Students Spend Two Days at One of the World's Great R&D Labs
Center for Career Development and Burgess Institute sponsor trip to Corning Incorporated's New York HQ
by Tony Moore
For students weighing career paths in science, a two-day trip to Corning Incorporated’s Sullivan Park research facility offered something classroom instruction rarely can—a look at where the work actually happens.
Organized by the Center for Career Development and the Burgess Institute for the Global Economy, the April visit brought a cohort of Dickinson students to Corning, N.Y., where they toured active research and innovation spaces, attended a panel discussion with Corning professionals and heard from current and past Dickinson employees at the company. One such alum was Charlie Craig ’65, a 2026 recipient of an honorary Doctor of Chemistry degree from Dickinson, who recently retired from Corning after running the Sullivan Park facility as the senior vice president for science & technology.
"I had been reading about the Burgess Institute, and I wasn’t really sure what it was all about, but now I’ve seen it in action, and it’s terrific," Craig said at the post-tour luncheon. Steve Riccio, executive director of the Burgess Institute, cites the power of the experience in letting students see exciting new careers—such as Craig's—that might lie ahead.
“Our visit to Corning provided students across several majors with an extraordinary opportunity to see how innovation, collaboration and applied research come together to shape industries around the world,” he says “Experiences like this help our students connect their liberal-arts education to meaningful career pathways while building relationships with professionals and alumni who are leading with curiosity, creativity and purpose.”
Questions Meet Answers
For Breanna Franchak ’28 (biochemistry & molecular biology), the trip answered a question she’d been carrying for a while.
“I was drawn in to the trip because I’ve never been to an R&D facility before and have always been curious about the atmosphere of corporate research,” she says. The reality did not disappoint. Her highlight came during the facility tour, when she watched glass being poured and observed how its composition affected the color of heat radiating from the material. “It was a clear sign of different physical properties.”
The panel discussion, on the other hand, left an impression beyond the technical.
Franchak said she left with a clearer sense of direction—away from biochemical fields and toward materials science and engineering. But it was the discussion of career paths from liberal-arts schools that stayed with her longest.
“I’ve sometimes wondered if I would have been better off going to a large research institution,” she says, “but hearing the panel’s experience from liberal-arts schools was very encouraging.”
Networking & Recruiting
Corning’s Sullivan Park facility is the company’s primary research hub, where work in materials science, glass, ceramics and advanced technology spans industries from telecommunications to life sciences. And the visit included a networking lunch with Dickinson alumni at a local restaurant—a capstone to a day that connected academic preparation with the realities of a global R&D environment.
One alum was Chavaun Johnson ’03 (computer science), who works on Corning’s supply chain systems & processes for the solar division. He used the event as a chance to meet some current students—and set up a recruitment system with Dickinson going forward.
“Dickinson students consistently impress me with their curiosity, adaptability and strong academic foundation,” he says, noting that they’re not only eager to tackle new challenges but also bring a collaborative spirit and a readiness to learn—qualities that align well with the culture at Corning. “Their liberal-arts background helps them approach problems from different angles, making them innovative thinkers and valuable team members. It was clear they were interested in understanding both the technical and cultural aspects of what we do—which is exactly what we look for in future recruits.”
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Published May 26, 2026