Every April, National Internship Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the incredible contributions interns make across industries—and here at University Business Partnerships & Services (UBPS), our interns are no exception. This month, we’re celebrating the impact of two standout students who’ve brought creativity, insight and energy to the UBPS team: Ava Richards and Lily Feldman.
Richards, a senior pursuing dual degrees in Media Studies and Data Science, joined UBPS in June 2024 and has spent the past 10 months shaping strategy, design and storytelling. Feldman, a sophomore double majoring in Media Studies and Political Science, came on board in August 2024 and has already made her mark collaborating with campus stakeholders and supporting key partnerships. Both bring unique perspectives to the UBPS mission of building meaningful collaborations between UC Berkeley and external partners—helping to ensure every project reflects the values and vibrancy of the campus community.
Read on as we sit down for a Q&A with Richards and Feldman to hear more about their experiences, insights and what it’s really like to intern at UBPS.
Can you describe your role at UBPS and the key responsibilities you handle?
Richards: As the Marketing and Communications Assistant, my job is to support the overall marketing for our department and partnership news and projects. I am responsible for developing and executing multimedia strategies for our partners and composing content and graphics for social media, web, print and our newsletters.
Feldman: I am the Partner Activations Assistant, and I manage partner activation sheets and asset folders. I am also responsible for tracking partner campus activations, developing and maintaining new partner timelines, and communicating with campus stakeholders and partners to collect metrics and verify proof of performance.
What motivated you to join UBPS as a student worker, and how does it align with your academic and career goals?
Feldman: Working for UC Berkeley is always something I wanted to pursue because having first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of a major university has always been interesting to me. I was drawn to UBPS specifically because of its work with major brands.
As a Media Studies and Political Science student, I am interested in the intersection of communication, public engagement and strategy. This role allows me to develop skills in project coordination, stakeholder communication and marketing. From a career perspective, gaining experience in partner activation and campaign execution will help me transition into media, marketing or public relations after graduation.
Could you share a specific project you've worked on and the impact it had on the campus/UC Berkeley community?
Richards: One of my favorite projects I’ve worked on was designing posters for a Peet’s Coffee campaign this past summer. The campaign gives students a discount on their drinks if they bring their own [reusable] cups to our on-campus Peet’s locations. I had a lot of fun designing this poster because I had to incorporate both UC Berkeley-specific design elements and the typical branding of Peet’s into a cohesive poster. I love seeing my design on social media on official Berkeley accounts and printed around campus. I hope that this project has made students and staff aware of the amazing perks that our partnerships can give them.
In what ways do you collaborate with other departments, stakeholders, students or external partners in your position?
Feldman: Collaboration is a key part of my role. I regularly communicate with campus stakeholders to ensure successful partner activations, coordinate with student leaders to manage projects and events, and work closely with partners to maintain clear timelines and ensure contracts are being carried out. For example, when organizing an event activation, I liaise between student organizations, UBPS leadership and the corporate partner to ensure a seamless execution.
How do you feel internships prepare students for full-time jobs and how has UBPS supported you in developing your professional skills and competencies?
Richards: Internships prepare students for full-time jobs because they help students to experience and explore fields they’re interested in. These jobs give them a window into what their professional life could look like and help them build their skills, resumes or portfolios. In job interviews I’ve had, recruiters are always very interested in my internship experience, especially at UBPS. Compared to clubs or other campus opportunities, I’ve found my internship really helpful in developing my professional skills because I am working daily with other professionals.
At UBPS, I am not treated as just a student; I am a valuable member of the team, and I am involved in the same meetings and conversations as everyone else. After working in this setting, I feel really confident about the transition from student to professional.
What are some of the most valuable skills you’ve gained during your internship?
Feldman: Some of the most valuable skills I’ve gained during my internship include project management, effective communication, attention to detail and stakeholder engagement. I’ve also improved my ability to work in a fast-paced industry while maintaining organization and professionalism.
Working for UBPS has been an incredibly rewarding experience as it has given me the opportunity to apply what I learn in my classes to real-world situations, develop professional skills and work alongside a supportive team.
How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your work at UBPS, and what advice would you give to other students considering an internship?
Richards: Because this is a student job, my work hours are flexible, so I can design my schedule around my classes and midterms. I have found this flexibility helpful when planning my schedule and balancing my responsibilities, since I can always shift my work hours around when I need time to study or add hours to my schedule when my workload is lighter.
My advice for students interested in internships like this is to visualize your workloads on a calendar to help you figure out how much time you can spare for a job during the semester. I use my calendar daily to plan out my work and school tasks to make sure I can finish everything on time or ask for extensions when applicable.
Looking ahead, what industry would you like to end up in and how do you envision your experience at UBPS influencing your specific future career path?
Feldman: In the future, I am hoping to pursue a career in media and marketing. My experience and future experience with UBPS have and will help me build professional relationships, organizational skills, and a deeper understanding of brand partnerships. These skills will be invaluable as I continue in the industry, whether in media strategy, corporate marketing, or public relations.
Richards: After graduation, I am hoping to work within the communications space in some capacity. I am really interested in entertainment, technology, the arts, and politics, and I hope to find a role within any of these fields that combines my love for marketing and data analytics. My experience at UBPS has been really beneficial in shaping my career goals, as it has given me so much direct experience with the kind of work I want to do, such as design, strategy, and insights. All of the work I have completed here has been so beneficial to my resume and portfolio.