Lauren Casella ’16, a religion and political science major from Wallingford, PA., pauses outside Merrill House — home base for the Colgate Scene. (Photo by Aleta Mayne)
This summer, I interned with the Colgate University Communications Office. The Communications team is responsible for all print and digital publications that represent Colgate to both our campus and global community. What piqued my interest in the internship was the opportunity to learn how Colgate told its story through its written and visual content.
While my responsibilities included a significant amount of proofreading, copy-editing, and editing web content, I also had the opportunity to report on campus events like the Writers’ Conference and the Hamilton International Film Festival. Through reporting campus news, I was able to engage with students, faculty, and alumni and learn about their different perspectives on Colgate.
My internship was not bound by a set schedule. On any given day I could be speaking with an alumnus who created a successful mobile app, interviewing a professor concerning his research on solar energy, or attending meetings of the Homecoming Planning Committee through the Office of Alumni Relations.
During my internship, my perspective as an outsider reading Colgate’s communications content quickly shifted to that of an insider listening for the latest scoop on all things affecting our community.
What stood out about working in the office was the commitment to conveying the true spirit of Colgate to prospective students and lifelong Colgate enthusiasts. Each article, alumni profile, Facebook post, tweet, and more is crafted to reflect the achievements, changes, celebrations, and ultimately the spirit of our university.
As I pursued a summer internship, my fellow Maroon-News staff member, Laura D’Angelo ’14 recommended applying to the Communications Office and spoke highly of her own experience as an intern last summer. I already knew that I had a passion for storytelling and the power of writing, so it only seemed fitting to pursue. Like Laura, I will also see my summer internship transition into a role as a student writer during the academic year as I work alongside fellow interns Hannah O’Malley ’17 and Natalie Sportelli ’15 this fall.
My internship in Communications taught me invaluable skills about the art of communicating, allowing me to improve my journalistic abilities and connect with and learn from many other members of the Colgate community. My experience in the office proved to be the perfect opportunity to focus on two of my favorite things: writing and sharing Colgate’s story.