highlighted their systematic camera health checks across our 2,600-plus campus cameras and commended their strong initiative, attention to detail and professionalism, which directly supported campus security.

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness

In the area of Business Continuity, graduate student Shappelle Marshall and Samantha Morse ’28 played significant roles in strengthening campus resilience and preparedness.

Marshall appreciated working on projects with real impact, noting that developing tabletop exercises and planning resources enabled her to apply her public administration studies in meaningful ways. She also contributed to creating surveys, instructional videos and planning tools that support stakeholders across the university.

Morse says her favorite part of the job was gaining hands-on experience in risk management and helping departments prepare for potential disruptions. Through her work on webpage redesigns, tabletop exercises, video scripts and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coursework, she learned how essential communication and proactive planning are for strong continuity practices.

Their supervisor, Cassandra Gentile, business continuity specialist, described both students as instrumental in advancing the department’s projects. She emphasized their professionalism and initiative, saying they each brought unique strengths. “I would not have been able to complete these initiatives or stay on track with other aspects of my role without their dedication and support,” Gentile says.

Together, these student employees contributed valuable time, talent and creativity to DPS’s operations, supporting campus safety, enhancing communication and strengthening emergency preparedness.

Story by Lily Mallette

The Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Award applications are open now for juniors, seniors and graduate students of any major who seek to further their career development through undertaking self-initiated unique internship opportunities. The award provides students with financial support to pursue meaningful, hands-on experiences that would otherwise be financially out of reach.

The awards typically range from $1,500 to $6,000, and the funds can assist with internship-related travel, accommodations, living expenses and required materials.

Applying for the 2025-26 Clements Internship Award

This year’s application period closes Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 11:55 p.m. Applicants are responsible for developing and obtaining their own internships before submitting the application for a Clements Award, as well as securing a faculty or staff sponsor letter. Students must also complete a Handshake application and the Clements Internship Award Qualtrics Survey by the application deadline. Visit the for complete details.

Exploring New Terrain

The 2024-25 Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Award enabled  Elizabeth Henson ’25 to kick off her post-grad life in Alaska to intern with the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) for eight weeks, where she conducted glacial research and learned mountaineering skills.

“I really enjoyed every part of the program. The faculty, staff and students were great. Everyone was so motivated to be there, and I learned so much from everyone,” says Henson, who graduated with a degree in geology last May. “We had lectures throughout the summer, both about mountaineering skills and topics in glaciology. We were also able to help with a variety of research projects, from short day trips to multiday work.”

The largest project Henson was able to work on during her time with JIRP involved glacial isostatic adjustment, the slow, ongoing movement of land due to the removal or addition of major ice sheets.

“As the ice sheet is melting and losing mass, the land beneath starts to rise up since there is less weight sitting on top of it, so the elevation of the [Juneau Icefield] area is changing and impacts local sea level,” says Henson. “There are a few historical GPS points scattered along the icefield where elevations were measured back in the 90s. Our team went out and remeasured them to look at uplift levels as the icefield has been melting.”

In between the important scientific research she helped conduct, Henson’s internship with JIRP allowed for unique and fun outdoor experiences as well. “All of the camps were on nunataks [mountain peaks that protrude from ice fields or glaciers], so we were able to ski right out of camp,” says Henson. “There were countless ski days. I got to go on a few hikes and check out some glacial lakes. I went in a few crevasses and ice caves. I got to go to some of the most beautiful places and do some of the coolest things.”

Henson’s summer internship with JIRP proved to be incredibly beneficial for her future professional endeavors. “I learned so much and made so many connections to help guide my career,” she says. “I talked to a few professors about grad school and have that as a possibility in my future. I also learned about some jobs in Antarctica that I might apply for, and I have people willing to write letters of recommendation for them. I am so grateful to have had this experience!”

For questions about the Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Award, visit the , email Career Services or call 315.443.3616. Students are also encouraged to learn more about the annual , with applications scheduled to open Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Shaking hands with a Supreme Court justice is a dream come true for anyone in the legal profession, but that dream for three students who participated last summer in .

Students Imari Roque L’27, Rebeca Chavar L’27 and Emma Bissell L’27 participated in the program, which aims to “cultivate and develop future leaders from underserved communities” through judicial internships, educational experiences and other resources to help achieve professional goals.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina and third woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Growing up in public housing in the Bronx, Sotomayor is known for her respect for the judicial process and passionate approach to the law, particularly in regard to civil liberties and the rights of those from marginalized communities.

For two months this past summer, Roque, Chavar and Bissell worked full-time for judges, while also participating in professional development training and networking as part of the program. Each worked in a different judicial environment, but all three gained invaluable insight and experience working in courtrooms under the direct supervision of a judge.

Roque has been interested in the Sotomayor Program since she was 14 years old, but it wasn’t until she was a first year at the College of Law that she applied to the program’s law school division.

“I’ve always been drawn to being a lawyer, and Justice Sotomayor is the first person who comes to mind,” she says. “No one in my family is a lawyer, so Sonia Sotomayor—a Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx like me—has been my role model.”

Roque was matched with the Hon. Bryant Tovar, a judge of the Housing Part of Civil Court of the City of New York, dealing with landlord-tenant matters, civil litigation and immigration law. The work focused on the Small Property part of the court, which handles housing issues before trial, particularly cases where landlords are suing tenants.

“I became really familiar with what city court looks like, developed a rapport with the judge, clerk and others, and learned a lot about negotiations and alternate dispute resolution, as well as what everyday law looks like,” says Roque. “It was interesting because Judge Tovar leads with understanding and empathy on the bench, which gave me a different perspective on the law.”

Chavar worked for the Hon. Javier Vargas in New York State Court of Claims in Manhattan,  where she gained hands-on experience observing three major trials. Judge Vargas encouraged his interns to engage deeply in their work, often discussing with her issues brought against the state of New York, involving issues such as car accidents and claims of excessive force by law enforcement.

“I was thrilled when Judge Vargas asked me to help draft a memo recommending how to decide on a motion, and that set the tone for the kind of work he expected,” she says. “I also helped draft a decision for one of the trials, did research on pending trials and my final project was a case where I wrote a decision by myself for review by the clerk and the judge.”

Bissell discovered the Sotomayor Program through an email Mary Kate Tramontano L’26 sent to the Women’s Law Student Association listserv, an opportunity that ultimately led her to work with district civil and criminal court judges in the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn.

“It was awesome because I was able to observe a lot of different types of trials,” Bissell says. “I was assigned to a judicial clerk who helped me with whatever I needed. Getting to the end of my internship and seeing that I could write a full legal opinion was the best feeling ever.”

Meeting a Legal Legend

After a summer of learning the ins-and-outs of the courtroom, students were invited to an event highlighted by a visit from Sotomayor herself. Not only did the interns get to hear the Supreme Court justice speak, but they also had the chance to talk with Sotomayor and take photos with her.

“It was a full circle moment for 14-year-old Imari,” says Roque. “I shook hands and said hello to someone I’ve admired most of my life. It’s funny because she looked like someone who could be in my family. The experience really helped me understand that that could be me.”

Chavar was also awestruck by Sotomayor.

“We took a group photo, and I was lucky enough to be placed right next to her!” Chavar says. “She asked me where I went to law school. The reason I’m in law school is largely inspired by Justice Sotomayor. When she went to the bench, I was in middle school and I have a distinct memory that inspired me to go to law school. So it was a big deal to hear her wisdom. A majority of the students there were from underrepresented backgrounds in the legal field, and Justice Sotomayor was a beacon of hope and encouraged us to trust in the legal system despite all that’s going on in the world.”

“You read her opinions, and you know that she is incredible, but then you see her in action, and she is so eloquent,” says Bissell. “When I started law school, I was questioning my decision. And I think The Sotomayor Program helped reinforce that those in the legal field are making decisions that are impacting people’s lives. I know I want to be a part of that type of work.”

Jill Nelsen L’27 playing soccer and loving sports. She was recruited to California State-East Bay with a four-year athletic scholarship to play women’s varsity soccer, while also earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. When she later decided to pursue law school, she hoped to stay connected to the world of sports and entertainment—but she never imagined that would open doors to opportunities like Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.

During her first year year, Nelsen joined the Entertainment & Sports Law Society, often attending networking events with alumni thriving in this space. At one such event, she met Riley Christian L’16, now an entertainment and sports attorney with , a firm he founded in 2022.

Nelsen and Christian had a lot in common; she had been a collegiate soccer player and he a collegiate baseball player. At the time, Christian was rebranding his boutique law firm in New York City to focus more on the areas of sports and entertainment that dealt with navigating the NCAA’s new Name Image and Likeness (NIL) rules for college athletes and handling legal issues related to artificial intelligence in the entertainment and music business.

Nelsen later reached out to Christian, asking if he might need an intern, and he agreed to bring her onboard.

At first, she helped navigate the logo development for the firm’s rebranding, later moving on to legal research for defamation cases, statute of limitations issues, trademark infringements and intellectual property, while learning as much as she could about the ever-evolving NIL rules.

Piecing Together Sports, Fashion and the Law

While her whole internship experience was exciting, Nelsen says two highlights were attending Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.

“Riley knew these big events would be good networking experiences for me, and he also knew I liked to talk to people and that would be a good way to spread the word about the rebranding of Artifex Athleta,” she says.

The annual Miami Swim Week is the world’s largest swimwear and resort wear event that includes runway fashion shows, trade shows and pop-up shops, as well as the chance to meet and network with all kinds of people connected to this area of fashion— from designers and buyers to athletes, agents and the media.

“Yes, it was focused on swimwear, but there are so many aspects of the law attached to the fashion space, including trademarks, sponsorships, negotiating and closing NIL and more,” Nelsen says. “It was a fascinating experience to see it in action.”

She also attended New York Fashion Week, one of the “big four” fashion events in the world, showcasing what’s going to be “in” for the upcoming season. The biannual event includes exclusive runway shows by world-class designers that are attended by celebrities, influencers, fashion buyers and the media.

This, too, gave Nelsen an opportunity to network with a host of agents, attorneys and other business leaders in the fashion space.

“The experience of not only attending these fabulous events but also having the chance to work with Riley helped me begin to make a name for myself as more than just an athlete,” she says. “The younger version of me would be emotional to see all the things I’ve accomplished both in my course work, as well as internship opportunities. My takeaway from this entire experience is that I can do it, and there are people who truly believe in me and see my potential.”

Uplifting Women Is the Ultimate Win

After completing her education at the College of Law, Nelsen’s dream is to one day work as general counsel for a NBA or NFL team and negotiate from the team’s side with players and their agents. But her ultimate goal is to one day be a general manager or even owner of a WNBA team.

“Sports, and now working in sports—has always been the dream,” she says.

Her older sister has been a role model, she says, “moving mountains” as director of services and retention for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’ve also learned a lot about creating space for people like me, particularly as a first-generation Latina woman,” Nelsen says. “I’ve been told I’m too much, too blunt, too Californian, but I’ve also been told ‘don’t dim your light to fit into a box that’s been predefined for you.’ I am proud to be a Syracuse law student with the opportunity to contribute to uplifting women in the sports and entertainment business and also within the legal field. That is a real win for me.”

As he participated in a seminar for the International Drug Policy Academy in Strasbourg, France, one afternoon last May, Alejandro Parra ’24, G’25 had a moment of reflection.

The alumnus, who earned a bachelor of science and a master’s degree in public health, joined global health experts from as far away as Malta and Mexico for a discussion about the ways culture shapes health care. They talked about the impact, for instance, of adjusting clinic hours based on local religious traditions, and collaborating with institutions such as churches to help distribute medicine and supplies.

Parra was not just an observer, but a participant—he gave a presentation on a proposal to cleanup needles discarded by drug users in a city park.

“I gained confidence presenting in front of experts in my field and the experience deepened my understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms that drive community action,” says Parra, who attended the seminar during his internship with the Council of Europe’s Biomedical Division in the spring of 2025. “It was a really unique opportunity and one of many insightful experiences I had.”

Witnessing History in Europe

Another: In June, Parra sat in on a landmark event at which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an accord with the Council of Europe to establish a special tribunal to try top officials responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During his remarks at the event, Zelenskyy called for unity across Europe and the U.S. and urged leaders to uphold global democracy and the rule of law.

During his internship, from May through late June, Parra worked on public engagement and policy communication, creating fact sheets simplifying complex issues such as the role of artificial intelligence in health care, human rights in mental health care and the Oviedo Convention—a 1997 treaty on human rights in biomedicine.

He also participated in policy workshops and meetings with experts from across Europe on issues including psychiatric care and substance use disorders, gaining firsthand experience in building policy based on complex local contexts.

“A key skill I developed was writing for a non-scientific audience, condensing dense expert reviews into digestible facts,” he says. “This clarity proved essential in making policy resources accessible and engaging to the public.”

Building Policy and Communication Skills

The internship was one of several study abroad experiences Parra embraced during his five years at Syracuse. It proved especially transformative, showing him that global health is more than a coordinated effort; it is fundamentally rooted in the strength and unity of community.

“You can’t really deliver health care services to somebody without knowing their background and how to tailor it to them,” says Parra, who now resides in Queens, New York, and works as a mental health specialist for Lodestar Children’s Services, serves as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves and is a member of the New York Army National Guard Military Funeral Honor Guard.

“The MPH [master of public health] program develops a multitude of cross-disciplinary skills and values that have shaped my perspective as a public health professional and provides me with a road map to continue to learn and grow my knowledge in the field.”

One of Parra’s favorite courses was Substance Use and Mental Health. Professor often asked students to lead weekly sessions based on their own evidence and case studies. The resulting discussions, according to Parra, were “thought-provoking” and shaped his view of mental health “across different cultures, traditions and global contexts.”

As an undergraduate, Parra was honored with the Public Health Leadership Scholar Award. He served as a career ambassador, a resident advisor, an honors peer mentor and a global ambassador. He was a member of Syracuse’s Army ROTC and served as a cadet in the New York Army National Guard.

He was supported by an internship award through the University’s , and by the Patricia and Melvin Stith Graduate Student Fund established to support military-connected graduate students enrolled full time at Syracuse and participating in the University’s .

Through his studies, internship and extensive global network, Parra learned that collaboration, trust and openness are the cornerstones of effective public health policy and human rights.

“My internship with the Council of Europe made it clear that developing human rights-centered policies requires a deep commitment to iterative feedback and adaptation,” he says. “The best policy work results from respectful debate, careful consideration of diverse viewpoints, and the humility to adjust ideas in response to real-world needs.”

Story by Catherine Scott

When graduated from the University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the , legalized sports gambling in the United States was limited to two states: Nevada and New Jersey.

But since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that prevents the federal government from dictating how states manage sports betting, the industry has undergone a rapid and extraordinary expansion. Some form of sports gambling is now legal in 39 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the betting market in 2025 is estimated to reach nearly $20 billion in the U.S. and $111 billion globally, according to .

After starting his career in sports sponsorships and then working outside of sports, Weiss put his entrepreneurial spirit and skills to work by creating a company that is now shaping the future of the booming sports gambling industry. Weiss is CEO and founder of (the M.V.P is for Make Vegas Pay), a Fort Lauderdale-based business that provides expert advice and education services for sports bettors.

“A lot of people love sports, and they love betting on games, but they work day jobs and they don’t really have the time to do the research,” Weiss says. “So the idea was for us to be that guiding hand for them.”

As M.V.P continues to grow, Weiss has reconnected with his Syracuse roots. He joined , a network of donors who share a common goal of supporting the University’s highest priorities. Following conversations with Falk College Director of Development , Weiss joined the , a group of the college’s most committed and influential young alumni.

Weiss is also helping to cultivate the next generation of sports betting experts. He’s in his second year of hosting Falk College students who are handling a variety of roles.

Sport analytics major Jared Weber ’26 is interested in a career in sports gambling and says he’s gaining a wealth of industry knowledge.

“My experience at M.V.P has helped me build a deep understanding of how to identify and create advantages over sportsbooks and thereby make myself a valuable candidate for jobs in the future,” Weber says. “I’m incredibly grateful to Simon for giving me the platform to learn so much about the betting space and helping other students learn along the way.”

Sport management major Lindsay Dorman ’27 also wants to work in what has been a male-dominated sports gambling industry. She says Weiss has given her jobs and introduced her to people that have increased her confidence and made her more motivated to work in the field.

“He’s taught me so much about the industry while giving me the freedom to take initiative and grow creatively,” Dorman says. “I’m really grateful for his mentorship and this experience is making me even more motivated to make an impact in this space.”

Íű±ŹĂĆ students are helping local manufacturers cut their energy costs while meeting environmental goals—and getting real-world engineering experience in the process.

Since 2001, 130 students in the (ITAC) have completed 477 site visits, saving companies nearly $54 million (an average of $66,000 annually) through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“These students develop valuable technical skills that set them apart and builds on what they’re learning in the classroom. And they leave knowing how to answer the real-world problems they will face in their careers,” says , assistant teaching professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the .

The ITAC’s goal is to help each business cut their energy use by at least 10%, which Anderson says is achievable through practical, straightforward suggestions.

“I’ve learned more about the engineering and manufacturing opportunities that are out there, and about some real-world engineering applications,” says Riehen Walsh ’27, a mechanical engineering major in ECS. “This has helped me improve my leadership and project management skills through this hands-on experience.”

Studying the Energy Trends of Clients

Students begin by analyzing a company’s energy/utility bills and energy usage before conducting site visits. Once on site, they walk around and figure out where energy is being wasted, from heat escaping through windows, air conditioning systems working too hard or compressed air leaking from equipment.

The future energy engineers share quick ideas that same day, then spend the next two months putting together a detailed report full of money-saving suggestions tailored to that specific company. Some recommendations are simple, like negotiating better rates with the electric company, getting rid of unnecessary fees or adjusting air pressure settings. Others involve bigger changes, like replacing old equipment that could save energy for years.

Anderson says most companies end up using about half of the suggestions they receive.

“A lot of times these manufacturers might not even realize some of the benefits that are out there for them. Doing assessments for all kinds of manufacturers is beneficial because it gives us these different experiences,” says Ian Hawkins ’25, G’26, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and will finish a master’s degree in engineering management in the spring.

Exceeding Expectations While Making a Difference

After touring Lotte Biologics—a biopharmaceutical production facility in East Syracuse—ITAC students made a series of recommendations, including:

• Getting back the sales tax they’re paying on their electric and gas bills;
• Adding better insulation around their boilers and switching to LED lights;
• Stopping steam from escaping by finding leaks and checking valves; and
• Fixing air leaks in their compressed air systems.

These simple fixes made a big difference in how much energy the company used, says Felix Hernandez, Lotte Biologics’ manager of integrated facilities management.

“The student interns brought a fresh and dynamic perspective to our facility. Their enthusiasm and dedication were evident in their approach to data collection and analysis, and the quality of their work reflected a high level of academic and practical competence,” Hernandez says.

Cultivating Valuable Life Skills

Becoming an ITAC intern is a year-long commitment. Students usually apply in the fall semester of their sophomore year, get trained in the spring and start visiting companies as interns the following summer. Interns put in about 30 hours a week during the summer and 10 hours a week when classes are in session.

Students work as a team, improving their research skills while building confidence to present their ideas to a room full of company employees—sometimes including the CEO.

The skills ITAC interns develop, like leadership, teamwork, preparation, communication and problem-solving, give them a real advantage when they graduate and start their careers.

“What I learned in the classroom can affect companies in the real world. Applying those lessons to help these manufacturers is so gratifying,” says Brielle May ’26, a chemical engineering student.

Justy Carruthers ’25 was so impressed with the sport management program in the that she moved across the country from San Diego to enroll here.

But after just one day in her first sport management class, she was ready to fly back to the West Coast.

Carruthers met with her instructor, Associate Professor , following the class and told her, “I don’t think this is meant for me.” When Pauline asked why, Carruthers said, “Because all of the boys in the class are spitting out facts left and right and I have no idea what they’re talking about.”

But Pauline, who worked in collegiate athletics before joining Íű±ŹĂĆ, saw the same potential in Carruthers that Syracuse football coach would see two years later. Pauline encouraged Carruthers to keep an open mind and understand that she didn’t need to know stats, she needed to display “grit and hustle.”

“She came up to me after every single class and really made her presence known and to work in football, you have to have that presence, right?” Pauline says. “You have to be passionate and motivated and not afraid to speak up. That’s what has set her apart all along.”

With the help of Pauline’s professional network, Carruthers spent two years as an intern with the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch, and the Crunch helped her land a summer internship with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. She was working as an intern for the Syracuse football team when Brown was hired in November 2023, and 10 months later, Brown appointed Carruthers as the youngest director of on-campus recruiting at a Power 4 school–and she was just starting her senior year.

Thanks to a whirlwind recruiting class that Brown assembled and Carruthers helped procure, the 2024 Orange enjoyed one of the greatest seasons in program history with a 10-3 record and three wins over top-25 teams.

“She’s a major part of our program, and the success we had our first year, we wouldn’t have had it without her,” Brown says. “We wouldn’t be where we are in the recruiting rankings without Justy.”

‘From 0 to 100’

So, how did Carruthers get from being a student intern to this integral role? , who supervises Carruthers as Syracuse’s senior athletic director for football operations, says Carruthers personifies Brown’s culture of D.A.R.T.: She is Detailed, Accountable, Relentless and Tough.

“It’s not the easiest world to work in, college athletics, and especially Power 4 football (made up of the most influential conferences),” says Kelly, who joined Brown’s staff in March 2024. “But she’s got a confidence about her that really stuck out to me. And she’s been an asset to us ever since I’ve been here.”

When Brown was hired, recruiting “went from 0 to 100,” Carruthers says, and she and another Falk College intern, Cami Pasqualoni ’24, put their recruiting ideas in a binder for Brown to consider and eventually implement.

“It was nuts,” Carruthers says, “but it taught me so much about myself because our coaches would call me at 1 or 2 in the morning and say, ‘I need a kid here by 8 a.m.,’ and I’d have to figure that one out.”

One of those recruits was quarterback Kyle McCord, who was transferring from Ohio State. Carruthers received a call from the player personnel department at around 2:30 a.m. saying that Kyle McCord’s father was on the phone and they needed to get McCord here as soon as possible.

Carruthers made all the arrangements for his visit, including a last-minute change after his initial flight was grounded. McCord eventually chose Syracuse, and he set a Syracuse record and led the NCAA with 4,779 passing yards.

‘Works Itself Out’

Following Syracuse’s win over Georgia Tech last September, Brown offered Carruthers the full-time job as director of on-campus recruiting and then called her parents to make sure they were comfortable with their daughter working full-time while completing her degree. Carruthers didn’t accept the job at first because she was concerned about juggling work and academics, but in the end she decided—much like she did after her first class as a first-year student—to embrace the challenge.

“I flooded my schedule in my freshman and sophomore years and I’m so happy I did because my junior and senior years were a little bit lighter,” Carruthers says. “And with the teachers I had like (Associate Teaching Professor) , they gave me so much support and grace in the classroom.”

Carruthers’ day-to-day duties depend on the time of year as the on-campus recruiting calendar varies throughout the year. But recruits can attend games at any time, and Carruthers plans all aspects of their visits, from flights to rental cars to hotels and even monitoring traffic patterns to ensure they arrive to campus on time. Brown says Carruthers is the most organized person he knows, and he says a recruit’s visit “just always works itself out the right way.”

It’s remarkable to think that Carruthers, who as a first-year student wasn’t sure if she could cut it at Syracuse, is now an integral part of what college football experts call one of the most efficient recruiting machines in the country. Football is a results-oriented business, and Brown clearly favors Carruthers’ results over her age.

“I think this has been something that’s not only shaped me but also shaped the program,” Carruthers says. “A lot of our coaches say they learn something new from me every day. They always say, ‘I want my daughter to be like you when she’s older because they joke that I don’t put up with anything.’”

Networking. Building skills. Analyzing data. Solving problems.

Competitive summer internships can help students fine-tune their interests and discover their career ambitions in ways that complement their classroom learning.

Three current students—Nadin Prabhu ’27, Gustavo Madero ’26 and Nola Roberts ’27—discuss the valuable lessons they learned on the job and how they feel energized to pursue their professional goals.

Nadin Prabhu ’27

Prabhu is a junior majoring in information management and technology in the and finance in the .

Prabhu is passionate about the financial services industry. After graduating, he wants to build a career that allows him to “work at the intersection of finance, strategy and technology, eventually taking on roles that involve solving complex business problems, advising clients and driving impactful results in the financial space.”

Company: IMA Financial Group, a company that specializes in insurance brokerage and private wealth management. Prabhu worked in the Boston, Massachusetts-based office, focusing primarily on employee benefits.

Responsibilities: As a generalist intern, Prabhu rotated across different divisions, tracking financial revenue, collaborating with the sales and communications teams and working alongside benefits analysts. “I gained a comprehensive view of how different teams work together to deliver client value.”

Most important lessons learned: “The importance of genuinely connecting with people. When you’re truly interested in others and bring authenticity to your interactions, it goes a long way in building trust and fostering collaboration. Who you are as a person matters just as much as the technical skills you bring to the table.”

Most valuable piece of advice: “Always bring your best because client relationships need to be earned and maintained. Early in your career, be the first one to make coffee and the last one to leave the office. That’s about showing initiative, humility and a strong work ethic. Every professional experience can equip you with skills and insights that make you better prepared for the future.”

Gustavo A. Madero ’26

Madero is a senior majoring in public relations in the and political science in the .

Once Madero graduates, he plans to enroll in law school, with a goal of becoming an attorney who potentially focuses on immigration law, “where I can use both my profession and my skills to assist my community and help families solve their issues.”

Company: Just Legal, a Tokyo-based legal recruitment and search firm that connects legal professionals with opportunities in various environments.

Responsibilities: Helped with administrative tasks like cleaning and sorting their database and writing blog posts for the website. Madero also accompanied his boss to meetings with law firms and met with potential job candidates. “I learned firsthand what life was like as an attorney in Tokyo and how the Tokyo job market worked.”

Most important lessons learned: “Headhunters know exactly what law firms are looking for in candidates and they help candidates get ready for their interviews. Now, when it is my turn to interview, I understand what sets people apart and what skills I should start developing. I also learned more about the day-to-day life of an attorney. This experience was an eye-opening and valuable learning experience that only solidified my career decision.”

Most valuable piece of advice: “Your reputation is everything. Whatever you do in life, always carry yourself with professionalism and respect. Never burn a bridge, since you never know what direction life might take you.”

Nola Roberts ’27

Roberts is a junior studying public relations in the Newhouse School and political science in the Maxwell School.

After graduating, Roberts plans to work at a public relations agency that represents law firms, attorneys and/or health care agencies. Once she earns a law degree, Roberts wants to pursue a career in either intellectual property or entertainment law. She says her summer internship “helped me build the fundamental public relations skills that will be needed in future roles.”

Company: Rosen Group PR is a public relations and communications agency based in New York City that provides counsel and campaigns for media relations, thought leadership, special events, social media, strategic consulting and policy advocacy.

Responsibilities: Roberts worked on three main accounts—First National Bank of Omaha, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and Shanken Communications—while contributing to other client projects, including work for individual authors, nonprofits and creative agencies. Roberts participated in client meetings, wrote and tracked coverage reports, drafted media pitches, contacted journalists, built targeted media lists, prepared award submissions and researched business and media trends.

Most important lessons learned: “I learned how to work in a fast-paced public relations environment and had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the media world. I gained incredible hands-on experience in the field and fundamental skills I’ll carry with me into future roles. I also learned the importance of building trusted client relationships and collaborative relationships with my team members.”

Most valuable piece of advice: “The importance of communication. Teams simply cannot function efficiently without proper communication on projects to meet deadlines. Maintaining strong, open communication with clients is crucial, as their needs are the top priority.”

This summer, a group of high school students from the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) had the opportunity to get a head start on their futures with a paid internship at Íű±ŹĂĆ, where they gained hands-on experience in various fields by working across campus as part of the summer internship program.

Summer interns are selected from a pool of candidates and placed in campus positions aligned with their desired career pathway. Each of the five SCSD high schools—Nottingham, Henninger, Corcoran, ITC and PSLA—were involved this year, with representation from the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, as well as students eligible for the Say Yes to Education scholarship program.

Interns spent their summer working closely with professionals at the University and learned more about the careers they hope to pursue. Aside from experiential learning, they also had the opportunity to start building their professional networks and connecting with the campus community.

Quindell Williams, workforce development coach in the SCSD’s CTE program, praised the summer internship program, saying, “The partnership between SCSD Career and Technical Education and Íű±ŹĂĆ is one that not only makes perfect sense, but one that we hope to continue to nurture as our CTE programs grow and expand. The program allows our students to engage with professionals, gain hands-on work experience and earn money in the process. Opportunities like this are what CTE is all about—preparing our students for success in the workforce!”

Now in its fifth year, the summer internship program has led to successful outcomes for participants. Students who participated in the program have a near-100% graduation rate. Many of these students graduated with their high school diploma and successfully transitioned into their career field well-equipped with skills and experience from the summer program.

Others developed the desire to attend Íű±ŹĂĆ after graduation and have accomplished that goal. There are currently summer internship program alumni studying in the , , and , with even more interns who completed the program in 2025 and are excited to return to campus as students—all starting with their summer internship opportunity.

The program’s positive impact is not limited only to the young people who participate. Hosting departments across campus are happy to get to share their experience and expertise with passionate students who are eager to learn.

Holliday Moore, news and public affairs director at , says, “Over the years in the news profession, academic and coaching arenas, I’ve noticed that many high schoolers begin developing their dreams and ambitions well before they enter high school, and some don’t. I strongly believe that it’s important we show them the opportunities and choices ahead of them before they enter college. Ryan [Sojewicz, a media communications CTE student from ITC High School] is one of those developing students whose curiosity is ignited. We enjoyed having him on staff and showing him how the news industry at an NPR affiliate gets it done. I am looking forward to him hitting the ground running wherever his ambition takes him. We hope it’s here at WAER!”

Story by Paige Altman