By Claire Regan
Thirteen Wagner College students got a jump start on their career plans through a grant-funded summer initiative hosted by the Nicolais School of Business and the Office of Career Planning and Development.
Focused on business students from underrepresented groups, the four-week Career Activator program from June 3 to 28 was power-packed with workshops on leadership skills, micro-internships with Staten Island businesses and nonprofits, field trips, and mentoring and networking opportunities.
"My days were nothing short of amazing,” beamed Alexandru Soroiu ’27, a double major in business administration and computer science whose micro-internship was at AusomeTech Industries.
Founded by Darlene Bowman, AusomeTech offers technology training to young adults on the autism spectrum and arranges paid internship opportunities for them at top tech firms. Alex assisted with an art exhibit, led video game activities and attended classes.
“I loved working with Darlene,” Alex said, adding that the experience taught him much more than tech skills. “I learned how to be patient and empathetic, how to help people understand a task and let them do things their way.”
“I was skeptical when I first learned about Career Activator – I wanted to go home for the summer after finishing my first year,” confided Alex, who hails from Dambovita, Romania. “But the program taught me how to become the best version of myself – and to conquer my shyness.”
At a closing celebration on June 26 at Max’s Es-Ca restaurant on Staten Island, Activators shared their accomplishments with community partners and alumni mentors.
“The program exceeded my expectations,” said Uchenna Ibe ’26, a defensive back on the Seahawks football team who micro-interned at Martech Group computing and communication company. “There were so many people to meet and to learn from.”
“I thought I was just a football player,” confided fellow Seahawk Logan Barnes ’25, who interned at the Staten Island Zoo. But the Career Activator program “made me more than an athlete.”
“I didn’t think I could learn so much in a few weeks,” said Angelina Olah ‘26, a track and field team member who completed her internship hours at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
“This program has given me beneficial skills” to succeed after Wagner, added Xavier Baker ’25, an infielder on the Seahawks baseball team who interned at the Staten Island FerryHawks, the minor-league professional baseball team headquartered next to the St. George ferry terminal.
In addition to 15 to 20 internship hours a week, the Activator itinerary included workshops in resume writing and interview skills, and networking field trips to Charles Schwab, UBS, the FerryHawks, the New York City Football Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Career Activator offers each student a chance to “get out of their bubble and learn that opportunities may not necessarily be within their major,” explained Rosa Santana, Director of Career Planning and Development. “That’s the benefit of a liberal arts education — there is flexibility in career choices.”
Each Activator assesses their values, interests and skills so they can seek the right job, not just any job, Santana added.
“The Career Activator program is an opportunity for students to learn with and from community partners in a condensed intensive time frame,” said Dr. Tarshia Stanley, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The program supports both the students and the industry mentors in a way that elevates the experience. It builds not only short-term work experiences, but relationships that benefit the students and the community partners.”
In addition to Soroiu, Olah, Barnes, Ibe and Baker, the summer 2024 cohort included Ahmed Lotfi ’26, Emma Lofstedt ’25, Ilayda Jasmine Kocak ’25, Kayla Renwick ’26, Maria-Ioana Andrei ’26, Nicole Korsunskiy ’25, Saranda Capani ’26 and Sebastian Dobson ’26.
Alumni “champions” who mentored the summer cohort were Paul DiPietro ’96 M’05, Jessica Vincello ’21, Stephanie Jiannetto-Alesi ’96, Cailin Kelly ’08, Pilar Pereira M’06, Tamer Mahomoud M’16, Evan Odeseye ’14, Vinnie Potestivo ’99, Gregg Gavioli ’98, Alyssa Ahern ’13, Denzel Knight ’18 M’20, Jeremiah Brown ’12 and Tim Capstraw ’82.
Community partners included AusomeTech Industries, IlluminArt Productions, Mark’s Bake Shoppe, Nonprofit Staten Island, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the Staten Island Zoo, Tekie Geek, Martech, the Staten Island FerryHawks and Salmon Real Estate.
Career Activator is seed funded by a KPMG U.S. Foundation Reaching New Heights grant program and National Grid’s Project C-Workforce Development grant. Participants receive a stipend and room, board and meals are included.
The next cohort will gather in January 2025. Applicants must be a declared major or minor in business administration or economics; enrolled in their sophomore or junior academic year, and identify as part of an underrepresented community (female, ethnic minority, non-binary, transgender or first-generation college student). For more information, visit https://wagner.edu/business-admin/career-activator/.
