A Summer Unlike Any Other

Summer 2020 was unlike any other as workers officed at home, summer camps closed, and people hunkered down as the virus surged. Despite COVID-19, Gateway Career Center partnered with Lafayette students interested in finding internship experiences in industries and locations around the country. Students gained hands-on experience, expanded their networks, and grew both personally and professionally. Here are a few highlights:

Rabia Idil Demirelli ’21
Major: Economics and engineering studies double major with German minor
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Company: Deloitte
Planned location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City
Actual location: College Hill

“I worked at Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory Services as an analytics intern. The virtual internship experience was an amazing opportunity for me to connect with professionals, learn about the company culture, and connect with my peer interns. Throughout the internship, I got the chance to receive training on the top notch technology that Deloitte provides to its clients and work on a client challenge with my fellow interns.”

Chelsea Catlin ’21
Major: Engineering studies and economics
Hometown: Madison, N.J.
Company: The Rockefeller Group
Planned location: Morristown, N.J.
Actual location: Morristown, N.J.

“The Morristown, N.J., office of The Rockefeller Group, a real estate development company headquartered in New York City, does work in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, mostly focusing on industrial development. I was fortunate to be able to work remotely and in person, both at the office and on-site, including two warehouses located near the Lehigh Valley International Airport. I worked on a summer-long project developing a ‘lessons learned’ process for the organization, toured multiple sites to learn about construction of industrial warehouses, and assisted with many administrative tasks.”

Katie Gyves ’22
Major: Economics
Hometown: Montclair, N.J.
Company: Prudential
Planned location: Dresher, Pa.
Actual location: Montclair, N.J.

“In my remote work setup at home, I was a project management intern with Prudential Financial Enabling Solutions group, which aims to implement innovative, cross-business solutions within each of Prudential’s subsidiaries. This summer I am working in the Annuities Contact Center where I collaborate with my fellow interns to brainstorm ways to optimize operations and improve the customer experience.”

Zev Granowitz ’21
Major: Mechanical engineering with certificate in financial policy and analysis
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
Company: ExxonMobil
Planned location: Midland, Texas
Actual location: Midland, Texas

“I worked to reduce the cost of the compressor stations, which ExxonMobil uses to filter and compress natural gas before it goes to a central delivery point. To do this, I used historical data to analyze which station designs are most efficient and why. I also reevaluated the need for certain components. During my internship, I was able to combine my engineering knowledge with skills I learned from my finance classes to make economic decisions based on engineering principles.”

Liz Arriaga ’21
Major: Environmental studies
Hometown: Brownsville, Texas
Company: Veggie Mijas
Planned location: New York City
Actual location: San Benito, Texas

“I was a community organizer intern for the NYC chapter although I also worked with the Philadelphia and Dallas chapters as well. I helped community organizers and coordinators organize events in their respective communities in order to connect (remotely, of course) via food. I have also been working on several personal goals and projects, like contributing educational content to their website and Instagram account. I finalized a lesson plan about the environment and food justice for future workshop use. Most importantly, I learned what it means to be an organizer for my community by interacting and working with organizers that have different perspectives on the same cause.”

Danielle Kraidin ’21
Major: Behavioral economics and marketing (self-designed)
Hometown: Millstone Township, N.J.
Company: Novità
Planned location: New York City
Actual location: Millstone Township, N.J.

“I interned at Novità, which is an integrated marketing and communications agency that caters to the architecture and design industry in North America, Italy, and beyond, and is founded by Lafayette alum Chris Abbate ’85. I was responsible for various projects, such as improving clients’ presence on social media, as well as raising awareness of brands through email campaigns and writing projects. One example is I spearheaded an email blast project, in which I gathered a list of products from some of our clients according to a theme and organized them into an email to be sent to journalists for them to include in their publications. I also worked on a Pinterest project for one of our clients in which I took images of collections from the brands, added descriptions, included links to the catalogs, and organized them into boards. In addition to other various projects, I attended virtual meetings everyday with the team as well as meetings with some of our clients. This has allowed me to see the way in which a marketing agency works, thereupon catering to the needs of its clients and the way relationships are built and maintained between clients and the agency.”

Alek Seibel ’22
Major: Computer science
Hometown: Newtown, Pa.
Company: Johnson & Johnson
Planned location: Bridgewater, N.J.
Actual location: Newtown, Pa.

“I work as an internal consultant where the team I am on partners with various technology companies (Microsoft, Lenovo, etc.) and researches which technologies should be used throughout Johnson & Johnson, including a communication device in which my team researched and analyzed its reliability, cost, and effectiveness. Particularly, because of COVID-19, we are working on how to integrate existing technologies and what new technologies should be used in the new working environment.”

Nick Jones ’21
Major: Economics
Hometown: Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Company: Ernst & Young
Planned location: New York City
Actual location: Mountain Lakes, N.J.

“I worked as a business consultant at EY within the Financial Services Office. Through this experience, I have been able to meet incredibly talented individuals and learn the ins and outs of the consulting industry. I have also had the opportunity to support a team of consultants and address the individual needs of the firm’s clients. Although the program has been entirely virtual, I have had the unique opportunity to participate in client interactions and work with my engagement team via video chat. In addition, I have had the privilege of participating in research projects aimed at identifying key industry trends in an effort to better serve our clients in the current business environment.”

Isaiah Osei-Gyening ’22
Major: Neuroscience with minor in health, life science, and society
Hometown: Corona, N.Y.
Company: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Planned location: Washington, D.C.
Actual location: Corona, N.Y.

“This summer I was named as one of 10 students nationwide to receive the Georgetown University Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES), which allowed me to become an ARCHES Fellow for Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM). Throughout my virtual experiences in the ARCHES program, I participated in a six-week virtual enrichment program, where I conducted research, attended informational sessions, and was mentored by physicians, deans, medical students, and Georgetown faculty and staff. Next summer I will be on GUSOM campus where I will be completing a research project in one of Georgetown University’s research labs. I will also be engaging in clinical shadowing at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and performing service learning activities in the D.C. area.”

Brooke Paccione ’21
Major: Civil engineering
Hometown: Flanders, N.J.
Company: Kleinfelder
Planned location: Princeton, N.J.
Actual location: Flanders, N.J.

“I worked at an environmental consulting firm, focusing on the design and permitting of various wastewater treatment plants and water/wastewater-related construction projects. I’ve also had the opportunity to participate in some fieldwork, including a sampling project of a river where we tested for various parameters such as total dissolved solids and volatile organic compounds.”

Jimmy Barrios ’22
Major: Mathematics and economics with data science minor
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Company: Ernst & Young
Planned location: New York City
Actual location: College Hill

“I was fortunate enough to work with EY, a big four accounting firm. As a launch intern in EY’s Financial Services Organization, I was able to develop business acumen, technical skills, and leadership skills through various projects. Some of these projects included coming up with innovative solutions for companies in the retail industry, such as Nike. In addition to projects, I was also presented with the opportunity to receive training sessions on future-focused skills, such as design thinking, data visualizations, and blockchain. Lastly, I was able to build an extensive genuine network with professionals as well as my fellow peers. I would like to thank Lafayette College for giving me a place to call home, especially during these difficult, unprecedented times. With extenuating circumstances, going back home wouldn’t have been ideal, and by Lafayette allowing me to stay on campus, I was truly able to excel during my internship, so much that I received an offer for the following summer!”

Lidya Abebe ’22
Major: Government & law and economics
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.
Company: The Brattle Group
Planned location: Washington D.C.
Actual location: Silver Spring, Md.

“I worked as a research analyst at The Brattle Group this summer. My responsibilities included providing in-depth research, summarizing documents, and communicating with project teams at all levels. I created financial, economic, and operational models in Excel and R-studio. I also adapted economic theories to apply to real-life questions and problems related to sports, nutrition, and taxes. Although my internship was remote, I enjoyed getting to know the people at the company. It was insightful talking with lawyers and economists about some of my interests and listening to their experiences with higher education and consulting. At the end of my internship, I had the chance to get a tour of the office in D.C.”