Internships present future career opportunities for students after graduation. Whether they lead to a position offer within the company, or experiences that boost a resume and open doors elsewhere, internships have unquestionable value. Cameron School of Business students are strongly encouraged by professors and advisers to work to secure internships during their junior and senior years. Furthermore, CSB students have access to a great number of resources and search tools that can be used in finding appropriate internship opportunities through the guidance of Teresa Walker, CSB Director of Work Practice. Walker assists students by communicating available resources and promoting opportunities directly to those who meet the required qualifications.

Through the relationships that Cameron has worked to develop with businesses in the community and the region, opportunities in the Wilmington area have become more prevalent in recent years. Within the last two academic years, CSB has had approximately 245 interns placed regionally with employers during their time at UNCW. Although the summer months often provide an occasion for internships out of the area, often even in another state, many students are interested in remaining in the area for the summer because of summer courses, and to enhance local career prospects after graduation.

This past summer, rising junior Julian Morris took advantage of a local internship opportunity with Reeds Jewelers, a Wilmington-based business. Morris is a CSB student concentrating in marketing, and the opportunity to work as a digital marketing intern presented itself by chance during CSB’s annual Business Week Event. Mitch Cahn, director of marketing and business development, was presenting at the event, and Morris happened to be an avid questioner in the audience following his presentation. Morris’ outspoken interest led to an unexpected summer experience.

Cahn contacted Tracy Meyer, the CSB marketing chair, to find out more about the student who had been at his Business Week session. Ultimately, he offered Morris an internship.

“I would have been a fool not to jump on this opportunity,” explained Morris. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working as an intern in terms of the atmosphere of the workplace, as well as the real-world knowledge I am attaining through the process. My internship coordinator, Lauren Frisk, has done an outstanding job of making sure that I am always learning something new both about the Reeds brand, as well as the field of digital marketing. On my first day I was treated to lunch and introduced to the entire staff and everyone was incredibly friendly. You really feel like you are a part of a team here. I believe that they would like to keep me around into the school year as well.” The experience has also been one of benefit to Reeds.

“Julian continues to be an asset to our social media department. His time at Cameron School of Business is preparing him well for the future,” stated Cahn.

As is the case with a number of CSB students approaching graduation, next steps often include thoughts of remaining in or returning to Wilmington after school. Morris hopes to attain an MBA and then plans to pursue a job as a marketing director or potentially work to grow his own digital marketing business. When asked about staying in Wilmington, he certainly plans to consider it. “Wilmington is a gorgeous city and I have enjoyed getting to truly call this place home for the past couple of years. I hope to grow my own business one day, and my business is based on the potential of other businesses. If I see the continued potential for growth in small businesses around Wilmington, I would be happy to stay and build my agency here.”
 
Robert T. Burrus, Jr., Ph.D., is the dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, named in June 2015. Burrus joined the UNCW faculty in 1998. Prior to his current position, Burrus was interim dean, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the chair of the department of economics and finance. Burrus earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University. The Cameron School of Business has approximately 60 full-time faculty members and 20 administrative and staff members. The AACSB-accredited business school currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students in three degree programs and 200 graduate students in four degree programs. The school also houses the prestigious Cameron Executive Network, a group of more than 200 retired and practicing executives that provide one-on-one mentoring for Cameron students. To learn more about the Cameron School of Business, please visit http://csb.uncw.edu/. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].