From the Nominator

William & Mary’s Office of Career Development and Professional Engagement partnered with alumni across the country to provide externship experiences for students. An externship is typically a one- or two-day shadowing experience, allowing students to engage in a range of experiences. These experiences can include attending meetings with senior leaders within the organization, attending staff meetings, observing client interactions, and discussing trends in the industry. Externships can be invaluable opportunities to network and gain exposure to a variety of career pathways within diverse industries. The career team leveraged partnerships with William & Mary’s Parent and Family Council and the newly launched “One Network” platform to recruit alumni and friends to serve as externship hosts. Due to these collaborations, the externship program for 2023-24 realized great success. For example, 498 total externship applications were submitted by students, which was the highest number of applications in the last five years and a 39% increase from the 2022-23 academic year. In addition, 122 total experiences were conducted by 97 students, which was the highest participation in the last five years. This was also a 37% increase in unique student participation between 2023 and 2024. This year’s program also saw record participation by employer sites, which included 37 host sites providing 42 experiences. This was the highest number of experiences in the last five years and a 31% increase in the number of experiences compared to the last academic year.

From the Judges

William & Mary's submission showcased their proactive approach to expanding the roster of externship host sites. The initiative has not only increased the number of participating businesses but also enriched the diversity of industries and the variety of externship experiences offered, ranging from hybrid to in-person and virtual formats. Students and alumni are connected in their desired fields and through different settings.