Executive Interns Make Lasting Impact on Campus

Each year, the Undergraduate Executive Internship Program (UEIP) offers 10 to 12 highly motivated Bucknell University students the ability to work alongside a mentor in one of Bucknell's executive offices. The unique program helps interns sharpen their professional skills and build relationships with senior staff of the University. It annually attracts driven students who are interested in gaining campus work experience and are dedicated to making a positive impact on campus.

UEIP was established in 2007, and interns are hired from among a pool of applicants in various executive offices. This year, the executive interns are using their talents and skills in the Office of the President, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of the Provost, Division of Marketing & Communications, Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Office of the Dean of Engineering, Office of the Dean of the Freeman College of Management, University Advancement, Office of Athletics & Recreation, Division of Library & Information Technology, and for the first year, the Division of Equity and Inclusive Excellence.

"UEIP is an impactful opportunity that is mutually beneficial for the members of the program and Bucknell," says Kayla Howie '25, who works in the Office of the President. "As interns, we get to learn more about the behind the scenes of the University and truly understand how each office works independently and together to allow Bucknell to function. Additionally, the program allows these offices to hear student voices directly."

The interns can use that connection to develop projects they think will be impactful to Bucknellians.

"I applied to UEIP because I have an interest in working in higher education in the future," says Alma Ledwidge '25, who works in the Office of the Provost. Over the year, Ledwidge developed a student transcript that includes extracurricular activities to offer employers a better understanding of how Bucknellians engage on campus. "My mentor listened to what I was interested in — projects that outwardly and effectively benefit the student experience — and let me take those on."

The role also puts the students — who hail from different disciplines — together, allowing collaboration across colleges and offices. The students typically work on a larger project, which wouldn't be possible without their combined knowledge and connections on campus. Past projects have included a 'Bye to the 'Burg' downtown event for departing seniors and the Market Street shops.

"Institutional change cannot be accomplished from one person or one department; it is the joining of forces that will allow for widespread impact," says Howie. 'As Bucknell is moving into strategic planning for 2030, student voices are critically important, and we have the potential to use this platform to make sure students' voices are heard and valued in this process and afterward."

The eleven executive interns participating in the program are listed below with their offices, areas of study and hometowns.

• Office of the President: Kayla Howie '25; global management and Spanish majors; Center Valley, Pa.
• Office of the Dean of Students: Julia Reynolds '25; chemistry and environmental science majors and women's & gender studies minor; Linwood, N.J.
• Office of the Provost: Alma Ledwidge '25; history major; Queens, N.Y.
• Division of Marketing & Communications: Sarah Downey '25, Italian studies and political science majors and creative writing minor; Allentown, Pa.
• Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences: Maddy Grieco '26, English—literary studies & Italian studies; East Hanover, N.J.
• Office of the Dean of Engineering: Hunter Gehman '25; computer engineering major; Mount Joy, Pa.
• Office of the Dean of the Freeman College of Management: Saniya Brown-Baptiste '27; markets, innovation & design and critical Black studies majors; Prince George’s County, Md.
• University Advancement: Waina Ali '26; political science major; Carteret, N.J.
• Office of Athletics & Recreation: Dylan Reiff '26; international relations and French majors; Milton, Pa.
• Division of Library & Information Technology: Ibrahim Tahir '26, computer science & economics majors; Lahore, Pakistan.
• Division of Equity and Inclusive Excellence: Hannah Kim '25, mechanical engineering major; Carmel, Ind.