Innovative Externships: The WNY SEE Story

“It’s a program focused on place—not walls,” explains University at Buffalo Provost A. Scott Weber.

He’s talking about UB’s newest externship program, which welcomes UB students, students from other local colleges and universities, and any student who graduated from high school in the region—regardless of where they go to college.

Carly Dell’Oso is one of those students. She went to high school in a suburb of Buffalo, then left to study finance at Penn State University. When she heard about the new summer externship program at UB, she applied, was accepted, and placed at ACV Auctions—a local startup “unicorn” with a valuation of $3 billion. In addition to getting priceless real-world experience, she gained a newfound appreciation for the job prospects in her hometown. “It is inspiring to see that the future of Buffalo’s business world is very bright and promising.”

Dell’Oso was one of nearly 50 sophomores who built connections—and confidence—through the Western New York Sophomore Externship Experience @ UB, known as the SEE program. In 2024, the first year of the SEE program, students from colleges nationwide (including George Washington University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Skidmore College) participated in externships through UB. In fact, 40% of the cohort were non-UB students.

“We’re constantly looking for new ways to expand beyond our campus, engage more students and continue to provide leadership in our community,” noted Provost Weber. “The SEE program reflects UB’s position as a national innovator in workforce development and a champion of economic growth throughout the region.”

The program is supported through a generous gift from the Prentice Family Foundation—a long-time regional leader with a history of investing in economic development initiatives that create transformative experiences. “We are incredibly fortunate to partner with the Prentice Family Foundation and expand our dynamic, ongoing relationship with them,” noted Weber. “Together, we are supporting the next generation of leaders, introducing students to meaningful opportunities throughout our vibrant community, and enhancing the workforce throughout Western New York.”

By nearly every account, the inaugural year of the SEE program was an incredible success. Despite launching just months before the summer start date, the program attracted hundreds of applicants.

Externs who participated in the program also gave it straight A’s; 100% of students felt more prepared for future professional experiences, 98% expanded their professional networks, and 95% agreed that their college experience became more valuable.

Host companies were equally complimentary, with 96% of them agreeing that the program added value to their organizations, thanks in part to externs who completed valuable projects that contributed to organizational success. In addition, the vast majority of host companies expressed interest in participating in the program again.

Given the program’s success, UB plans to increase the student cohort size by nearly 50% for the second year of the program, in 2025.

UB staff were intentional in creating the SEE for students during the summer before their junior year.

“The transition from the sophomore to junior year is a pivotal time for students in determining the next steps in their career trajectories,” noted Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life at UB.

“While many internship programs exist for students after their junior year, UB is committed to engaging students earlier in their college experience,” Hamluk added. Indeed, students who participated in the program appreciated the ability to get a headstart in their careers, while employers valued the opportunity to gain exposure for their companies, and start attracting top talent even earlier.

Students accepted into the eight-week program received course credit and a microcredential from UB, while getting invaluable experience working in professional settings and building a network of professional contacts and mentors in Western New York. They also received $4,000, attracting students who might otherwise be unable to participate.

Another standout feature—especially compared to typical university programs—was how the SEE program leveraged so many of the invaluable resources that already exist throughout Western New York. For example, UB partnered with local nonprofit TechBuffalo to teach SEE participants about the growing tech industry in Buffalo, and further immerse students in the Western New York business community.

Through the SEE program, externs followed a course syllabus that included an interactive orientation, weekly reflection discussions, networking events, resume workshops and a culminating Externship Showcase, all designed to equip the next generation with the social and technical skills they need for the world of work.

“We created a curriculum that focused on critical thinking, growth mindset, creativity and leadership—skills that will support students in any industry, throughout their long careers,” noted Hadar Borden, director of UB’s Startup and Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad (CoLab), which administers SEE and other student-focused programs. “The program provides wrap-around support that students may not have ready access to, and that can truly help them gain confidence and flourish.”

The program also included a carefully curated selection of innovation skills aligned with Blackstone LaunchPad’s program, which equips students with durable skills and provides paid career exposure opportunities like internships for students to put their skills to practice, compete in the job market and realize their potential. These innovation pillars were drawn from a framework Borden (along with peers at the University of Central Florida and the University of Montana) developed for the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. “When we created the SEE program, it was the perfect opportunity to embed these skills, which are crucial for student growth and workforce development.”

The organizations that hosted externs include the region’s largest healthcare system, one of the 15 largest banks in the U.S., 150-year-old cultural institutions, sustainability focused startups and more—reflecting the incredible variety of professional opportunities and industries that exist in Western New York.

When asked about the results of the program, nearly all employers had a positive review, highlighting the externs’ positive energy and ability to tackle projects that otherwise would not have been completed.

In addition, companies recognized that working with students earlier could help them recruit new talent. “[The externship program] gave us access to an excellent candidate who might not otherwise have known about our company,” noted Maggie Donnelly, research engineer at ACV Auctions.

Many of the host organizations had some level of interaction with UB before this summer. But the SEE program offered a tangible and meaningful way to deepen UB’s relationships with many organizations, including the Buffalo Zoo, the Chautauqua Institution, M&T Bank, NOCO and Kaleida Health.

The summer was also filled with opportunities for externs to get a fresh perspective on Western New York. “As the name WNY SEE suggests, we want these students to experience what it is like to live, work, and play here and truly see what their futures could look like in the region after they graduate,” said Provost Weber. Activities for externs included a behind-the-scenes tour at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo Harbor cruise, workshop at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and two-day Community Design Challenge hack-a-thon. Explore Buffalo hosted a fun-filled scavenger hunt for externs, and opened doors to many of the cultural spaces that the students toured.

One of the most memorable events was a meeting with Rick Smith, the third-generation president of Rigidized Metals and owner of Silo City, a sprawling cultural space that symbolizes Buffalo’s ongoing evolution. Smith captured students’ imaginations as he shared stories about his career trajectory outside of Buffalo—and why he chose to return and build (both literally and figuratively) in the City of Good Neighbors.

“I sometimes forget that there are so many different activities and different experiences that the city has to offer,” said extern Margaret Bace. “It makes me want to spend more time exploring around downtown Buffalo.”

As the SEE program heads into its second year, UB CoLab plans to continue promoting externships to sophomore students at other universities, and partnering with local colleges and universities to reach students from underrepresented populations (the first-year cohort was more than 45 percent people of color). The CoLab team is also actively recruiting employer hosts who want to benefit from the energy and talent of externs who are already connected to Western New York. Potential student applicants, employer hosts and partners can learn more and apply on the SEE program page.