Bulletin Updates

Morgan Douglas ’23 embarks on the next step of her journey to CMU

Morgan Douglas '23 embarks on the next step of her journey to CMU this fall
Morgan Douglas ’23 embarks on the next step of her journey to CMU

This fall, CBE Fellow Morgan Douglas ‘23 entered Allegheny College’s signature 3 + 2 program at the Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University to pursue a M.S. in Information Security Policy & Management.  During her summer experience at the IT Lab: Summer Security Intensive, Morgan credits her major/minor combination of Economics, Math and Computer Science as the key to thriving during this challenging experience.  To learn more, we asked…

Why did you choose the CMU 3 + 2 program?

Morgan: I chose the 3+2 program with Carnegie Mellon University – specifically the Master of Science in Information Security Policy & Management – because it allowed me to combine my love for economics, computer science, and mathematics. At CMU, I will gain technical and managerial knowledge to combine with my knowledge of economics to solve cyber challenges. Attending a school that is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,  learning from leading practitioners from the internationally renowned CERT Division of CMU’s Software Engineering Institute, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am grateful to be able to learn at not one, but two prestigious institutions.

I will receive funding for my Master’s degree through the Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. In return, I will receive mentoring throughout my academic experience, complete a summer internship, and then work full-time upon completion of my degree at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in a highly technical computer science role.

How did you find  this opportunity? Did the fact that you were headed to the CMU graduate program impact your acceptance into your summer experience?

Morgan: I completed a summer fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College’s rigorous IT Lab: Summer Security Intensive. As a fellow, I completed three courses (Cloud Security, Information Security Management, and Database Management & Security), had the opportunity to have lunch and learn sessions with leaders in Information Security in both the private industry and the U.S. government, and collaborated on deterrence research with the Department of Defense’s United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) through the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). The research question that my group and I studied and answered was – Given an economically constrained environment, what role does cyber play in deterrence theory? I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with an amazing team, present our findings, and will soon publish our research through Carnegie Mellon University. I chose this summer fellowship over competing offers because I believed that it would best prepare me for graduate school, allow me to make many connections in the field of information security, and learn about different career paths within the field.

Would you recommend this type of summer experiences to other students? How should they prepare?

Morgan: The IT Lab: SSI fellowship is dedicated to rising seniors who have an interest in information security or cybersecurity. The program is rigorous, but very rewarding. Fellows get a glimpse of what it is like to be a graduate student at CMU Heinz College, what career opportunities are available, the connections needed to get to the desired position, and a collaborative research experience. The fellowship covers the costs of housing, meals, tuition, books, travel expenses, and a stipend. An interested student should check out their webpage and apply at https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/programs/itlab/. In addition, they should start preparing a clean resume, an intriguing personal essay that depicts why they have an interest in cybersecurity and cyber policy, and 2 recommendation letters. Students who successfully complete this program will be eligible for at least 50% off tuition for master’s programs at CMU’s Heinz College.

CBE Fellow Morgan Douglas is an Economics major with minors in both Math and Computer Science, scheduled to graduate in May 2023. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has earned recognition as a Distinguished Alden Scholar (High Dean’s List) and Lambda Sigma Honor Society, and is a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Economics Honor Society. Douglas has served as a Residential Advisor, Wealth Management Club Vice President and the Women in Business and Economics Club Treasurer.

Allegheny College’s signature Carnegie Mellon 3-2 Program

Allegheny College has a formal agreement with the Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University to offer a 3-2 cooperative program. Students who enroll in this accelerated master’s degree program will complete three years of study at Allegheny College and two years at Carnegie Mellon University. Upon completion of this program, the student will receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in less time than is usually required to earn both of these degrees.

The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to two internationally recognized graduate-level institutions at Carnegie Mellon University: the School of Information Systems and Management and the School of Public Policy and Management.

Heinz College offers an accelerated master’s program to qualified Allegheny College students. The program, structured as three years at Allegheny College followed by three to four semesters at the Heinz College (depending upon program), allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less time than is normally required.

CBE Summer Experiences with Kevin Lee ’23

Kevin Lee '23
Kevin Lee at his internship at Barclay’s Corporate & Investment Bank on Wall Street

This summer Kevin Lee went to Wall Street as an intern at Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, working as an Internal Audit Summer Analyst. Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of strategic advisory, financing and risk management solutions to help them innovate and grow.

How did the summer go? We asked Kevin…

How did you find your internship?

I’ve heard of Barclays and always wanted to work there, as it is one of the bigger banks on Wall Street. I discovered this and other internship opportunities via job notifications on LinkedIn, Google, and Glassdoor. I set the criteria for the type of internship that I was seeking so that new postings would be sent to my email. I believe that Google and LinkedIn notifications worked the best for me. I then applied to and prepared for every internship and interview opportunity that I received. I finally landed my summer 2022 internship at Barclays after applying to over 90 internships, and preparing for a bunch of 1st round interviews.

Furthermore, as I went about my summer, I learned that building a network is very important. On
top of the method, I mentioned above, I will emphasize sending cold emails to people that work in positions/ firms you will want to work for and ask for a phone call. Then, nurture the relationships with the people you enjoyed talking too. I emphasize this because having  network connections is equally as important as applying.

What were you doing during this experience?

I got tasked with various projects that assessed the business environment within Barclays. One of
my favorite projects entailed auditing the U.S. Barclays branches regarding their controls for
financial crimes. I learned there are many different controls that mitigate this risk. Some controls
are related to assessing data for key reporting indicators, training, and key committees. I got the
opportunity to own the audit for the key governing committees that oversee the U.S. branches. I
researched, tested the data, interviewed key stakeholders, and wrote working papers to give a rating
to the efficacy of financial crime mitigation through the key committees. I also got to write two
global compliance update reports, which got published to the global Barclays Internal Audit
financial crimes, anti-money laundering, and compliance team. Outside of my work, Barclays
also provided volunteer events, so I also had the opportunity to clear out invasive species from a
park in New Jersey.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

I would recommend this internship due to the fact there was never a dull moment. I was learning
new things every day and I was surrounded by incredibly bright, sociable, driven, and intelligent
people. The culture at Barclays is one of their greatest competitive advantages and I strongly
stand by this statement. I would look into applying to Barclays if you are looking for a career in
internal audit. Furthermore, there are a lot of transferable skills this department can offer. It will enhance your analytical, objectivity, business writing, and client facing skills. Internal audit can also lead into jobs such as transaction advisory services, which can then lead to other opportunities such as investment banking jobs.

Kevin Lee is a senior, majoring in Business and minoring in Computer Science, planning to graduate in 2023. This fall, he will serve as a teacher’s assistant/ tutor for financial accounting and will serve on the Wealth Management Club’s board as an investment fund associate and career coach.  In his spare time, Kevin participates in the Volleyball Club, and Club Basketball.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The  business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.

CBE Summer Experiences with Binderiya Batsaikhan ’25

Binderiya Batsaikhan
Binderiya Batsaikhan at her internship at Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC

This past summer, Binderiya Batsaikhan(Bindy) was a marketing intern at Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC in Mongolia, a company that operates luxury brands from Europe into the Mongolian market overseeing four major high end stores in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. 

How did the summer go? We asked Bindy…

What are your duties and what are you learning about?

Bindy: As a marketing intern for Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC, I needed to work for two multi-brand stores, and two mono-brands. The multi-brand stores required a lot of my marketing skills gained from inside the classroom, but equally challenged my creative skills as well.  I managed all of the social media content and posts for four stores, creating social media content such as instagram reels, stories, and posts.  In addition, I would create a mood board for each store, come up with photoshoots or content ideas to discuss with the creative director. Once approved, I would work with our photographer to come up with different set designs that incorporated the appropriate visual merchandising elements. One important lesson that I learned about working with luxury brands is that I have to deliver a certain standard of promotion that meets the expectations of luxury consumers.

Besides managing social media accounts, I assisted with the creation of marketing plans for new luxury brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Zadig & Voltaire, and Saphir médaille d’or openings in the Mongolian market. My duties ranged from training the sales assistants about the brands and their recent collection, to organizing different events such as the Zadig & Voltaire pop-up event and creating marketing ideas for the stores. One of my last duties was to plan, market, and operate a clearance sale event for the company, combining all the stores and holding the sales event in an art gallery. From this experience, I gained a lot of understanding and experience about planning a successful strategic event. From the invitation list to the structure of the event to the financial budgeting, it was truly a comprehensive list of lessons learned from my experience.

How did you discover your internship?

Bindy:  I created a list of companies I wanted to work for during my summer trip back home in Mongolia and found different ways to contact these companies. I found my internship with Sartoria through LinkedIn after connecting with the Creative Director of the company. I sent a direct message with my resume and received an interview a week later. 

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

BindyI would recommend that everyone should explore and experience their passions and interests, for me, it was always marketing, particularly luxury fashion marketing. I think my internship taught me a lot about who I want to be, what I can bring to the table, and also what I need to work on in order to elevate my skills. I also want to say that students should just reach out to people and companies, don’t be afraid to get rejected or get no answers back. You never know what opportunities you might have missed if you did not try.

Binderiya is a double major in Economics and International Studies with a French minor planning to graduate in 2025. She serves as a RA, participates in the Law and Policy program, and is a first place winner for her company, Blue Ciel – Cashmere Imports in the 2022 annual Zingale Big Idea Competition.

At the Allegheny College Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics, students may pursue a major in economics or business with each course of study applying the rigor of economic theory, with the benefit of interdisciplinary coursework that allows students to create a personalized concentration. An extensive portfolio of co-curricular activities complements our curriculum, enhancing student learning and real-world experience and soft skill development to ensure that each student succeeds in pursuing internships, job, and graduate school opportunities at Allegheny College, and throughout their professional careers. The distinctive Allegheny model requires students to declare a minor in a non-business and non-social science discipline, for example philosophy, religious studies, a foreign language, music, English, fine arts, biology, World Health, mathematics, and computer science among other fields.

CBE Summer Experiences with Megan Dennis ’23

Megan Dennis hard at work certificate stacking over the summer
Megan Dennis hard at work certificate stacking over the summer

Megan Dennis ’23 was all set to study away this summer when plans went awry at the last minute, so what did our indefatigable CBE Fellow do next?  Certificate stacking! “I focused on personal development, which included learning to code using R through Data Camp and completing certificates in data visualization and international marketing,” Dennis reported.

Megan, tell us more…

How did you find these opportunities?

Megan: “I found Data Camp by talking with my mentor; she had used the site and highly recommended it to me. After using Data Camp this summer, I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to start learning about coding. The site does a great job offering a variety of courses and certificates and presents the information in an easily digestive way and allows practice alongside it.”

What did you learn?

Megan:  “It really helped me strengthen my data analysis skills and broaden my perspective on how data can be leveraged to make better business decisions. I will be incorporating my new skills and knowledge into my senior research project.”

Would you recommend this strategy to another student?

Megan: “After using DataCamp this summer, I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to start learning about coding. The site does a great job offering a variety of courses and certificates and presents the information in an easily digestive way and allows you to practice alongside it. My advice to others looking to gain or sharpen their technical skills is to just get started and try to find time to code every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes! ”

Megan Dennis is an International Studies and Business major, schedule to graduate in 2024.  She is a CBE Fellow and belongs to Lambda Sigma, the International Club and the volleyball club team.  She serves as the President of the Chinese American Friendship Society (CAFS).  This summer, she earned certificates in Data Visualization, Intro to International Marketing, International B2B Marketing, International Market Entry and Execution, International Entertainment and Sports Marketing, and Social and Behavioral Research.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. International Studies is an interdivisional, liberal arts program that endeavors to develop and relate those analytical skills most appropriate for the examination of increasingly complex interactions among nations and regions of the world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The  business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.

CBE Summer Experiences with Reece Smith ’24

Reece Smith ’24 was a summer Finance Intern for Aptus Wealth Planning, a small financial planning firm in downtown Pittsburgh.
Reece Smith ’24 at his internship at Aptus Wealth Planning, a small financial planning firm in downtown Pittsburgh.

Reece Smith ’24 was a summer Finance Intern for Aptus Wealth Planning, a small financial planning firm in downtown Pittsburgh.

How is the summer going?  We asked Reece…

How did you find your internship?

Reece: “I secured this internship due to the incredible network our Allegheny College teachers and alumni have with the financial services industry.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Reece: “I had a wide range of duties, such as spearheading our inorganic growth initiative, aiding our CFP in creating financial plans for clients, creating an interactive spreadsheet for use in client meetings, handling outreach to prospective clients, uploading a large portion of our client files onto our servers, and training my replacement for the fall semester. This has been a wonderful experience, teaching me a lot about all the aspects that go into running a financial planning firm. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Reece: “I absolutely recommend that other students apply for this internship.”

Reece is an Economics major, scheduled to graduate in 2024.  He is a rising 2nd year student whose first year studies included a Law & Policy concentration.  He was a winner in the 2021 CBE Financial Literacy Competition ($1,750 prize, First Freshman Winner) and participated in the 2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition.  He serves on the boards of the Allegheny Wealth Management Club, Radio Station and Ghost Club and is a member of the Aikido and Fencing clubs.  Reece hosts his own radio show featuring an hour of political and economic news, followed by an hour of music.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Richard Swanson ’24

RJ Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA
RJ Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA

CBE Fellow, Richard (RJ) Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. Koppers, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds. Its products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end-markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries.

How did the summer go? We asked RJ…

How did you find your summer internship experience?

RJ: I was aware of Koppers in high school when they were a sponsor for a nonprofit I was involved with, so I knew that they were a company with the right values. As I looked for job postings on LinkedIn, this made Koppers specifically stand out to me.

What are your duties and what are you learning about? 

RJ: I worked in the finance department under the title, “Shared Service Intern.” I completed tasks for every position in the department, giving me a better understanding of the finance department at Koppers as a whole. Most of my work was centered around payables, receivables, and some work with the banks Koppers use.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

RJ: Absolutely. The biggest difference with Koppers is their company culture. Koppers is consistently ranked one of the best workplaces in Pittsburgh, and Newsweek ranked Koppers as one of the most responsible companies in 2021.

RJ is a CBE Fellow and incoming President of the Wealth Management Club, planning to graduate in 2024.  He is a major in Economics and minors in Communications and Political Science.  He is the Delta Tau Delta Alpha Chapter Public Relations Chair and Interfraternity Council Vice President.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Andrew Strobel ’24

Andrew Strobel '24, Richard (R.J.) Swanson '24 and John Fazio ‘20 at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta
Andrew Strobel ’24 intern at First Bank of the lake), Richard (R.J.) Swanson ’24 (intern at Koppers, Inc.) and John Fazio ‘20 (will begin Duquesne Law School in the fall) at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta in Norfolk

CBE Fellow Andrew Strobel ’24 is continuing his remote internship that began in January 2022 at the First Bank of the Lake.  The First Bank of the Lake provides a full range of deposit products and services, along with consumer, residential mortgage, and commercial lending. The Bank is also an SBA lender throughout the United States.

How is the summer going?  We asked Andrew…

How did you find your internship?

Andrew: “I was recommended from a senior who just graduated, Blake Gendron ’22, who was offered a full time position at their office in South Carolina.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Andrew: “I am learning about loan forgiveness and the processes of how small businesses receive aid from the SBA. I’m also learning about how to interact with borrowers on the custom service side and help answer their questions and get them the help they need.  It feels so great to help get a loan across the finish line fully forgiven that helped a business through the pandemic.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Andrew: “I would highly recommend this internship as the team and leadership supervising us is very supportive and helpful.”

Andrew is an Economics major and German minor, scheduled to graduate in 2024.  He is a student athlete returning to campus in August to play defense for the Allegheny College men’s soccer team.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Rutendo Mavunga ’24

CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24 at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh
CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24  at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh

CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24 is working at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh.  EY serves customers worldwide offering professional services for assurance, audit, tax, financial, and business advisory services to automotive, financial, government, entertainment, mining, real estate, technology, and telecommunication industries.

How is the summer going? We asked Rutendo…

How did you find your internship?

Rutendo: “I discovered this opportunity through Allegheny College’s career services who supported me for a very long time, and I used Handshake* to apply.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Rutendo: “I’m a Financial Services (FSO) business consulting intern in Pittsburgh. The FSO area is focused on the financial sector exclusively, and learning how to develop feasible solutions to support clients within this sector. I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship and learning about the field of consulting and financial services.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Rutendo:  “This has been a rigorous yet enjoyable experiences and I would highly recommend this experience to other students.”

Rutendo is an Economics and International Studies major and French minor, planning to graduate in 2024.  A CBE Fellow and Social Entrepreneur, she earned 2nd prize recognition at the 2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition, pitching her company, Batanai, where she plans to have an impact on women’s health In Zimbabwe.  Rutendo’s summer activities included participation in the 19th Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics program at Chatham University.

International Studies is an interdivisional, liberal arts program that endeavors to develop and relate those analytical skills most appropriate for the examination of increasingly complex interactions among nations and regions of the world. It draws upon the disciplines of economics, history, language, and political science.

*Allegheny College is a partner of the Handshake career community to provide students and recent graduates with access to job and internship opportunities from more than 400,000 employers. 

CBE Summer Experiences with Lucia Jueguen ’24

CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 at her summer experience at the American University and U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.
CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 at her summer experience at the American University and U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.

This summer CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 is taking a class about International Relations at American University, as well as working at the Small Business Administration in the office of International Trade in Washington D.C.  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade’s mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

How is the summer going? We asked Lucia…

How did you find your internship?

Lucia: “I found the internship thanks to the American University’s network in D.C.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Lucia: “At my internship, I am learning all about small businesses in America, international trade, and finance. My duties consist of working with the finance and marketing teams to improve the business owner experience in the international trade area of the SBA. I performed research on international trade finance, gathered reports, collected and analyzed data, and collaborated with other agencies such as the Department of Commerce. I also worked on the creation of a webinar that will be presented in August!”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

I would highly recommend working at the SBA to everyone as getting experience in a federal agency can be rewarding and can allow you to find a new unexpected career path!

Lucia is an International Studies, Business, and Arabic student with a graduation date of May 2024. She is a CBE Fellow and  serves as the President of the International Club. She participates in the Model UN, and is a Global Citizen Scholar.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The  business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.