Internships & Careers

Take charge of your potential and your path to career success.

When it comes to finding a career that’s right for you, preparation and a strong foundation are key. It's important to take full advantage of all of the resources and opportunities that are available to you in determining your career path.

LR faculty and university staff are dedicated to your success. Whether you attend classes in Hickory, Asheville or Columbia or you attend LR online, the same resources and services are available to you through the Career and Professional Development Center.

Career & Professional Development Center

The Alex Lee Career and Professional Development Center, located in Schaeffer Hall, can help you discover your true personality, explore academic majors and career options, assess your strengths and weaknesses, find internships and part-time work and prepare for life after graduation.

The center has partnerships with local companies and organizations to provide opportunities for you to work alongside professionals in the field.

As an LR student and graduate, you receive free career counseling for life. So if you are looking for employment, want to update your resume, negotiate a raise or have your eye on a promotion, the center is always available as a resource to prepare you for what is next.

View Career & Professional Development Center

Internships

Education at LR extends beyond the classroom. Through internships, you will connect what you learn in the classroom with real-life applications. You will gain valuable experience while getting an in-depth look at your field of study.

Internships Provide Real-World Experience
Internships allow you to:
- Explore career paths and specialties
- Develop professionalism
- Understand how workplaces conduct business
- Learn from seasoned professionals
- Gain feedback from coworkers and leaders
- Network with future employers
- Boost your resume and marketability
Internship Opportunities by Major
College of Business and Economics

Contact the faculty member
- Accounting, Business, Finance, International Business, Management and Marketing - jamie.conrad@lr.edu
College of Education and Human Services
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA) - astra.czerny@lr.edu (HKY) and patty.hickham@lr.edu (AVL)
- Elementary Education Coordinator - alyssa.reinhardt@lr.edu
- Instructional Studies (non-public settings) - hank.weddington@lr.edu
- Middle Grades Education Coordinator - christopher.gordon@lr.edu
- School Counseling (MA) - neal.gray@lr.edu
- Teaching (MAT) - stephanie.woodard@lr.edu
College of Fine Arts and Communication
- Communication Studies - rebecca.alt@lr.edu
- English - devon.fisher@lr.edu
- Graphic Design - claire.pope@lr.edu
- Music - christopher.nigrelli@lr.edu
- Theatre - lindsay.weitkamp@lr.edu
- Visual Art - claire.pope@lr.edu
College of Health Sciences
- Community Health (BS) - randall.bergman@lr.edu
- Dietetic Internship Program - julie.covington@lr.edu
- Nursing - tabitha.toney@lr.edu
- Occupational Therapy (MS) - grace.turner@lr.edu
- Public Health (MPH) - kimberly.price@lr.edu
- Exercise Science (BS) - ingrid.smith@lr.edu
- Exercise Science (MS) - amanda.hilton@lr.edu
- Sports Management - joe.smith@lr.edu
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Criminal Justice - robert.stallings@lr.edu
- Foreign Language - eric.schramm@lr.edu
- History - paul.custer@lr.edu
- Political Science, Politics and Law, International Affairs - dustin.berna@lr.edu
- Psychology - kristen.mayle@lr.edu
- Religious Studies (for academic credit) - mindy.makant@lr.edu
- Religious Studies (non-academic credit) - jonathan.schweibert@lr.edu
- Sociology - katherine.gerlaugh@lr.edu
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Biochemistry – joshua.ring@lr.edu
- Biology - scott.schaefer@lr.edu
- Chemistry - joshua.ring@lr.edu
- Computer Science - sarah.caudill@lr.edu
- Engineering Physics - douglas.knight@lr.edu
- Environmental Science and Policy - john.brzorad@lr.edu
- Information Technology - sarah.caudill@lr.edu
- Mathematics - timothy.goldberg@lr.edu
- Medical Studies - scott.schaefer@lr.edu
- Natural Sciences - shaun.williams@lr.edu
Funding for Internships

Thanks to a Truist Foundation grant, Lenoir-Rhyne undergraduate students can apply for small grants to help pay for internship-related expenses.

You can apply for grants to help cover expenses like temporary housing, commuting costs and work-appropriate clothing. You also can apply for funding to offset lost income while you pursue an unpaid or under-paid internship. As these are intended to be micro-grants, most awards will be in the $100-$750 range.

Applications for the 2024-25 year are no longer being accepted. Applications will reopen in mid-August for the 2025-26 year.

During my senior year, I completed an internship with the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce. This provided me an opportunity to apply what I learned in the classroom to a career setting.

Emily Kiziah '20, Multimedia Communication

A student shakes hands with a representative from First Citizens at Success Fest 2023

First Destinations for the Class of 2023

Within six months of graduation, 97 percent of 2023 graduates are fully employed or attending graduate school, exceeding the national average by more than ten points.