Great Things

Parker Dewey connects talented students and recent grads with more than 200 companies. 

Students at Florida A&M University (FAMU) are in high demand among companies seeking to hire college students and recent graduates, and are offering them opportunities to complete short-term, paid, and professional projects called micro-internships as a way to recruit them. In the last year alone, FAMU students have received nearly $130,000 (and counting) in remote work for employers ranging from small nonprofits to large corporations, government entities, and startups.

These unique career placement opportunities are the direct result of a collaboration between the FAMU Career and Professional Development Center and Parker Dewey, a mission-oriented consulting firm based in Chicago.

“It’s been such an honor to collaborate with FAMU on this important initiative,” said Jeffrey Moss, founder/CEO of Parker Dewey. “As we’ve heard from employers, FAMU students have been amazing to work with, and as a result many are actively looking at ways to expand their recruiting efforts at FAMU.”

Moss applauds FAMU students for completing more micro-internships than any other college/university this year. Not only did this success lead the Frederick A DeLuca Foundation to expand its generous support to all HBCUs but has created a scalable and sustainable model that improves college-to-career outcomes for students and employers nationwide.

"The micro-internship program champions student success and reinforces our dedication to fostering social mobility,” said Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D. “By expanding access to valuable professional opportunities, we aim to positively impact the economic trajectory of our students and their families.”

FAMU ranks No. 21 among all national universities on the U.S. World News & Report Social Mobility Index.

Micro-internships vs. Traditional Internships

Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships are available year-round, tend to be remote, typically range from 10 to 40 hours of work, and are deadline-driven as opposed to set during specific hours. Thus, micro-internships are ideal for the modern college student with hectic schedules.

Derek Cogdell, a business administration graduate student from Jacksonville, Florida recently watched Super Bowl LVIII commercial ads as a part of his micro-internship project. He wants to become a marketing specialist within the sports industry.

“When the notice came about for this micro-internship, I knew it would give me the chance to dive into further research not only in the sports industry, but the Super Bowl to be exact,” said Cogdell. “To have an opportunity of this magnitude is one I truly appreciate.”

Common types of student projects include:

• Data analytics
• Content creation/writing
• Research
• Graphic/marketing collateral design
• Social media design
• Short-form video creation
• Campus ambassador/student engagement
• Website development/management

The majors of students participating in the program have ranged extensively to include business, engineering, architecture, liberal and performing arts, journalism, and pre-health. The most popular majors among FAMU students across all class years, including first-year students, are economics, communications/journalism, biology, and engineering.

“FAMU students are career-savvy and proactively seeking relevant and quality experiential learning experiences to put on their resume,” said William Kornegay, M.Ed., experiential learning coordinator, FAMU Career and Professional Development Center. “Our students have been able to leverage micro-internships into traditional internships and even full-time roles.”

For more information or to participate in the micro-internship program at Florida A&M University, contact the FAMU Career and Professional Development Center at (850) 599-3700.