Local High School Students Get Hands-On Experience through Summer Internship Program at Columbia

In early August, preparations were underway for the next university-wide procurement event to support the minority-, women- and local-owned (MWL) vendors participating in the CU Grow program.  Only this time, Camri Taylor – an incoming high school senior – was hard at work prepping the materials for the event.
 
Taylor is one of nine high school students working across Columbia University Facilities and Operations this summer as part of the Columbia University Local Community High School Summer Internship Program.  The structured, six-week initiative drew more than 100 applicants from the local community and around the city.
 
The program provides high school students with practical work experience before graduation.  In addition, each Friday, interns join together for an inside look at various aspects of university administration, from event management to operating a dining venue, along with a tour of facilities at the Morningside and Lamont-Doherty campuses.  At the program’s conclusion, each intern will make a presentation related to their role and learnings for the summer.
 
“We designed the program so interns could see the theory and behind the scenes work that then contribute to the actual product, whether it be constructing a building or hosting an event,” said Terri Caldes, director of human resources, who is leading the program for Facilities and Operations.  “Columbia’s enthusiasm behind the program is one more demonstration of the University’s commitment to the local community.”
 
Joining Taylor in working with Strategic Communications and Construction Business Initiatives is Laura Wolfe, an incoming junior.  Wolfe has spent the summer focused on communications work, assisting the team with a website data migration project, social media strategy and more.
 
In addition to Strategic Communications and Construction Business Initiatives, other departments in Facilities and Operations mentoring interns this summer include Planning and Capital Project Management, Finance and Administration and the Manhattanville Development Group. 
 
“Our intern, Bryan Coca, came to us wanting an actual help desk experience, and we have put him to work just like he is one of the members of the Help Desk team.  Whatever we’re doing, he’s doing it with us,” said Sharmela Girjanand, assistant director of client support services Facilities and Operations IT.  “This summer, Bryan has done tasks such as troubleshooting, IT onboarding of new employees, replacing cash register systems and writing code, while also being exposed to the inner workings of the many IT systems that support Facilities and Operations.  He has become a valuable part of our team.”
 
The other interns include (with the department they are working in parentheses): Zvi Fermaglich (Finance), Sophie Johnson (Planning), Isis Joseph (Design and Compliance), Josue Mendoza (Code Compliance), Jöel Mentor (Manhattanville Development Group), and Shenia Thompson (Human Resources).
 
All of this summer’s program interns live in Upper Manhattan.
 
“I am aware of Columbia University because of my school, but I never realized how involved and connected the University is,” said Wolfe, who attends high school at Columbia Secondary School.  “This experience has given me a different perspective, and I see how rooted they are in the local community.”