This summer, two ambitious Wayne State University marketing and communication students will gain invaluable real-world experience through internships, showcasing the diverse opportunities that Wayne State students are seizing in competitive fields.
Amelia Benavides-Colón, a recent graduate from the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts with a degree in journalism, is gearing up for a transformative experience in Washington, D.C. This summer, she will join The Chronicle of Higher Education as a news reporting intern. Unlike typical internships, this opportunity caters specifically to seniors wrapping up their coursework or those who have just graduated, operating on a full-time, Monday-to-Friday schedule.
Benavides-Colón’s journey began at Wayne State’s official student newspaper, The South End, where she quickly rose to editor-in-chief and became an influential campus voice. Her academic pathway was rich with practical experience, including The Detroit News, extending her initial three-month contract to a full year due to her performance. She also contributed to local media initiatives such as Outlier Media and Planet Detroit. A pivotal feature writing course with Associate Professor Elizabeth Stoycheff further honed her craft.
Reflecting on her academic and extracurricular experiences, Benavides-Colón credits her success to the university's support system.
"Wayne State helped me land all of my internships while I was here," she explained. "The South End was my first clip and that’s what got me my very first internship freshman year, and the internships just kept going from there."
Similarly, Elley Ahmed, a senior at the Mike Ilitch School of Business majoring in information systems management and marketing, will soon begin a summer internship with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. As a corporate communications intern, Ahmed is set to focus on social analytics, closely collaborating with the social team and assisting the journalism team in content development and promotion.
Throughout her studies at Wayne State, Ahmed credits her coursework in marketing for equipping her with essential skills, particularly in using various digital tools and analyzing metrics. These skills have been crucial not only in her current role but also during her past internships at Siemens Digital Industries Software and in Wayne State's Office of Marketing and Communications. In addition, her involvement as a mentee in both the Ilitch School of Business Corporate Mentor Program and the WSU Corporate Mentorship Program significantly aided her professional growth.
Ahmed plans to to build a career as a social media and digital media analyst.
"Wayne State prepared me exceptionally well for my role as a corporate communications intern through a combination of coursework, practical experiences and supportive faculty,” Ahmed shared. “Without the opportunities and assistance Wayne State University provides, I wouldn’t be where I am now in my career."