Four Students of Italian Selected for 2019-20 Inserra Sponsored Internships
Posted in: Inserra, Inserra Chair News and Announcements, Internships, Italian News and Events, World Languages and Cultures
The Inserra Chair, in collaboration with the Italian Program (MLL Dept.), is very pleased to announce that four students of Italian have been selected for the 2019-20 internships, offered annually thanks to the support of the Inserra Paid Internship Program at Montclair State University. This year’s program covers a period extending from May 2019 to March 2020, under which students receive $2,500 each to be used towards tuition reduction.
In place since Summer 2017, the program has for the first time moved from a two- to a four-internship formula, embracing two brand new partnerships (IACE in New York for education and Safilo in Secaucus for Made in Italy), adding to the established ones with ITA in NYC and Choose New Jersey in NJ. This round’s recipients include two new LBC (Language, Business and Culture) majors, one of which attended the summer intensive program before matriculating; a return adult student rethinking her career; and a student interested in pursuing teaching. “Every year we have been able to assign the internships to talented and motivated students: for 2019-20 the program was expanded to include a larger number of recipients and as such more diversity. For me, it continues to be a pleasure to serve as supervisor of the internship program in many different areas from selecting partners to developing contracts, identifying students, overseeing their actual experience off campus, and engaging in storytelling about the program,” Dr. Teresa Fiore (Professor of Italian and Inserra Chair in Italian American Studies) remarked.
Alexis Ventre, an Italian Language, Business and Culture major, was selected for the Italian business internship at the Italian Trade Agency, the commercial branch of the Italian Consulate in New York City. Alexis will be involved in project management in international trade, marketing and consulting. She will be providing information and services to Italian companies approaching the U. S. market, and assisting in event organization, media relations, the creation of studies and the planning of business trips for a delegation traveling to Italy while gaining knowledge of the Made in Italy presence in the Tri-State area.
“I am thrilled to have been chosen for this incredible internship at ITA. I am beyond excited to learn more about an Italian business environment and incorporate all the essentials skills that I have learned throughout my college career. I am especially looking forward to gaining the experiences of interning for an office that oversees Italian business regionally and nationally, and learning how to benefit from these experiences. I am certain that this internship will allow me to further pursue my passion and guide me in the direction of working for an Italian business in the NYC metropolitan area,” Alexis states. Read post about 2019 ITA internship
Cristina Latino, a double major in Italian Language, Business and Culture and Fashion was selected as the recipient of a $2,500 paid internship at Choose New Jersey based in Newark. There she will be able to apply her skills to Italian business in the specific context of New Jersey which hosts one of the largest concentrations of Italian business headquarters in the U.S. The internship also includes a trip to Italy in Spring as part of the NJ delegation’s participation in Select USA.
“I am so grateful to have been selected as the candidate for the prestigious internship with Choose New Jersey that will take place in the Winter of 2020. As an undergraduate student pursuing a degree within the international business field, I know that this opportunity will strengthen my writing and oral skills in the Italian language as I undertake hands-on responsibilities. I intend to benefit professionally and personally as this culturally enriching program will teach me to how to interact and perform efficiently and effectively within the business world,” Cristina remarks.
Teresa LeDonne, an Italian major with a background in the corporate world, is the recipient of a brand new internship supported by a $2,500 scholarship provided via the Inserra Paid Internship Program. Teresa has spent four weeks working as a full-time intern in project management at Safilo USA, Inc. The New Jersey Corporation, a subsidiary of SAFILO – Società Azionaria Fabbrica ltaliana Lavorazione Occhiali, is a company specializing in eyewear, and has its main headquarters in Padova, Italy. Read post about 2019 Safilo internship.
“The Inserra Internship Program is a wonderful opportunity for Montclair students. I come to this experience with a professional background in it, and my objective is to hone my language and cultural skills in this prestigious business environment. The internship’s tasks in the areas of HR and Product Creation will be an ideal occasion to use Italian in written and oral forms, and to understand the cultural implications of bringing Made in Italy products to the U.S. market” Teresa remarks.
Francesca Oliveri, an Italian major and International Studies minor, is the first recipient of this brand new paid internship with a focus on teaching Italian and cultural programming abroad, which was launched in Summer 2019. The internship is linked to the IACE Summer Program in Narni (Umbria, Italy), a program for Middle and High School students that combines Italian language and culture classes with on-site visits as well as participation in the Narnia Music Dance Theater Festival. Read post about 2019 IACE internship.
“For my future career, I plan on becoming an Italian professor. After graduating from Montclair State University, I would study to obtain my Master’s degree and eventually my Doctorate. Thanks to the Inserra Chair, I have been granted the opportunity to intern for IACE’s summer program in Narni, Italy. This immersive internship will allow me to experience the classroom from the teacher’s perspective and give me the chance to enhance my Italian. I am infinitely grateful to the Inserra Chair and IACE for granting me participation in this rare opportunity, and for helping me advance my Italian studies,” Francesca states.
The Inserra paid internship program is supervised by Dr. Teresa Fiore (Professor of Italian and Inserra Chair in Italian American Studies). Students are selected by a committee made up of other faculty members (Dr. Enza Antenos, Assistant Professor of Italian, and Dr. Marisa Trubiano, Associate Professor of Italian), and a representative for each company/institution partnering up with MSU for this program.