Messina College partners with Commonwealth Financial Network to provide student internships
career readiness at BC's newest college
Messina College has partnered with Waltham-based Commonwealth Financial Network to provide internships as part of the approach to career readiness at md传媒国产剧 College鈥檚 new two-year residential college.
The Commonwealth partnership will provide Messina students with the opportunity to work 10-12 hours a week gaining skills that relate to their majors of Applied Data Science, Applied Psychology & Human Development, General Business, and Health Sciences, said Messina College Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J.
Messina College Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J.
鈥淚nternships will help our students discern where they can make their impact in the world and what their vocation might be in the broadest sense of the word,鈥� said Fr. Berrelleza. 鈥淲e are thrilled that Commonwealth Financial Network will be providing these experiences to our talented students. We are equally excited that our students will share their diverse experiences with Commonwealth.鈥�
At Messina, internships, or clinical rotations for students studying Health Sciences, will take place during the fall semester of students鈥� second year. Students will simultaneously take a 3-credit seminar course to help them connect their internship experience to their academic and professional goals and reflect on and articulate the professional skills they are gaining.
鈥淚nternships are around the corner for our soon-to-be second-year students,鈥� said Fr. Berrelleza. 鈥淪tudents have been interviewing with our internship partners this semester. It is great to see the commitment of these corporations and organizations to Messina College students. We鈥檙e excited to see the good things our students will do and all they will gain from these experiences.鈥澛�
, Commonwealth will welcome 10 students to its Waltham headquarters.
Messina College鈥檚 internship program is designed to provide the group of first-generation students with early career experiences that advance their education and prepare them for the next steps on their professional journeys. Commonwealth anticipates that some students will return as summer interns and may be offered full-time employment upon the conclusion of their studies.
Commonwealth CEO Wayne Bloom
鈥淎s a longtime B.C. supporter, I couldn鈥檛 be more excited about the mission of Messina College,鈥� said Wayne Bloom, CEO of Commonwealth. 鈥淭his partnership isn鈥檛 just about opening doors鈥攊t鈥檚 about welcoming students who have outstanding talents to offer in our organization and the financial services industry.鈥� Bloom and his wife Veronica are co-chairs of BC鈥檚 Parents Leadership Council, and three of the couple鈥檚 four children are md传媒国产剧 College students or graduates.
Career discernment and preparation are built into the Messina curriculum, Fr. Berrelleza said. In addition to the accompanying course, students will work closely with a md传媒国产剧 College Career Center coach throughout the internship process, including preparing them for the internship experience, navigating any challenges, and serving as a resource for on-site internship supervisors.
Messina College is part of md传媒国产剧 College鈥檚 $100 million Pine Manor Institute for Student Success initiative to enhance educational opportunity for underrepresented, first-generation students, and marks the first time BC will offer an associate鈥檚 degree.
In today鈥檚 economy, Fr. Berrelleza said work experience is crucial to ensure every student has that experience with employers and workforce readiness that their peers will have coming out of traditional four-year degree programs.
鈥淚nternships are where vocation meets opportunity,鈥� Fr. Berrelleza said. 鈥淔or many first-gen students, this is the first time they鈥檒l see their potential mirrored in a professional setting. Commonwealth鈥檚 inclusive culture allows them to envision a future where they belong.鈥�
The residential college welcomed its first class last July, enrolling approximately 200 students at its campus located on the former Pine Manor College, now known as the Brookline Campus of md传媒国产剧 College.
To learn more, please visit the Messina College website.