Inside the President’s Intern Program: Where Student Voice Meets College Leadership
At Carroll Community College, leadership is not something students need simply observe from a distance. Through the President’s Intern Program, students gain rare access to the strategic heart of the institution, supporting presidential initiatives, participating in key events, shaping digital storytelling, and contributing to strategic communication planning.
Designed as a part-time role, the position offers far more than a line on a résumé. The experience is transformative.
Dr. Rosalie Mince, President of Carroll Community College, sees the program as a powerful bridge between student experience and institutional leadership.
“The President’s Intern Program is deeply meaningful to me because it creates an opportunity to work closely with students who aspire to be future leaders and who bring fresh perspective, creativity, and insight to our work,” she said. “It has been incredibly rewarding to watch their skills, confidence, and ability to communicate with clarity grow over time.”
A Front-Row Seat to College Leadership
President’s intern Andrew Main, an Accounting major at Carroll, describes the internship as more than a campus job.
“The President’s Intern Program is an opportunity where students really get to meet and have a deeper connection with the faculty and staff at Carroll Community. You also get a better understanding of how big of a role our College’s president plays in keeping the College running.”
What initially drew him in was the opportunity to connect directly with College leadership. After submitting test videos as part of the digital application process through the Lynx student portal, he interviewed with Dr. Mince and Alison Hunt, Carroll’s Assistant Director of Digital Marketing and Strategy. Upon being accepted for the internship, he quickly found himself immersed in meetings, events, and behind-the-scenes strategy. Supporting and communicating the President’s initiatives has given him a clearer understanding of how the College functions and how leadership decisions shape the student experience.
President’s intern Melissa Nieuwoudt, a Business Administration major at Carroll, was similarly motivated to step beyond the traditional classroom experience, taking on a role that blends creativity with strategy. “This internship has been a meaningful opportunity for growth in many areas, both as a young adult and as a future professional.”
Merging Storytelling with Strategy
At its core, the President’s Intern Program sits at the intersection of storytelling and strategy. Housed within the Strategic Marketing & Brand Management department at Carroll, the work reflects that alignment. Interns don’t simply post on social media. They help shape the message.
Before any content is created, ideas are brainstormed and refined to ensure each piece connects to broader campus goals. Events are intentionally transformed into educational moments for students. The content is informative and mission-driven, highlighting the work of faculty and staff and strengthening awareness of how the College operates.
From student events like New Student Orientation to community events like TEDxWestminster, interns engage directly with the community—interviewing students, capturing meaningful moments, and creating media that supports outreach and connection. The focus is not just on promotion, but on storytelling that reflects institutional values and student experience.
The President’s Intern Program is also designed with flexibility in mind. Academics remain the top priority, and responsibilities adjust accordingly. At the same time, recurring opportunities, such as attending Board of Trustees meetings, offer valuable exposure to leadership and institutional decision-making at the highest level.
Building Professional Skills—and Confidence
The President’s Intern Program is an opportunity where students really get to meet and have a deeper connection with the faculty and staff at Carroll Community. You also get a better understanding of how big of a role our College’s president plays in keeping the College running.
Beyond the work itself, the President’s Intern Program becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Both interns emphasize how significantly the experience has strengthened their communication and leadership abilities.
For Andrew, one of the most important lessons has been learning how critical effective communication is to ensuring initiatives run smoothly. Managing content creation while staying present at events has challenged him to think strategically and adapt in real time.
For Melissa, the transformation has been deeply personal. “Communication has been one of my most significant takeaways from this experience. I have learned to step outside of my comfort zone and confidently approach people from diverse backgrounds.”
Engaging students, faculty, administrators, and even members of the Board of Trustees for interviews and social media participation has helped Melissa develop stronger self-advocacy skills and greater confidence in presenting ideas. Having previously worked independently in media production, she entered the internship with the goal of learning how to collaborate effectively within a team and has experienced measurable growth in that area.
Shaping Future Goals
Exposure to leadership has had a lasting impact on both interns’ future aspirations.
Andrew notes that meeting professionals in fields he hopes to enter has provided insight into preparing for the workforce and understanding professional expectations. Observing leadership in action and contributing to its communication offers a perspective few students experience during college.
Melissa sees the internship as an opportunity that continues to expand with initiative and effort. The experience blends networking, skill development, leadership exposure, and portfolio-building in a way that creates long-term value.
Leaping into Growth
Future applicants to the President’s Intern Program can expect strong encouragement from past participants. Andrew describes it as “a great opportunity to meet a lot of important people in our community and our College.” Melissa advises students not to overthink the opportunity and to “take the leap” if they are motivated and ready to grow.
Dr. Mince captures the essence of the program: “Helping students understand and appreciate the complexities of running a college through these experiential learning internships and providing students with opportunities to gain skills that they can use in their future careers is a perfect example of how students learn, experience, and earn at Carroll Community College.”
Indeed, the President’s Intern Program is more than a part-time position. It is a leadership laboratory where students learn how strategy is developed, how communication drives culture, and how their voice can contribute to the story of Carroll.
For students willing to step forward, the experience becomes what they make of it—and the possibilities are wide open.