Internships that Inspire: Real-World Learning Prepares Maxwell Students for the Future

September 3, 2025

Syracuse University

Every summer, Syracuse University students engage in internships to acquire practical experience. Internships don’t just provide you with professional skills; they also help you build your network, giving you a leg up in today’s job market. The process can be thrilling and inspiring—a potent reminder of the power of Orange.

Person in a beige suit standing in an office with a sign that reads — Gustavo Madero

Exploring Opportunities Across the Globe

Whether you intern in your hometown or in another state or country, the goal is the same—to experience the workplace in real time.

Gustavo Madero ’27— a political science major in the Maxwell School and a public relations major in the Newhouse School—interned at a legal recruiting company in Tokyo called Just Legal. “Shadowing top headhunters, I met weekly with attorneys of all levels of experience,” says Madero, who also has studied in Madrid and Shanghai. “The internship gave me a true understanding of the Japanese legal market.”

Utilizing Campus Resources

Behind every internship is a supportive network of faculty, staff and alumni. Many of them are affiliated with offices and programs on campus designed to give you a competitive edge.

Individual standing in front of a Vera Institute of Justice step-and-repeat banner, wearing a light polo shirt and smiling. — Tyree Benjamin

Tyree Benjamin ’26, a political science major in the Maxwell School, learned of an opening at the Vera Institute from Erin Smith ’15, Career Services’ internship coordinator. (Smith showed him listings for the Brooklyn-based think tank on Handshake and LinkedIn.) “At Vera, I helped research information about state and federal legislatures that could be used to persuade them to change incarceration and immigration laws,” Benjamin says. “Additionally, I ensured inmates had access to basic services and necessities.”

Madero took advantage of a Career Services Internship Funding Award to cover various experiences, including housing, while living abroad. “Syracuse University had my back,” he says.

Learning Practical Applications

Internships help bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience. They also are catalysts for self-discovery, giving you a clearer understanding of who you are and the kind of professional you want to become.

Interning at Vera reminded Benjamin that everyone is entitled to dignity and respect. “I’m proud to be part of the criminal justice solution,” says the Our Time Has Come Scholar.

Madero gained fresh insights into the cultural complexities of international law. “It’s interesting how different cultural values shape day-to-day business practices abroad,” he observes.

By Rob Enslin

Learn more about the summer internship experiences of other Syracuse University students by reading the full story, “Internships That Inspire.”