By Madeline Marriott ’24
In January, hundreds of Lafayette students embarked on bite-sized career journeys through Gateway Career Center’s externship program.
Externships allow participating students to shadow successful alumni, parents, and friends of Lafayette while they work over the course of two to five days. From coast to coast, participating students shadowed hosts in states including New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and more. In 2025, 227 students and 133 hosts took part in this nationwide program.
The goal is to immerse students in potential career fields so they can begin to determine if the path is right for them.
“These externships are illustrative of true experiential learning,” says Alexis Leon, assistant director of experiential learning at Gateway Career Center and program manager. “Students can apply classroom coursework in a real-world setting and see the immediate success (or other outcome) of that applied learning. Like any opportunity, they will get out of the program what they put in, so it’s also good preparation for the collaborative, professional work world we want for every student.”
Leon has seen the benefits of the program for both students and their hosts.
“At the very minimum, we hope students gain a true understanding of what goes on within their matched organization and industry,” she says. “They get to see the day-to-day activities, understand the challenges they could face, and ultimately either rule out that field as a career path or decide to dig in deeper.”
Leon continues: “For hosts, they have expressed how wonderful it is to be looped back into current campus life, and to discuss that shared experience with fellow Pards. They also enjoy getting to explain their work, whether it’s a ‘back to basics’ approach or an in-depth exploration, both of which can be beneficial, particularly when you’ve been in a role for a long time and get to see it through fresh eyes.”
From the Lehigh Valley to the skyscrapers of Manhattan, from an observatory in Hawaii to consulting firms of Washington, D.C., students got a glimpse of potential postgraduate paths under the guidance of their hosts. Here are a few of their experiences.
NBCUniversal
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Host: Lucy Kade ’22, post production/automation specialist
Externs: Isabella Gaglione ’25, Joshua Chait ’25, and David Antwi ’26
NBCUniversal is a multinational media company responsible for some of the most popular television shows and films in the world. From cable news networks to DreamWorks Animation to channels like USA and E!, the studio’s subsidiaries run the gamut of content.
Experience
Focusing on the post production process, externs got to see the chain of events that allows media to be approved for release for Peacock advertisements. Students also discussed the growing presence of artificial intelligence in the film industry and conducted a resume review with Kade.
Student POV
“My host was incredible in giving us a well-rounded experience where we got to see many different jobs within the post production space,” Gaglione says. “With film and media studies, there are so many different career paths to explore, and it is a bit daunting. As I get closer to graduation, I feel a more urgent need to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Getting to have this experience opened my eyes to some of the career journeys that exist within the entertainment industry.”
Host POV
“I chose to be an extern host because I completed an externship the winter of my junior year and had a great experience,” Kade says. “I also interned at the career center from my sophomore to my junior year, and when I received the email blast to alumni, I felt like I wanted to participate. I wanted to make sure the students walked away not only with a glimpse into life at NBC, but some tangible action steps to aid them on their career journey.”
FMI
Allentown, Pa.
Host: Kevin Rhodes ’82, president
Externs: Aidan Smith ’25, Zach Dickman ’27, and Maxwell Wagner ’27
FMI is a full-service manufacturer of personal care, fragrance, and beauty products based in Allentown. They focus on quick, hassle-free, and personalized service throughout the whole process, from product development to distribution.
Experience
Students spent time learning about each area of the company’s primary functions—sales, product development, compounding, bottle filling, quality control, and logistics—to get an idea of the manufacturing process from beginning to end.
Student POV
“While I am still unsure of what I’m looking for after graduation, my externship helped show me what I’m looking for in a future career,” Dickman says. “I learned what kinds of things are important to me in a work environment and experienced a very healthy, cohesive working culture. I also made lots of connections with the people I met at the company, as well as my peers in the program.”
Host POV
“While I did not have an externship when I was at Lafayette, I was lucky enough to have two jobs during the summers that exposed me to manufacturing, which was a turning point in deciding what to do when I graduated,” Rhodes says. “The externship provides us a way to have three students get a glimpse into a manufacturing company to see if it interests them. It’s also my way of ‘paying it forward’ since I have benefited from people who have spent time with me teaching me a bit about their companies. Zach, Aidan, and Max were very engaged and asked lots of questions throughout the three days. It seemed like they enjoyed and benefited from the time they spent, which makes it very rewarding.”
Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas
Allentown, Pa.
Host: Hon. Douglas Reichley ’83, judge
Externs: Liliana Roginski ’25, Briana Thomas ’25, and Kristina Torkelson ’25
The Lehigh Valley Court of Common Pleas hears major civil and criminal cases for one of Pennsylvania’s 60 judicial districts. It is responsible for appeals from minor courts as well as cases involving children and families.
Experience
Externs witnessed protection from abuse hearings, which occur when those who allege they have been victims of abuse file for an emergency protection order, as well as child custody hearings, jury selection, and sentencing proceedings for criminal trials.
Student POV
“An externship is something that’s very short but impactful,” Roginski says. “It really does give you a quick sense of what a field entails and what you might be able to expect going forward. My favorite part was getting to talk to Judge Reichley because he has experience in the House of Representatives, so we got to hear about his time through law school, serving at the federal level, and then going back to a judicial position.”
Host POV
“When I was leaving Lafayette and going right to law school, I didn’t have any family members or anyone like that to try to gain experience with,” Reichley says. “I’ve found that sometimes there’s a gap between the reality of practice and what you’re learning in school. I want students to be able to have a bit more practical application with what they’re able to see when they’re in court with us.”
Deanna Evans Projects
Tribeca, NYC
Host: Deanna Evans ’13, owner
Externs: Ethan Riddle ’25 and Katherine Acquilano ’26
Deanna Evans Projects is a contemporary art gallery based in Tribeca, NYC, that presents the work of underrepresented artists with a focus on fiber, sculpture, and painting.
Experience
Students hung up and curated new works in Evans’ viewing room, visited art galleries around Tribeca to see different types of displayed work, and had the chance to ask questions about the art gallery business.
Student POV
“Being in the presence of someone in the art business and having the chance to ask good questions is a really cool experience,” Riddle says. “I was interested in seeing the variety of art present in the art world. It was an interesting part of my winter break.”
Host POV
“I gained a lot from my externship experiences at Lafayette, and I wanted to be able to provide that to other students,” Evans says. “Also, I wanted to show them a career that’s a bit outside of the mainstream. I love the opportunity to learn about each student and their ambitions, and try to help them in their process if I can.”
Nurture Nature Center
Easton, Pa.
Host: Rachel Hogan Carr, executive director
Externs: Eszter Hiscott ’26 and Josephine Lefranc ’27
The Nurture Nature Center (NNC) is an Easton-based community center dedicated to engaging the public in learning about environmental risks. Its programming includes science and art exhibitions, films, workshops, urban gardening, children’s crafts, community dialogue, and more.
Experience
Students met the staff of the NNC, watched a presentation by the directors with a national audience, and saw a student field trip to the community center.
Student POV
“Participating in this experience helped to solidify my interest in an environmental-focused career and the possibility of going to graduate school for environmental policy or public administration with an environmental focus,” Hiscott says. “A lot of the people involved in the center went to graduate school for environmental policy, so it was interesting to gain insights from them on their experiences as well.”
Host POV
“Over the years, we have made great friends with some of the externs, and some have become interns and one even an employee!” Carr says. “We hope they got a round sense of the various aspects of our work and saw a few different positions/fields of work to consider for their own futures.”
Law Offices of Mark L. Goldstone
Washington, D.C.
Host: Mark Goldstone ’81, civil rights lawyer
Externs: Francesca Stix ’25, Elizabeth Borah ’26, and Brenda Gomez ’26
The Law Offices of Mark L. Goldstone handles First Amendment trials and appeals, technology deal negotiations, and employment matters.
Experience
Students observed several days’ worth of criminal court hearings and worked on a petition for certiorari. A cert petition requests that the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a decision by a lower court for a nonviolent climate change civil disobedience case.
Student POV
“This externship gave me more insight into litigation strategy and courtroom proceedings,” Stix says. “Also, I now have hands-on experience with legal writing since I got to write a certiorari petition—a skill you learn in law school. While challenging, the research-and-writing process was incredibly rewarding. This experience reaffirmed my decision to attend law school and pursue a career in civil rights litigation.”
Host POV
“I enjoy hosting externs because I learn from the students as much as they learn from me. We are in the middle of a constitutional crisis in America, and I encourage Lafayette students to pursue law careers in order to preserve our rights and the rule of law,” Goldstone says. “It connects me to Lafayette, and it connects them to a lawyer in the trenches of important battles over freedom of speech in the most powerful city in the world. I’m in the middle of these existential Washington-centered debates such as climate change, and that opportunity to file papers on climate change in the Supreme Court doesn’t happen every day of the week for college students.”
Doylestown Health
Doylestown, Pa.
Host: Dr. Heidi Commins ’94, urgent care physician
Externs: Jillian Baraniak ’27 and Jason Reut ’27
Doylestown Health is an expansive health care network with a century-long history, including a hospital, cancer treatment, urgent care, and rehabilitation services.
Experience
Externs shadowed Commins in her role as an urgent care physician, including patient care interactions, and learned about the day-to-day operations of the clinic.
Student POV
“The externship helped me focus in on the health professions because it is an amazing field to work in that can be rewarding when helping those in need,” Reut says. “I would definitely recommend the externship program seeing as it puts you in contact with amazing people who really care about you and want to see you succeed.”
Host POV
“I value giving back to the students and helping them find their path,” Commins says. “Having some experiences outside the classroom is valuable in making decisions for the future and deciding on a career field. I hope that they not only got a glimpse of one field of medicine but also learned about other career options in health care, as well as various pathways of education and training.”
Merck
Rahway, N.J.
Host: Jenna Triano ’20, process engineer
Externs: Iain Colquhoun ’25 and Madison Horvath ’26
Merck is a global health care company that produces medicine, vaccines, and animal health products. It aims to improve the quality of life for people all around the world through research and development of disease treatments.
Experience
Students had the opportunity to see Merck’s different departments and view the drug development life cycle. Additionally, they toured several pilot plant sites across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and were paired with other Lafayette alumni in the company with the goal of expanding their network and visualizing different career paths.
Student POV
“This experience reinforced my desire to work in pharmaceuticals after college and gave me the means to achieve that goal,” Colquhoun says. “The externship program has consistently been one of the best aspects of my professional experiences at Lafayette. I would highly recommend it.”
Host POV
“I participated in an externship when I was a student at Lafayette. I loved the experience of networking with other Lafayette alums/hosts, and it was such an important experience for me to determine my career and industry interests after graduation,” Triano says. “Merck offers a wealth of opportunities for college students and early career professionals, so it was a great place to host a couple of externs for a few days. It was a fantastic experience—the students were eager to participate, learn, and network, and came prepared with great questions. I was happy to help them navigate this early career experience.”