Ellis Students Reflect on Summer Internships
The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership is committed to preparing students for successful careers through hands-on learning opportunities like internships. By applying classroom knowledge in professional settings, students expand their professional network and gain the experience employers are looking for. These opportunities not only strengthen students' education but also help them stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.
This past summer, two Ellis students — Brianna Arellano and Jayce McCloud — turned classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships for course credits.
Arellano is a fourth-year undergraduate concentrating in HR management and spent the last few months interning at Century Bank. During her internship, she gained exposure to several areas of banking, including Risk Management, Internal Auditing, and Anti-Money Laundering.
“Every day was different. I got to experience each department's role and work responsibilities. My intern role involved lots of research, reviewing accounts, assisting with compliance and risk assessments, analyzing documentation, and helping ensure that the bank's operations were within compliance,” said Arellano.
Her long-term goal is to become a human resources director for a leading company, and she feels well prepared to achieve it thanks to the experiences she gained at Ellis.
“Ellis has done a great job of providing students with opportunities to connect with employers through career events, networking opportunities, and support from faculty and staff,” said Arellano. “The encouragement and guidance I received gave me the confidence to pursue my internship, and the skills I gained at Ellis helped me succeed once I was there.”
McCloud is a senior undergraduate pursuing a BBA with concentrations in marketing and finance. This summer, he interned with L'Oréal, a global beauty company. McCloud was selected as one of 185 interns from more than 33,000 applicants.
As the first UNM student to intern with L’Oréal in the past decade, McCloud worked in commercial sales with the Food & Broker team.
“I gained hands-on experience learning the role of an Account Manager, creating customer pitch decks, analyzing business opportunities, and supporting commercial initiatives,” said McCloud. “I also led an eight-week intern project focused on upcoming hair care innovations, where I developed a strategic recommendation that will help the Food & Broker team prepare for next year’s product launches. It was an amazing opportunity to contribute to meaningful work while learning from industry leaders.”
When McCloud arrived at L'Oréal's New York City office, he felt prepared and confident thanks to the experiences and opportunities he had gained at Ellis.
“Professor Dimitri’s Professional Selling course had the biggest impact on my career journey by connecting students with recruiters and teaching real-world sales skills. I truly believe that experience helped me earn such a competitive internship,” said McCloud. “I am incredibly grateful for everything Ellis has done to prepare me for my career and for the opportunity to represent UNM at L’Oréal.”
Experiences like these reflect Ellis' commitment to preparing future business leaders through experiential learning and career-focused education that equips students for success long before graduation.
