Luncheon speaker touts internships

PORTALES — Internships are key in the ongoing process of strengthening ties between Eastern New Mexico University and the Portales community, according to faculty of the college of business.

At the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Thursday afternoon in the Sandia Room at the ENMU Campus Union Building, College of Business Dean Janet Buzzard expounded on the positive effects internships have yielded for students.

"We really do encourage internships with our students. We feel like it gives them a competitive edge. When they graduate with their bachelors, they've got some experience to go with it. Sometimes it works into a match where the businesses hire them full-time, and that's happened in the past. We're always encouraging that," she said.

A recent internship with the college of business was with Sure Green Products, which took on multiple students, according to Buzzard.

"They came to us, and they were kind of wanting a team of interns, and that was kind of a unique take. They wanted help in the IS (information systems) area with web development, but then also in marketing," she said.

The college also has a relationship with the Four Seasons Resort in Santa Fe, but according to Assistant Professor of Marketing Pattarapong Burusnukul, local businesses remain the primary focus of the internship program.

"Our interest is to go with the local companies and try to develop more internship programs going for students within the community, so that way, we can really be part of the community," he said.

Buzzard clarified that, though she was addressing the college of business' efforts, internships are available campus-wide.

"I'm the dean of the college of business, so that's mainly what I talk about, but we have students all over campus that would be interested, and it might work in some of your other areas," she said.

She encouraged the chamber members present to reach out if they believed the college could tailor any of their programs to address discrepancies they may have noticed.

"You guys are valuable voices to us as far as curriculum needs and certifications, or things that are out there where you're finding a gap in the work force you can't fill," she said.

The relationship between ENMU and the greater Roosevelt County community is a vital resource to draw from, according to RCCC Executive Director Karl Terry.

"We want to make sure that we're using the synergy in this community with the university as much as possible, and we have a very valuable one with the College of Business," he said.