London Calling! Students Get Career-Shaping Global Experience Through Dickinson's New London Internship Program
Olivia Renault '25 at the London wealth-management firm where she served an impactful internship.
London interns enjoy alumni connections, global vibe
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
video by Joe O'Neill
As a student-athlete who plays in both the fall and spring semesters, B.J. McNeil ’26 needed to be strategic about his study-abroad and internship options. He was thrilled to experience a global culture and complete a world-expanding internship—all in one extraordinary summer.
"At the same time, I get to complete an internship requirement for my major and be able to experience living as an employed young adult in a major world city," the varsity basketball player says. "I'm also learning how to get comfortable adapting to environments unlike my own."
McNeil is among the first Dickinson students to dive into international work culture this summer through the college’s new Dickinson in London Summer Internship program. Bringing the benefits of study abroad together with the career-shaping advantages of high-skill internships, the program empowers students to gain a deeper understanding of global cultures and work environments as they acquire skills, experiences and contacts that set them apart from the crowd.
How it works
The London internship program is a joint venture of Dickinson’s Office of Experiential Learning & Fellowships and Center for Global Study & Engagement (CGSE), in partnership with Academic Programs International (API). Applying through CGSE, participants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and must articulate a demonstrated academic interest in an international internship.
Mackenzie Hughes '25 enjoyed working as part of an international team.
"This experience is setting me up well for my future life." —B.J. McNeil '26
Students accepted into the program work with Dickinson and API staff to find and apply for targeted internships, prepare the visa application and identify preferences for the provided housing. Once in London, the students take part in workshops that orient them to English workplace culture, excursions and professional development sessions. API staff are on hand throughout their eight-week stay to provide health, safety and program-related support.
Marketing empowerment and delving into data
As a marketing intern at the advocacy organization Women on Boards UK, Olivia Hobbs ’25 (economics, German) analyzed data from the organization’s podcasts and articles, wrote web content and created graphics and newsletters. The best part? Joining women leaders in their efforts to advance diversity and gender equity.
“This tight-knit network of supportive women has shown me that going into a male-dominated field is not necessarily intimidating,” says Hobbs, who plans a career in tax law. “It’s an amazing opportunity to represent women, share my unique experiences and better empower and support future women.”
Mackenzie Hughes ’25 (computer science, Chinese) followed up on her Norwich study-abroad experience—and last summer’s language course in Taiwan—with an internship at a leading organization in global-asset data. In a typical week, she collected, parsed and charted data and wrote analyses while deepening her coding abilities and mastering tools for data management and manipulation. When not working, she enjoyed live theatre and exploring British culture along with colleagues from all over the world.
“We’ve been to the pub, watched the Euros together and we complain about the weather," she says. "Everyone is very friendly, and it is such a welcoming environment.”
Communication, community and pastries
B.J. McNeil '26 fine-tuned his communication skills through his high-level London internship.
McNeil is an international business & management major and Reynolds Leadership Scholar as well as a basketball player. During his London internship, he researched properties in the London area for an investment firm. He also booked viewings, managed deals and followed up with agents—work that required not only keen analysis but superb communication and interpersonal skills. McNeil spent lunch breaks exploring restaurants and stores in the bustling O2 entertainment district, not far from his office. He relished the chance to join fellow fans in restaurants and pubs to cheer on England’s team, particularly during the electrifying final match of the European Championship.
“Every pub was packed and filled with chanting and music,” he says. “Even though England lost, the fanfare and atmosphere was incredible.”
Olivia Renault ’25 (quantitative economics) was happy to stay on in the U.K. this summer after studying abroad at the University of East Anglia. As an intern at a wealth management firm, Renault wrote reports and retrieved and visualized data. Off-hours, she learned to make savory puff-pastry tarts and enjoyed the movies, theatre, day trips and exploring Soho and surrounding areas. She also made promising contacts through networking events—a boon, as she hopes to work them for a job in London after graduation.
“There are so many more Dickinsonians living in London than I expected,” Renault says.
Alumni influence
From left: Chris Whitman, Olivia Hobbs, Olivia Renault, B.J. McNeil and Faith McGauley Whitman '90. The Whitmans recently hosted the interns at their home.
Those connections are not hard to come by. Dickinson's London alumni network boasts about 180 active members who gather for social and networking events throughout the year. Some may opt to give back as internship hosts, welcoming students into their places of business. These alumni have access to specialized training beforehand to help students make the most of their internships.
"I'm excited to host our first [Dickinson] intern," said Tom Kalaris '76, P'11, a Dickinson trustee and founder of Saranac Partners, where Renault completed her internship, adding that he sees the London internship program as a natural fit for his alma mater. "We're outcomes-oriented, and I'm delighted that the London internship program reinforces the global nature of the Dickinson education."
"This internship has been a great way to not only gain great practical analysis experience but also to understand which areas of finance are most appealing to me. It's also helped me realize how much I would like to work in London after graduation." —Olivia Renault '25
Dickinsonians and friends of the college who supported Dickinson’s internship grants this year were also key to the students’ successes. These competitive grants help defray internship living costs—an essential assist for students pursuing high-level unpaid or low-pay internships as well as those interning in expensive cities, like London. Also essential: Dickinsonians, parents, staff and friends who offered encouragement and guidance from both sides of the pond and beyond.
That includes Chris and Faith McGauley Whitman ’90, who hosted a dinner for the inaugural interns during their time in London and invited them to keep in touch. McNeil, who expects to take them up on that offer, says that connections like these, paired with the skills and insights he’s gained this summer, can make all the difference.
“This experience is setting me up well for my future life," he says.
Of course, as Renault adds, you’ve gotta play to win. “I would highly recommend this program or any opportunity to get an internship abroad,” she says. “It can be scary at first, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
The Dickinson in London Summer Internship program will open on Oct.1, with a Nov. 8 deadline for all CGSE application materials. Students interested in learning more about the program may contact intern@dickinson.edu and attend CGSE’s Summer & Study Abroad Fair on Oct. 30. Alumni in London interested in hosting a Dickinson internship should email serettij@dickinson.edu and intern@dickinson.edu for more information.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 4, 2024