What do Bart Simpson and wearable tech have in common? They were topics of discussion at the 6th Annual Lehigh Valley Internship Summit. 
Presented by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) in partnership with Lehigh Valley colleges and universities; hosted at DeSales University, and sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley, Barry Isett & Associates, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Manufacturers Resource Center, and Univest, this year’s Internship Summit informed businesses about best practices and current trends in internship programs.
More than 110 attendees listened to addresses and panel discussions focused on hot topics in internships, beginning with a keynote address, Generations in the Workplace, by Dr. Nicole Loyd, Executive Vice President for University Life, Chief Operating Officer, and Dean of Students at Moravian University.
Dr. Loyd’s address highlighted the dominant features of the five generations currently sharing the workplace and gave practical advice for navigating the cultural differences between them.
According to Dr. Loyd, each generation has been shaped by significant events and influential figures, like, surprisingly enough, Bart Simpson for Gen X (born 1965 – 1979). Understanding these significant events and people can expand our generational knowledge and help us to “bring groups of people together,” Dr. Loyd stated.
Of special interest to the audience was Dr. Loyd’s discussion of Gen Z (born 1995 – 2009). Many interns now entering the workforce belong to this generation, and understanding their motivations and expectations is essential to attracting and retaining talent. Dr. Loyd stressed the importance of several of Gen Z’s top priorities, including the desire for flexibility, mentorship around soft-skill building, and mental health support.
Next, attendees chose from two panel discussions: Supporting the Whole intern, moderated by Katelyn Mack, President of LINC, which explored ways to support interns beyond the scope of their projects, and Alternatives to Internships, moderated by Mercedes Kopack of C.F. Martin & Co., which focused on co-ops, externships, job shadows, and other ways to engage with students in addition to traditional internships.
Later, Dr. Carl Sheperis, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at Kutztown University, took the stage to deliver his address, The Intersection of AI and Internships: Opportunities and Challenges. He wore a shiny square about the size of a half dollar on his lapel. “This is Zora,” he explained, “my AI assistant.” He went on to demonstrate Zora’s abilities by asking her to give him a pep talk before his presentation, which she did, marvelously.
Dr. Sheperis asserted that AI was developing faster than most people could imagine, and that the time to prepare for it was at hand. Recruiters will need to develop new ways to screen job and internship candidates, Dr. Sheperis argued, now that applicants can simply feed a job description into Chat GPT and get a resume that shows them to be a near-perfect candidate. Interns and workers will also need to be trained in how to use AI models ethically, vaulting digital literacy skills into the spotlight.
For the final part of the Internship Summit, attendees participated in roundtable discussions around a variety of topics and trends in internship programs, which provided them an excellent opportunity to network with others about themes important to them.
"The Lehigh Valley Internship Summit was highly informative and empowering. Connecting with employers and both former and current interns underscored the exceptional talent present in the Lehigh Valley," said Ziera Wolf, Marketing Manager at Altitude Marketing.
The Lehigh Valley Internship Summit is supplemented by a published Internship Resource Guide that includes a directory of internship contacts at Lehigh Valley colleges, universities, and technical schools.
(Photos by Rick Kintzel)