From creating 3D prototypes to transforming raw data into actionable strategies, students at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies took their skills to the next level during their recent summer internships.
Five students shared their internship success stories, including what they learned and how they landed their coveted roles.
Lissette Mitzi Mendez, an Information Management and Technology major, interned with PSEG (Public Service Enterprise Group), in Newark, N.J. Working as an IT intern in the finance department, she was part of the data visualization team and developed visualizations using PowerBI and Tableau.
She was able to highlight key company analytics, such as capital spend and customer satisfaction rates. The reports were used company-wide but were most essential to the board of directors.
“I had the most supportive team around me,” said Mitzi Mendez, who has a concentration in project management and is minoring in finance. “As this was my first internship, I was really nervous to begin, but my manager and mentor helped me every step of the way, and I was able to build a genuine connection with them!”
Mitzi Mendez discovered the internship through a Linkedin post and interviewed with a manager and team member, who asked her technical and behavioral questions.
“I was prepared for this through the resources of Career Services at the iSchool!” she said. “During my time at PSEG, I was able to see how amazing their internship program was as I got to interact face-to-face with the CEO and meet so many amazing people. Not only that, but during my time there they were able to immerse me in both the fields of tech and finance.”
Ryan Tores interned at Synchrony in Stamford, Conn., in the company’s Business Leadership Program, where he worked on the Technology Track. Tores is majoring in Information Management and Technology and Linguistic Studies with a minor in Psychology.
“My personal project involved creating a system to automate digital organization, which I delivered and presented in my final week,” he said. “Team members were more than happy to meet with interns, and I was able to pick up best practices from experts in the field.”
Not only were interns working on “real, meaningful projects,” Tores said, but they were given weekly opportunities to be part of the amazing company culture. He even entered a hub-wide pickleball tournament, attended a yoga wellness session with puppies and ran a Spartan Race alongside coworkers at Citi Field.
“I found Synchrony after attending the iSchool’s Career Trek to NYC last fall. It was my favorite company visit and I applied immediately after,” Tores said. “I’m happy to share that I’ll be returning next summer as a full time BLP! In this rotational position, I’ll take on three roles over the next two years. I’m so excited to continue my Synchrony journey in different parts of the tech world!”
Ritika Gupta is pursuing a master’s degree in Information Systems. She interned this summer at ProHealth Group Inc., a home health company, where she worked as a data analyst intern.
“My role was quite hybrid and involved work related to data analytics, data engineering, and data science,” she said. “It was a very meaningful internship for me because I learned a lot, especially about data. I got to manage tasks end-to-end and was also given the responsibility to lead the projects I was working on.”
Ritika credits iSchool alum Devansh Khakhar, the company’s Director of Business Intelligence, for reaching out to her on LinkedIn about the opportunity. After two rounds of interviews, she landed the internship.
“The work environment I’m currently in is great. The team is amazing, and we’re more like a family,” she said. “We have the space to make mistakes and learn from them. Devansh has been an incredible mentor. He has guided us throughout the internship and helped us learn a lot.”
Joy Chen is dual majoring in Information Management & Technology and Marketing Management with a minor in Public Communication Studies. She interned at Ogilvy Health as a Digital Development Intern where she worked alongside the DEV Team and Innovation Lab to help create 3D prototypes for clients.
“This internship was especially meaningful to me as it provided valuable insight into the health industry, where I later realized my interests lie elsewhere, and gave me a firsthand look at the responsibilities of a technology role within a leading advertising firm,” she said.
Chen found out about the internship through a LinkedIn search and interviewed with an HR representative and the VP of Technology Lead, who she later interned for.
Mansi Santosh Jagdale is studying to earn a Master of Science in Information Systems. She interned as a Business Analyst at Bullseye LLC in Denver, Colorado.
“My internship at an EdTech firm was particularly valuable because it gave me the opportunity to apply what I’d learned both in the classroom at iSchool and throughout my professional experience,” Jagdale shared. “It allowed me to collaborate with cross-functional teams such as customer success, product, operations, marketing, and sales, sharpening my skills in data operations, marketing strategies, and business analysis.”
In this role, Jagdale transformed raw data into actionable strategies, refined her CRM expertise, and contributed to impactful marketing campaigns.
“The experience helped me strengthen my ability to leverage data to drive business decisions and strategies,” she reflected. “It prepared me to confidently tackle future challenges in the field.”
Jagdale first discovered this opportunity at Syracuse University’s Career & Internship Fair in 2023 and applied through Handshake. Following her successful summer internship, she was offered an extended co-op for the Fall 2024 semester.
Now, Jagdale will be on the other side of the booth, representing Bullseye LLC at the upcoming Syracuse University Data and Technology Fair 2024 and Syracuse University Career & Internship Fair 2024, ready to share her story with future candidates.