Throughout the fall semester, 11 Communication students immersed themselves in the COMMRC Connect internship program—a hands-on, semester-long initiative designed to strengthen connections between students, faculty, and the broader university community. From producing newsletters to coordinating alumni networking events, interns applied what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world communication projects.
As the program wraps up, they’re reflecting on the experiences that shaped their semester and the impact the internship has had on their academic and professional goals.
Annalina Powers: Graphic Design
Year: Junior
Major: Communication Rhetoric and Law, Criminal Justice and Society
“Working as the graphic design intern, I have definitely noticed an increasingly stronger bond between our students and faculty within the Communication department,” Powers said. “I feel my role can be very impactful on these relationships as it markets a lot of the events our staff members hold, and advertises occasions in which students and faculty naturally come together.”
Madison Bozik: Opportunities
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Rhetoric with a minor in Film and Media Studies.
“In my classes, I have learned foundational skills of professional writing, digital communication etiquette, and marketing that I have seen come to life within this internship,” Bozik said. “Before this experience, I never knew what a post-grad role may look like, so gaining work experience and being able to try new things under guidance of the COMMRC Department staff has been helpful,” Bozik said.
Aoife Ni She: Project Coordinator
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Rhetoric and Anthropology.
“One of my favorite parts of this internship has been collaborating with interns and experiencing the rewarding feeling of seeing our ideas turn into tangible outcomes,” Ni She said.
Liz Langer: Events Coordinator
Year: Sophomore
Major: Media and Professional Communication
“There is a true living-learning community in the Department of Communication, so being able to be a part of that and to help grow these values was really something special,” Langer reflected. “I loved getting together each week with new ideas and plans ahead. It really showed us what the world of Communication can do!”
Emily Weinstock: Multimedia Production
Year: Junior
Major: Media and Professional Communication
“I’m able to help forge a community among the department and students by highlighting students’ stories and making their experiences visible,” Weinstock said. “Through professionally photographing our events, I aimed to humanize the department and create visual narratives that portray who the department is, how students get involved, and why their work matters.”
Nolan Shanley: Social Media
Year: Junior
Major: Communication Rhetoric
“I loved managing our social media and getting to be creative every week,” Shanley said. “The team made every meeting something to look forward to. We worked so well together, and that made this experience unforgettable.”
Maya Rigler: Department Outreach
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Rhetoric
“Through coordinating outreach for events, I learned how to tailor communication to different audiences, manage multiple contacts, and stay organized under deadlines,” Rigler reflected. “These skills will be valuable in any future career that relies on strong organization and clear, professional communication.”
Mollie Young: News Production
Year: Junior
Major: Communication Rhetoric, Public & Professional Writing and International Studies.
“Getting to write content for the website has given me the opportunity to sit down with faculty members and students who are doing incredible work and making fascinating contributions to the field,” Young said. “Telling these stories has shown me that a degree in communication really can take you in so many different directions.”
Lillian Gross: Alumni Outreach
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Rhetoric and Political Science
“I believe that being able to reconnect alumni who are now out in the working world across many different fields is important to help establish a community and sense of purpose among current comm students,” Gross said. “There are so many different paths students can take with a communication degree, and my hope is that maintaining connections with Pitt Comm graduates will inspire our students and encourage them to explore different career paths.”
Marissa McCune: Newsletter
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Rhetoric
“I’m hoping to go into the marketing field, so working on the newsletter helped me build experience in audience engagement, content strategy, branding, and, of course, communication, all of which are important pieces to a marketing career,” McCune said.