W&M Wins Gold for Externship Program

William & Mary’s Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement (OCDPE) won a Gold 2024 Circle of Excellence Award for its externship program, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced on June 26.

OCDPE partners with alumni across the country to provide externship experiences for students. Externships are typically one- or two-day shadowing experiences of working professionals, allowing students an opportunity to attend meetings with senior leaders within the organization, participate in staff meetings, observe client interactions, discuss trends in the industry and more. Externships can be invaluable opportunities for students to network and gain exposure to a variety of career pathways.

The career team leverages partnerships with W&M’s Parent & Family Council and the newly launched One Network platform to recruit alumni and friends to serve as externship hosts.

“At William & Mary, we don’t just educate students; we empower them to thrive professionally and tackle the challenges of an ever-evolving world,” says W&M Chief Career Officer Kathleen Powell. “Externships are a key part of our Vision 2026 commitment to provide funding for unpaid and underfunded internships and applied learning experiences for every undergraduate. Through the support of our alumni partners, we are preparing our students for not only their first jobs but their career journeys.”