Weekend Update

Kaitlyn McWha

Fordham has a lot to offer, but some of its most interesting affiliations are outside of campus. This weekend, I went to an event organized through the Concourse Group, a micro finance organization located just outside of Fordham's campus. I currently work for the Concourse Group as a micro finance consultant to small Bronx business owners. This Sunday, I went to a business called Scenyc in the Bronx with my colleagues in order to collaborate with entrepreneurs and to work on a business plan for one of our current clients. Scenyc is an awesome and innovative business incubator, and I'm so excited to continue working there and in Fordham's business incubator!

Scenyc's awesome logo

Linda Mule

This past week it has been quite busy at Fordham! One of the exciting points for the end of semester blues however was a part of this week- class selection! I look at this time of year as a way to plan out all of the exciting classes that I can take here at Fordham. Classes are added all the time- an English class pertaining directly to my major was added just this week! Another really awesome end of semester event coming up is Spring Weekend! Spring Weekend is the weekend before finals and is a jam packed (literally, there's a DJ and a band) with fun events from Friday night until Sunday night! It will not be long until we find out who will be our musical guests this year, but we know it will be amazing!

Martyr's Lawn during Spring Weekend 2014

Gianna Rosamilia

This weekend, I had an incredibly busy weekend. Friday and Saturday night, Expressions Dance Alliance (the dance club I am in) had their spring semester showcase. The show went about an hour and a half, and featured The Satin Dolls, Fordham's incredible women's a cappella group. Overall, it was a huge success and all of our hard work over the semester really paid off! On Sunday, my Global Outreach team had its retreat. Global Outreach is a really popular program at Fordham for cultural immersion and service, and my team's project is traveling to Bethel, Alaska. It was a really great bonding opportunity for my service project community, and I cannot wait to go to Alaska with them!

Expressions just before the show Saturday night

Nicole Pieri

On Saturday, my friends and I went to Ram's Got Talent, a Fordham talent show sponsored by the Commuter Students Association that was held as part of Commuter Week. The talents varied from beatboxing to singing, and everyone who competed was extremely talented. It was really fun to watch and was a great way to spend a Saturday evening!

Some of our talented Rams

Who Interns in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

This semester I am fortunate enough to be interning at Viacom, a mass media company that owns television and film networks like MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Spike, and Comedy Central, among others. I am specifically working with the Nickelodeon account at their Times Square office, which to me is the opportunity of a lifetime.

I landed this internship with the help from my senior peer advisor, Kyla, who was assigned to me when I was a freshman (every freshman at Fordham is assigned an advising group and a peer advisor depending on your major for the first semester of college). After forming a relationship with her through the advising program and RHS, we’ve kept in touch since she graduated in 2013. I was aware that after leaving Fordham she moved on to a position at Viacom, and after contacting her about internship opportunities, I quickly found myself filling out applications and going on interviews. A few weeks later I found out I got the position, and that Kyla would be one of my managers!

Since starting my internship with Nickelodeon I have been working on their consumer marketing team. No day at the office is the same since I get to work on such a variety of projects. In recent weeks I have been revamping the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fan Club, as well as developing content for Nick Jr.’s new “Beyond the Backpack” program, which is geared toward helping parents prepare their child for kindergarten. In my opinion, the office environment is a perfect combination of hard work and fun. While it’s important to meet deadlines and be productive, you’re working in an office with giant Lego Spongebob statues and Nicktoons jingles playing from computers at every other desk. In addition, it’s quite common that you’ll see Fordham pennons hanging in cubicles, since a good amount of Viacom employees are Fordham alumni!

It’s only been a month since I became a Viacom intern, but I couldn’t be happier with the job. Opportunities like these make me proud to be a Ram, because without the help of Fordham’s rich alumni network and fantastic career preparation-geared curriculum, I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as I am today.

Back to the Swing of Things

Being home for three weeks for winter break was very nice and relaxing! However, I did miss my friends a lot and it was great to reconnect with everyone when we came back. Living on campus is great because there are so many activities and events that are offered for students. The first week back from break, my dorm building offered ice-skating in the school parking lot. They set out cookies and had skates for everyone to use. It was fun to take a break from schoolwork and catch up with everyone. My friends and I had so much fun skating and talking to people who we haven’t seen in a while.

Ice Skating right on campus!

Along with fun events and activities, my dorm also offers helpful classes like how to write a resume. This was really helpful because it showed us what to include, what to not, and also key components that should stand out more than others. I was especially interested in this because being a second semester sophomore, it is important to begin the internship process for either the summer or the next academic year.

Blog by: Claire McGonigle

NYHS Internship in the City

At Fordham, students love taking advantage of all the opportunities New York City has to offer. In addition to all of the fun activities the city has to offer, there are also tons of internships for students to participate in throughout the year. Most Fordham students are able to balance classes with an internship and usually begin internships their junior year. So many of my friends have had really interesting and fun internships, like at the United Nations, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Dylan’s Candy Bar, just to name a few!

NYHS is in a beautiful building on the Upper West Side 

This past semester I had the chance to intern at the New York Historical Society.  The New York Historical Society is located on the Upper West Side along Central Park.  I spent my internship working in the development office working on membership, funding, and events.  I really enjoyed my time at my internship, learning and gaining experience.  Some perks of working at NYHS, in addition to gaining “real world” experience, was its great location, and getting to take advantage of working in a museum, like seeing new exhibits and getting discounts at different museums throughout the city. 

Here is a view in Central Park where I used to take my lunch break

As the semester comes to an end, I’m now in the process of looking for another internship for next semester. The Office of Career Services provides several resources that help students find exciting and engaging internships to enhance their time at Fordham!
Blog by: Anna Romagnoli

Rams in the Real World!

One of the biggest themes in this blog is the fact that Fordham’s proximity to Manhattan and all of its resources lets Fordham students go on all sorts of adventures. Whether they’re exploring museums or galleries, seeing shows, people-watching in parks or enjoying the tons of delicious food the city has to offer, Rams love New York!  Fordham students don’t only use the city for leisure, however—Manhattan also provides students with opportunities to gain real-world experience through volunteering, internships, and part-time jobs. You know—all those “real people” things that help you learn important skills and evaluate different career options (and make for great resume material)!

Fordham has a great Office of Career Services, with approachable and knowledgeable staff who want to help Fordham students find the best opportunities! They offer tons of different workshops, including resume critiques and mock interviews, and also have a database of literally thousands of internships that are available to Fordham students.  Check out their website here: Fordham Career Services.

I’m in the Pre-Health program at Fordham, so this school year I looked into different research and clinical immersion opportunities for undergraduates near Fordham, hoping to get some experience in a hospital environment.  One of my professors suggested that I apply for a program at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Upper East Side, as a Sinai Research Associate. As a research associate, I volunteer in the Emergency Department twice a week, helping to recruit patients to enroll in clinical studies going on at the hospital.  In this way, not only am I learning about the nature of clinical research, but I also get to interact with patients, as well as shadow doctors in the ER!  The program has provided me with invaluable experience that I hope to apply in my future career!

The hospital is right next to Central Park!

News Experience at Fordham

I am a member of many different clubs and organizations on campus, but Fordham Nightly News is definitely one of my favorites. Fordham Nightly News is Fordham University’s very own student run and student produced television program. The show airs at 5:30pm Monday through Friday. The studio is located in the basement of the library. It is fully equipped with cameras switchboards, teleprompters, soundboards and more!

This is the Fordham Nightly News desk!

There are so many different ways to get involved with Fordham Nightly News. There are opportunities to become involved in both the technical side of the news, and the on air aspect. Students who wish to learn the technical side attend a variety of tech workshops in the beginning of the year. They are then assigned to an experienced member of Fordham Nightly News and act as an apprentice. Once they are comfortable, they are assigned a night where they are responsible for certain aspects of the show. Students who want to be on air must first take a screen test to see how well they can read off a teleprompter. They then attend a variety of writing workshops and eventually earn a spot on the air.

This is the technical control room.

I am on air for Fordham nightly news on Monday nights. I act as an anchor, reporter, interviewer, or provide the editorial. These positions rotate on a weekly basis, giving students the ability to try a little bit of everything. A typical show lasts a half hour and consists of 10 anchor stories, 5 of which are breaking international news and 5 local or Fordham related stories. In addition to these short stories there are two student produced packages, two interviews, and finally the show is wrapped up with an editorial. Fordham Nightly News is more than just a club; it provides students with hands on experience that makes them more competitive when they apply for internships and jobs.

Career Links At Your Service

One of Fordham’s greatest draws is that it is located right in the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities: New York City. You could read past blog posts to learn more about all of the cultural opportunities that accompany our location (i.e. Broadway, Central Park, Fifth Ave, the Met); however, this would not even begin to describe the wellspring of its benefits. As a senior, the one that draws primary attention for me is employment prospects. 

About 68% of Fordham students graduate with secured employment. In a time of economic downturn, that is a fairly impressive feat. Though it is difficult to nail down the total number of undergrads participating in internships, the Gabelli School of Business estimates that 91% of its students have had at least one internship by the time they graduate. Though this number of course translates differently for the College of Liberal Arts, you’ll find that a fairly high percentage of majors in other disciplines also find work in different environments, whether they be research, education, computer science, etc. In a place like New York City, there is a fit for anyone who is willing to look hard enough for it.

Amenities such as Career Services and Career Links greatly assist students in the internship and job hunt. While Career Services puts students through their interview and resume-building paces, Career Links provides them with employment postings. You can narrow down the scope according to location, nature of work, semester, and even your past experience. No matter your background, it is nearly impossible not to find a workplace that will, well, work for you.

A view of Career Services webpage

Blog By: Sara Power

Fashion for Philanthropy

One of the reasons I love Fordham is its active campus life.  As of this year, there are over 100 clubs on campus which provides for a bustling environment here at Rose Hill.  I feel like this is best captured every year at our club fair where executive board members of each club promote their group.  I always find the fair amusing, as it seems to turn into a competition to see which club can have the most members sign up.  Club members surround Eddie’s Parade and play music, hand out candy, and even run around to bring attention to their table!  It is always an exciting day because it kicks off the school year on a positive note where students can reconnect through organization about which they passionate. 

Treats from our #PSL sale!

One club that I am particularly passionate about is Fashion for Philanthropy, also known on commonly on campus is FFP.  FFP is an outlet for Fordham’s fashion enthusiasts as it incorporates all aspects of the industry from business, design, modeling, and yes, even charity!  The club essentially puts on different events, both big and small, throughout the year to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation.  For example, this year, we have had a Mac and Cheese delivery bake sale and a Pumpkin Spice Latté station to help kick start the fall season.  I particularly enjoyed these events because it was a great way for club members to bond amidst the forthcoming chillier fall days that lie ahead.  Both were a big hit, especially the Pumpkin Spice Latté station where we even served some fall sweets and treats!  Great for the Halloween spirit!

I would say the club’s largest event is definitely our spring fashion show (we finally decided on a theme, which I am very excited about!).  This time of year is when we begin to primarily focus on the show as there are so many layers to its success.  First, we have to assemble and present a budget to OSLCD (Office of Student Leadership and Community Development) to put on the show with the necessary decorations, props, etc.  Then comes the process of gathering sponsors for the event, which have included in previous years Lord and Taylor, Pura Vida, and Jeffrey Campbell.  Amidst all of this, we also need to meet with student designers to showcase their pieces as well as train models for the show.  Ulitmately, all proceeds from the show, raised by raffles, prizes, tickets and donations go towards the Make A Wish Foundation – it’s a win win all around, and quite a fun production, so stay tuned!

Sponsor's from last year's show.

Pamphlets from last year's show.

As PR Coordinator of FFP, I am in charge of our club’s Wordpress blog account and social media forums.  I really enjoy working with our club members to discuss fashion as it is a creative outlet for us all.  That is what I love so much about this club – it represents a sector that is not typically promoted, and harnesses it in such a way to promote fashion as an art form and as an industry of its own.  There is so much that goes on in the fashion industry, from PR and Marketing, to designing and manufacturing, even law and ethics (which is what I am primarily interested in!), and we try our hardest to highlight all these different aspects for Fordham students.  We work very closely with Career Services to filter internship and job opportunities so that club members have access to such prospects and potential networking outlets.  Our members are definitely very busy – we even have a section on our blog called “Intern Diaries.” 

 

Model from last year's show, showcasing a piece from a Fordham student designer!

Fashion For Philanthropy is a club that has a strong mission and I look forward to see its growth during the rest of my time here at Fordham.