Eight students and recent graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities completed summer internships this month as part of the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s new internship programs designed to strengthen the talent pipeline from schools into the IT workforce.
The interns from N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University and Howard University gave final presentations on their internship experiences, which began May 22, to NCDIT senior leaders and their supervisor mentors on Aug. 3.
NCDIT Secretary Jim Weaver, Chief Deputy State Chief Information Officer Susan Kellogg and Chief Operating Officer Torre Jessup urged the interns to stay curious, keep learning and pursue certifications to move ahead in the IT field.
They also encouraged the interns to consider public service and asked for feedback on enhancements to future internships.
The HBCU interns – with majors not only in computer science but also fields such as finance – worked with various NCDIT teams through the state, including in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Morehead City. The interns described their accomplishments and tasks including:
- Development of a new website for the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
- Visualizations and mapping of GIS data on the North Carolina coast
- Creation of privacy policies for daily work and privacy presentations for stakeholders
- Disaster recovery planning for data centers
- Front-line support on the NCDIT Service Desk
- Development of state-term contracts for procurement
- Database administration to maximize performance
- User support for N.C. Department of Public Safety staff
The interns also developed their professional skills for the workplace, including relationship building, communication and resume writing. Several interns earned Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Foundation of Oracle Cloud Data Management certifications. They also participated with their teams in events such as volunteering at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh.
Applications for HBCU internships in summer 2024 will open in February.