Interns gain executive experiences in the Office of the President

Virginia Tech’s Office of the President is supported by the talent of interns and graduate assistants involved in project and events planning, culinary arts, and communications.

Experiential learning opportunities like these reflect the university’s land-grant mission and the focus of Virginia Tech Advantage, a commitment to offer broad educational experiences that help students develop the skills and networks that support their success after graduation.

Writing and communications intern Elizabeth Gill interviewed an intern and two graduate assistants about how working in the Office of the President supports their educational experience. 

Olivia Deegan

Deegan is a graduate assistant who helps with the planning and execution of events at the president’s residence, The Grove. She is graduating with a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in hospitality and tourism.

What job skills have you learned from this assistantship?

I have gained managerial and leadership experience. The leadership experience that the assistantship has provided me with has allowed me to gain confidence in myself and my ability to lead others successfully. I began working at The Grove during my junior year at Virginia Tech as an event staff worker, so transitioning into the graduate assistant position was intimidating, but the experience has been so great and I've really enjoyed getting to know the student workers that I manage. 

As graduation comes closer, I am looking for full-time positions within the event management field. Reflecting on my time as the graduate assistant at The Grove, it has provided me with invaluable managerial skills, empowering me to confidently seek leadership roles within the hospitality industry.

Did working at The Grove have an influence on your academic career?

I was a psychology major for my undergraduate degree, but after my experience working at The Grove and my yearly summer work at a resort, I realized I wanted to pursue business and event management. My time at The Grove helped sway my decision to stay at Virginia Tech for a master’s degree to gain that needed experience.

I’m also finishing an independent study right now, and have been able to use what I’m doing at The Grove in my research on comparing different event spaces within the university. It’s been really interesting, as someone involved with Virginia Tech, to see the similarities and differences between these places. 

Will Racek

Racek is a student culinary intern who assists with culinary arts preparation and production at The Grove. He’s on track to graduate in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and information systems with plans to go into a master’s degree program the following year.

What do you enjoy about this position?

I think a cool aspect of this internship is that my boss, Mike Arrington [executive chef for university events], really lets me experiment in my learning. You typically don’t find that flexibility in the hospitality industry, but Mike lets me experiment freely and gives me his expertise and guidance when necessary. Also, being involved in planning, logistics, and menu creation for private events is unique and beneficial, which you can see with my side business.

You mentioned you also have a side business. Can you elaborate?

I operate a small business on the side called Backyard Barbecue Catering. It’s a drop-off catering business that mainly serves private events such as tailgates. I started this business last semester when I wanted some accounting experience outside of my classes and figured I’d utilize the cooking skills I've learned at The Grove. Between the two, I was able to form a business model and create unique recipes for my menu

Describe the most intriguing project you’ve worked on since being at your internship.

We served the president of Botswana two courses — a main and a dessert. It was a rolled pork belly that was charred and smoked with mango, puree dehydrated red pepper, and these unique accoutrements on the side. It was fun to experiment with their cuisine and send a menu to get approved by the embassy. The Secret Service even came and were watching me cook the whole time.

Dani Villarroel

Villarroel is a graduate assistant who helps with priority projects and presidential initiatives through data collection, research, analysis, and presentation. She is graduating in May 2024 with a Master of Science in Business Administration – Business Analytics (MSBA-BA), and has accepted a job with KCIC Consulting in Washington, D.C.

How has your internship helped you prepare for life after graduation?

A lot of the skills someone needs in order to be prepared for post-graduation could be learned in class, but you need experience learning to work with others and how to communicate with managers and supervisors. You also need to learn how to oversee your own work, hold yourself accountable, and reach out when you do need more guidance.

I've learned all those skills from the experience that I've had here with my internships, so I feel well equipped when it comes to navigating consulting work as a whole, other than just the technical skills that I've learned from class.

What has been your favorite part of the internship?

My favorite part is getting to work with these high-level executives at Virginia Tech and being able to learn from them that they have so much experience. Dr. Wilkes (my supervisor), for example, is a first-generation student like myself. Having dialogues with her supported my confidence to take charge of projects and navigate my career.

What advice would you give a Virginia Tech student looking for an internship on campus?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you know in a department that interests you. Even just starting a conversation with someone could begin a future internship program. Or they might have some advice on new or upcoming internship positions that aren't yet posted on Handshake.

It might be a little scary to reach out, but the worst thing someone can say is no, and they’ll likely refer you to someone who is better equipped to help you.