MARCOM Fellows Internship Program Connects Students to Real-World Career Experiences

Amit Ben-Bassat didn't expect a post he created for Stony Brook University's Instagram page to go viral. "This is the first time I've had such quick feedback and visibility," he said. "It has thousands of views!"

For Ben-Bassat and the other nine students who were selected from among a competitive pool of applicants to participate in the MARCOM Fellows program, the satisfaction of seeing their work deliver real impact has been one of the most defining aspects of the experience.

The program launched this academic year to address a critical gap between classroom learning and career readiness. Fellows are embedded in one of the seven specialty teams within the Office of Marketing and Communications, including brand management and internal communication, business and operations, creative strategy and design, digital and social media strategy, editorial services, external communications, and reputation and perception management. Each Fellow works directly with a mentor while also participating in cohort meetings, training sessions and events. It's an investment in both the students' futures and the university's capacity to tell its story through fresh, diverse voices.

"In today's job market, experience matters. Our goal in launching this program is to give students the opportunity to build professional skills, portfolios, and confidence before they walk across the graduation stage," said Susan Foley, Interim Vice President of Marketing & Communications. "We want to help students see what is possible after graduation by letting them do the work now, collaborating, problem-solving, and contributing as part of a professional team."

Tori Zito-Graham, co-coordinator of the program, said the goal from the outset was to go beyond a traditional internship model. "This is not a shadowing experience; they are trusted contributors whose work matters."

"Fellows contribute real ideas, real creativity and real impact," said Zito-Graham, senior manager of social media and engagement.

J.D. Allen, co-coordinator of the program, said the program offers an immersive, learning-on-the-job experience that exposes students to a marketing and communications function in a professional setting.

"Making this a paid opportunity was a priority because students deserve meaningful work that also respects the financial realities they face," said Allen, who serves as MARCOM's climate communication strategist and lecturer in the School of Communication and Journalism. "Fellows are digital natives who understand emerging platforms, trends, and audience expectations in ways that are incredibly valuable to a modern communications team."

Ben-Bassat said the combination of expectations and creative freedom has been central to his experience.

"There's a lot of trust in us to bring ideas to the table," said Ben-Bassat, a junior double majoring in journalism and history and a Social Media Fellow. "It's professional but also welcoming and friendly, which makes you want to do your best work."

Marley Roache, a Media Relations Fellow and English major, said the program offered an opportunity to build upon her past internships while gaining exposure to the larger ecosystem of the MARCOM department.

"I really wanted to take the steps to advance my career, but I still feel like I have so much learning to do," Roache said. "I felt it would be interesting to have new responsibilities and make more of a commitment to my work."

Roache said the scope of the internship has distinguished it from her previous experiences both on and off campus. She also pointed to collaboration as one of the most essential aspects of the program.

"One of my favorite parts of marketing in general is just how many people you get to collaborate with, all trying to push toward the same idea," Roache said.

That collaborative structure has stood out for Amanda Degnan, a Brand Management Fellow who said the program exceeded her expectations in terms of connectivity across campus.

"I didn't expect it to be as collaborative as it's been," Degnan said. "It's been an incredible networking experience."

For some Fellows, the experience has reshaped their career interests. Degnan, a second-year MBA student, said her work during the semester introduced her to new paths within marketing.

"Working on a media relations project guided me toward influencer relations work and marketing, which is something I did not consider before," she said.

As the program looks ahead, lessons from the inaugural semester will inform future iterations.

"We learned that students really value cross-unit exposure," Zito-Graham said. "Going forward, we want to create even more opportunities for that kind of integrated work."

Allen said the long-term vision for the program is to serve as a meaningful launching point for students entering the field.

"Ultimately, I want this program to be recognized as a launching pad for communications careers, a credential that means something when these students go out into the job market," he said.

For Foley success looks like Fellows graduating with confidence, skills, and clarity about their careers and mentors feeling proud of the role they played in that journey.

"This program reflects what I believe higher education should be - experiential, supportive, and deeply invested in student success. When universities invest in students beyond the classroom, everyone benefits: the students, the institution, and the profession," Foley said.

- Lily Miller
Inaugural MARCOM Fellow