Student Interns, Community Partners Benefit From School of Communications’ Internship

The School of Communications’ Internship Program proudly announces partnerships with the Student Employment Program in the Financial Aid Office. The internship program gives eligible students a chance to earn college credit, a paycheck, and experience while balancing school and receiving career-related experiences through the Student Employment Program, says Betsye Stinson, Student Employment coordinator. 

It also gives Community Service, non-profit, off-campus, partners academic resources to reach their community engagement goals, agrees Trezette Dixon, director, internship program, School of Communications. “It’s a win-win-win and continues the University’s commitment to community service and engages students in career shaping experiences with local non-profit organizations,” said Dixon.

I can focus more energy into giving my best effort into my internship and to learn and grow, all while giving back to the community I love.

This semester, four students are completing their internships for academic credit:

• Ethan Aylesworth, senior, Film, Television & Video Production: Intern at Cinema St. Louis, which showcases innovation, education, and inspirational storytelling through film
• Liana Gallyoun-Arroyo, senior, Advertising/Marketing Communications, Marketing & Development: Intern at Girls In the Know, helping teen girls make healthy and confident decisions as they journey through adolescence.
• Adrianna Dreckmann, Senior, Film, Television & Video Production: Video production intern at KDHX, which builds community through media and celebrating 33 years of independent music, art, and culture in St. Louis and around the world.
• Mckenzie Thessin, senior,  Advertising/Marketing Communications: Intern at Stray Rescue St. Louis, the largest inner-city animal sanctuary in the country.

“The interns that have joined our team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis have helped us in so many ways,” said Natalie Thomson, director of marketing with Stray Rescue of St. Louis. “As a nonprofit, we aren’t able to pay our interns but definitely appreciate all the work they do...we are thrilled to be a part of Webster [University’s Student Employment Program.]” 

With these partnerships, community partners benefit because they mentor a student who is learning communications and looking to put their educational and equivalent experiences into practice. Mckenzie Thessin states that her paid internship has “allowed me to learn and grow into a more compassionate and patient person. I have watched the most precious dogs come in with the saddest stories...and watched them grow into strong, healthy dogs that get adopted into their forever homes.” A real-world experience like this allows Thessin to communicate Stray Rescue’s message of hope, as well as increase her empathy and emotional intelligence. 

This type of career intelligence also helps students develop valuable experiences. “Our students are tested and proven,” says Rebecca Rodgers, student employment associate. "As a result, our student employees can sell these first-hand experiences learned and indicate them on a resume and a portfolio site, in an interview, and vouched by professional references."

As an intern at Cinema St. Louis, senior Ethan Aylesworth gathers materials, edits videos, and works on film projects. He appreciates coaching from his mentor Brian Spath, operations supervisor. With his paid internship, “I feel like I have more room to breathe and can focus more energy into giving my best effort into my internship and to learn and grow, all while giving back to the community I love,” said Aylesworth. 

This shared collaboration between the School of Communications and Student Employment-Financial Aid Office is important for the experiences and relationships expanded by our adult learners and community partners. "This is especially true during a pandemic when we continue our commitment to decreasing economic barriers to internships...and building valuable campus partnerships,” said Dixon. “Many of the internships offered, especially in the creative fields are unpaid, leaving some students to choose between career-shaping experiences or maintaining a job that is not related to their career interest but necessary to support their educational goals."

Our student employees can sell these first-hand experiences learned and indicate them on a resume and a portfolio site, in an interview, and vouched by professional references.

How to Get Started

If you are interested in learning more about interning or partnering with the School of Communications, please contact Trezette Dixon, director, internship program, School of Communications at 314-246-7967, or dixont@webster.edu. 

Department and Community Partners 

If your department or not-for-profit organization is interested in partnering with our office to create a similar partnership, please contact Stinson. 

• Betsye Stinson, student employment coordinator 314-246-7641, betsyestinson20@webster.edu
• Rebecca Rodgers, student employment associate 314-246-8266, rodgereb@webster.edu
  Student Employment Team, studentemployment@webster.edu