Department of Management launches internship partnership with the Town of Blacksburg
The new program connects students with the local community.
For students in the Pamplin College of Business, learning in Blacksburg has expanded beyond the classroom and into the community.
The Virginia Tech Department of Management is launching a semester-long internship program in partnership with the Town of Blacksburg and Downtown Blacksburg Inc. The initiative gives management majors the chance to gain professional experience while supporting the local community.
Launching in spring 2026, the Town of Blacksburg Management Internship Program will allow undergraduate students to apply classroom learning to real-world projects that serve the community. Students will work about 10 hours per week and earn academic credit through MGT 3754: Management Internship.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Town of Blacksburg and DBI on this program,” said Charity Boyette, assistant professor of practice in the Department of Management and internship coordinator. “This partnership gives our students an exceptional opportunity to practice leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while contributing to meaningful initiatives in their own backyard.”
Interns will support Blacksburg business initiatives, including business operations and planning, human resources and team development, digital communications, financial analysis, and economic development. Each placement is designed to help students gain practical experience while supporting the strategic and operational goals of local organizations.
“Downtown is the heart of our community, and we’re excited to have students engaged in helping it thrive,” said Angie Marcolini, business solutions manager for the Town of Blacksburg. “This program strengthens the connection between campus and community while giving students meaningful, hands-on experience supporting local businesses.”
Beyond experiential learning, the collaboration highlights how business education intersects with public service. Business students bring analytical thinking, organizational management, and innovation to civic and government settings. Their understanding of leadership, strategy, and stakeholder engagement helps bridge the gap between operational efficiency and community impact.
“Our students’ mindset and skills are tremendously beneficial to government organizations such as the Town of Blacksburg,” said Devi Gnyawali, department head and R. B. Pamplin Professor of Management in the Department of Management. “Our students are trained to think strategically and innovatively, solve complex problems, lead teams, and facilitate data-driven decision making—skills that are just as essential in public administration as they are in private enterprise. This partnership also shows how future business leaders can also be civic leaders.”
The Town of Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech’s main campus, has long valued partnerships that foster student engagement, experiential learning, and civic responsibility. The new internship initiative continues that tradition by encouraging students to apply their business education toward community enrichment and sustainable development.
Written by Ron Poff
