Inaugural class of Boston College’s new residential college will begin internships in September.
WALTHAM, Mass., May 12, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Commonwealth Financial Network®, a national RIA dedicated to providing financial advisors with holistic, integrated business solutions, has initiated a new partnership with Messina College, a two-year, all-residential degree program of Boston College that welcomed its first-ever class of students to the school’s Brookline Campus last summer. This inaugural cohort of students will begin their internship opportunities in September, and Commonwealth will welcome 10 students to its Waltham headquarters.
All Messina students are first-generation college students. The Commonwealth-Messina internship program is designed to provide them with rich 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.
“As a longtime B.C. supporter, I couldn’t be more excited about the mission of Messina College,” said Wayne Bloom, CEO of Commonwealth. “This partnership isn’t just about opening doors—it’s about welcoming students who have outstanding talents to offer in our organization and the financial services industry.” Bloom and his wife Veronica are co-chairs of Boston College’s Parents Leadership Council, and three of the couple’s four children are Boston College students or graduates.
Recently, Commonwealth conducted interviews with Messina students to place them across program opportunities on various teams: Investment Management & Research, Practice Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Data & Analytics, and People/HR.
“As a first-generation college student myself, I can attest that through partnerships like these, we can remove obstacles and create allies,” said Father Erick Berrelleza, S.J., Founding Dean of Messina College. “Commonwealth’s commitment ensures our students gain not only skills but also the confidence to thrive in careers they may have thought out of reach.”
Students will work 10–12 hours per week during the fall semester, gaining valuable professional experience while continuing their studies. Their internships will also include multiple elements adapted from Commonwealth’s long-standing summer internship program, which has been running for more than 25 years. These aspects involve job shadowing, building a personal brand, attending partner lunches and company events, and developing presentation skills.