Petrels Outside the Nest

In close proximity to the city of Atlanta, Oglethorpe University (OU) students have access to countless opportunities beyond the classroom. Atlanta is home to a multitude of Fortune 500 companies, including Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Co., UPS, Home Depot, and many more. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2024 Job Outlook Report, employers rank having internship experience as one of the top attributes when hiring. 

Oglethorpe University Career and Development assistant Madison Pierson said, “It is important for students to get experience outside of campus to see whether it is truly a field they want to go into.” 

Corporate Experience 

Left to right: Emma Peterson, Kendall Underwood, Chloe Huggins, Isabella Fonseca '27 | Photo courtesy of Isabella Fonseca

Many Oglethorpe University students take advantage of the opportunity to participate in an internship during their four years of study. Two students in particular, juniors Isabella Fonseca '27 and Jill Ursem '27, highlight how hands-on experience has shaped their professional goals.

Working in the heart of the city, Fonseca secured her internship in August of 2024 at Collaborative Real Estate and Tech Square ATL. She is currently in her second year at the company. Fonseca works as the science and communications intern, conducting interviews, writing feature articles, updating the social media platforms for the real estate company's various properties, curating newsletters, and assisting with event preparation around Tech Square. Fonseca hopes to pursue a career in journalism or communications, planning to build on the skills gained during her internship to secure a job post-graduation. 

“My internship has taught me so much not only about communications and journalism, but also independence and tenacity,” said Fonseca.

Jill Ursem | Photo courtesy of Jill Ursem

In the summer of 2025, Ursem interned with Delta Air Lines as a global communications intern. Ursem secured her position with the help of a connection with an Oglethorpe alum. Ursem said, “I learned how important it is to network, and taking the time to connect with people across departments has opened doors and taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned in a classroom.”

Ursem's core responsibilities included:

-       Supporting large-scale initiatives that enhanced communication across internal and external platforms. 

-       Helping to align content with Delta's core values and narratives, contributing to strategy guides for all communication platforms. 

-       Collaborating with different teams to improve how information is shared across the company. 

-       Supporting content strategy development.

-       Helping with managing roadmaps for platforms and creating content for @LifeatDelta on Instagram.

Both Ursem and Fonseca know what it looks like to participate in corporate America and learned a vast amount of professional development skills, but corporate internships are not the only way OU students stay involved.

Experience in Creative Fields 

Many Oglethorpe students tap into their creative side by working within the arts. The Georgia Council for the Arts website states, “Arts education elevates academic achievement, deepens student engagement, and develops leadership skills.” For students like Brandon Holman '27 and Penelope Bertrand '26, the arts play a role in both their majors and their outside work experience. Meanwhile, business administration student Isadora Simoes '28 finds her creative outlet through dance.

Isadora Simoes '28 (third from the left on back row) and students | Photo courtesy of Isadora Simoes

Simoes works as a dance instructor at the British Academy of Performing Arts, teaching young

children while also assisting with office work. Coming from a dance background, Simoes views her job as a “creative outlet,” which allows her to escape from her schoolwork. During her initial transition into college, Simoes did not participate in any creative outlets and said, "I noticed myself being down and unmotivated,” which was until she found that teaching dance allowed her to stay connected to her creativity. 

Theater major Holman works as a freelance model in the Atlanta area. In October 2024, he walked in Atlanta Fashion Week and coming up later this year he is scheduled to walk in Atlanta’s International Fashion Week. Modeling has been part of Holman’s life since he was around ten, and he is looking to make a career out of his passion. As the president of OU Models and a heavily involved member of OU theater, Holman hopes to continue building his connections and skills during his time at Oglethorpe to set himself up for a successful modeling career. 

Balancing school and modeling can be tough, but Holman reinforces the importance of staying involved outside of campus: “Getting outside experience allows you to get a more saturated understanding of what you are going into,” he said.

Left to right: Penelope Bertrand '26, Angie Macon | Photo courtesy of Penelope Bertrand

Aspiring art curator Bertrand works as a public art preparator at the Decatur Arts Alliance (DAA), as well as the student exhibition coordinator at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. As an art history and museum studies major, creativity runs through Bertrand’s veins. “The most rewarding work I have done in my communities has been working in the arts,” she said. Bertrand brings the DAA's mission to life by assisting in the installation of exhibitions by various local artists. Bertrand noted that her work and studies at OU prepared her for her time at the DAA. 

Bertrand highlights the true importance that the arts have on the student experience. “We build connections, support our local communities, and uplift one another,” she said.

From corporate offices to the runway to art and dance studios, Oglethorpe students are finding unique ways to apply what they learn in class to the real world. Fonseca and Ursem focus their efforts on gaining professional experience in the corporate world, while Holman builds modeling connections for his future, and Simoes fuels her inner creativity, allowing her to stay focused in the classroom. Finally, Bertrand sets herself up for a successful career in the art world by filling her resume with a variety of experience. Across the disciplines, many Oglethorpe University students make a genuine effort to get involved off campus and recognize the significant importance it holds for their futures.