Student Success – Two Students from MCC Land Summer Internships at Yale
MANCHESTER, Conn. (July 9, 2021) – A recent graduate and a current student from Manchester Community College are among 18 interns from colleges across the state selected to spend their summer at Yale, as participants in the university’s highly competitive Information Technology Systems (ITS) Summer College Internship Program.
Rajan Gulati, of Avon, is working in the Portfolio Management office to track IT-based project progress, understand financial standing and provide support from inception to project delivery. Brian Griswold ’21, of South Windsor, is on the Enterprise Architecture team, helping to asses that Yale’s software and hardware investments are a good fit for the institution’s technology goals.
Both are Computer Network Technology majors. Griswold, whose associate degree from MCC was conferred in June, will transfer to Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) to continue for a bachelor’s degree in IT. Gulati is on track to complete his associate degree next spring and also plans to transfer to CCSU with his goals set on a technology-related field.
Since 2014 Yale’s ITS Summer College Internship has offered paid, full-time, 10- to 12-week positions working side-by-side with IT professionals on projects matched with a student’s skills and interests. The assignments offer hands-on experience, exposure to a collaborative culture and opportunities to sharpen problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
In addition to the work experience, the internship offers opportunities for networking and other cohort events with university leadership, according to Alina Colossale, early career specialist, who coordinates Yale’s internship programs.
“For example, the interns recently met with Yale Chief Information Officer John Barden for a question and answer session on industry trends,” Colossale said.
Griswold and Gulati agree their MCC coursework prepared them well for the internship, and agree that their work assignments are rounding out their industry skills.
“My coursework at MCC made me realize I like all different aspects of IT,” Gulati said, “which is why I picked project management since it can deal with a broader spectrum of IT and the projects I can work on.”
Griswold added, “I’ve learned about the technical side of IT, but not as much about the administrative side. Being on the Enterprise Architecture team, I’m gaining knowledge in this part of the industry.”
About MCC’s Computer Network Technology Program
The Computer Network Technology associate degree program provides students with both a broad and in-depth background in computer networking concepts and technologies. It covers the fundamentals of computer network theory as well as practical network connectivity device configuration, administration of networked client-server computer operating systems, computer hardware design and maintenance and computer programming. Students will have hands-on access to HP and CISCO networking equipment. Advanced high-end computer labs allow each student to build individual VMware based virtual networks comprised of large-scale client-server configurations. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in the computer networking and system administration professions.
