Inside the Internship 2026: Real-World Experience, Hartwick Style
Hartwick College students take their talents beyond the classroom, diving into internships that sharpen their skills, expand their networks, and shape their futures.
From organizations such as the Syracuse Mets and Fenimore Art Museum to opportunities at Rochester General Hospital and Kyoto University, meet some of the students gaining hands-on experience in a wide range of fields and settings.
Quinn M. Francis ‘27
Name: Quinn M. Francis ‘27
Hometown: Schenevus, New York
Major: Art Business
Minors: French
Internship Title: Collections Management Intern
Internship Site: Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York
What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Inventory and catalog objects in the Fenimore Art Museum’s collection, which involved writing object descriptions, taking measurements, writing condition reports, taking object photos, conducting research on the objects and assessing their storage conditions/locations (and fixing them if the objects were not stored properly). I worked on the “Small Things” collection, which consisted of a miscellaneous group of objects, such as commemorative military/war memorabilia (pins, badges, ribbons), nutcrackers, carved wooden salt bowls, silverware, and commemorative medals/coins/medallions. When I overlapped with another Hartwick intern, Noelle Mulik ‘27, I worked with her to photograph and inventory the ceramics collection, which she focused on during her internship.
Does this internship relate to your major? This internship does relate to my major. I developed the art business major option through the Individual Student Program (ISP) offered at Hartwick. Essentially, it combines museum studies, art history and business administration into one major, rather than three minors. I want to work in a cultural arts institution, like a museum or auction house, after I finish my education. I’m actually working on graduate school applications now so I can continue my studies after Hartwick!
What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? One of the reasons I am interested in working in museum collections is because I love art and material culture. It’s so interesting to see what people decide to produce for pleasure, like the ribbons, pins, badges and medallions. These kinds of objects aren’t necessary for survival, but they show us what past populations wanted to remember, such as serving in the military, winning a livestock competition, reaching the 100th anniversary of a company or campaigning for women’s suffrage. Even though my experience in this area is limited, I loved conducting research on the objects I was cataloging. Most of the research I conducted was very surface-level — mostly to build a more detailed description of the object — but nonetheless, it was my favorite part of my internship.
Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your plans in any way? Yes! As I mentioned earlier, this internship helped confirm my desire to work in a cultural arts institution. I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in collections management, such as a museum registrar, who oversees and cares for a museum’s collections, as well as facilitating accessions, loans and deaccessions to the collection.
Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Find an internship in something you actually are passionate about and build meaningful connections with the people you work with. I chose to do an unpaid internship at Fenimore rather than a paid internship/summer job elsewhere because I wanted to gain relevant job experience and network with people who could help me in my future. Also, reach out to the Career Development office at Hartwick! Even though my internship was unpaid, the Career Development office was able to offer me funding to help cover any expenses I encountered during my internship.
Emma Lupe ‘27
Hometown: Colonie, New York
Major: English
Internship Title: CSEA Organizing Intern
Internship Site: CSEA, Latham, New York location
What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Research potential and active union organizing campaigns. I go into the field, visiting job sites and speaking with workers to gather evidence and understand workplace conditions and issues. I assist statewide organizers in unionizing private and public sector workers.
Does this internship relate to your major? This internship involves analyzing articles and analytical writing. I am able to incorporate my critical thinking and reading comprehension skills I have gained as an English major.
What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? Doing research and helping form strategic unionizing campaigns, while also being able to go in the field and have hands-on experiences. I have also learned a lot about the labor movement and unions and how critical it is to educate younger generations on the importance of unions.
Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your plans in any way? I have always had an interest in the political and law field and this internship gave me an
introduction to what it is really like. It has also opened my eyes to the range of occupations in policy and law, and how many more opportunities there are to incorporate my political science and English interests.
Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? I would say it is a necessity for every student to experience an internship before graduation. Studying at Hartwick is the first step; you gain skills and information on a particular area of study, but an internship is the application of all that you have gained from Hartwick. Doing hands-on work gives you a true idea of whether your career path is exactly what you are looking for.
Jenna Lackey ‘27
Hometown: Brunswick, New York
Major: Psychology and Creative Writing
Minors: Biology
Internship Title: Next Gen Immersion Student
Internship Site: Albany Medical College in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental
Therapeutics in Albany, New York
What are your main responsibilities in this internship? I worked in Dr. Shannon Stephens’ lab, which focuses on kisspeptin and fertility. My responsibilities included shadowing lab technicians and graduate students, as well as learning new skills such as running polymerase chain reaction (PCRs), counting cells and mounting brains. This work concluded with a final presentation on kisspeptin in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of female mouse brains at different ages. Throughout the program, I also attended lectures on various neuroscience topics.
Does this internship relate to your major? The main reason I did this internship was to see what it was like in a neuroscience lab. As I look to the future beyond Hartwick. I wanted to get into some of the spaces that could be potential jobs for me and see what graduate school in a psychology/biology type of field would look like.
What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? I really loved the lab atmosphere and the people I met. They made every day in the lab interesting and fun.
Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? It definitely shifted my goals a little. I have been thinking that my future would be working and having my own lab. I still want to do this, but it also made me realize that I would like to do this at an institution where I could also teach.
Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Just be passionate about it. I went out and found this internship myself and brought it to the Hartwick community, which then helped me pursue it to the greatest extent I could. If you are ready to learn and engage, you will find something.
Victoria L. Rucker ‘27
Hometown: Albany, New York
Major: Public Health
Concentration: Social and Community Health
Internship Title: Summer Youth Counselor
Internship Site: Camp Scully in Wynantskill, New York
What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Helping with morning and evening routines, and following a schedule provided by my lead staff supervisors. Throughout the day, we participate in activities such as slingshot, archery, target games and sports. We also promote healthy habits by encouraging campers to wash their hands, drink water after activities, put on sunscreen and maintain proper hygiene. Another responsibility I have is tracking the meals provided to campers using our meal-tracking sheets. I also occasionally assist other cabins with different activities and tasks. Overall, I do a little bit of everything!
Does this internship relate to your major? This internship relates to my major in public health because I have the opportunity to work with children from many different backgrounds, which is something I am very passionate about! I have always enjoyed working with kids, and this experience has allowed me to combine that passion with my interest in public health and promoting healthy habits and overall well-being.
What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? Meeting all of the new campers who come to camp, as well as reconnecting with returning campers from previous years. I really enjoy building meaningful relationships with the campers and getting to know
my coworkers as well.
Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? It has helped me confirm my career goals and realize that I want to work with kids in any setting. Some possibilities include child/youth services specialist, family services coordinator or health educator.
Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Make sure you try everything! You have to sometimes step outside your comfort zone to get things done.
