Growing and learning: The Pearce Center expands in membership as new interns reflect on their first semester
The Pearce Center for Professional Communication continues to provide internship opportunities to a selective group of creative, hard-working and ambitious students at Clemson University.
During the Spring 2025 semester, the Pearce Center welcomed a diverse cohort of new interns, each bringing unique backgrounds and experience levels. Among them, first-semester interns Kyleigh Tuma and Chelsea Quinn shared their reflections on the valuable learning experiences they’ve gained at the Pearce Center.
The Pearce Center offers a variety of opportunities for the interns. The interns choose from a large selection of teams and organizations to become involved in for the semester. Each team and organization provides interns with skills, including client interaction, team collaboration, communication and time management, that are necessary once they leave Clemson. These hands-on experiences set the Pearce internship apart from traditional classroom learning.
Quinn is currently majoring in graphic communications and minoring in animal science. With different career goals in mind, Quinn has been grateful for what the Pearce Center has offered her and feels better prepared for when she joins a professional setting outside of Clemson.
“I wanted to gain hands-on experience that would help me grow professionally and prepare for future career opportunities. Through my semester at Pearce, I have improved my design and communication skills as well as gained experience in professional writing and collaboration. The work I have done at Pearce will directly benefit my future as my goal is to have a career in marketing.”
Each intern is placed on teams that support their long-term aspirations. Projects may involve social media management, graphic design, web development or public relations – all of which contribute directly to a student’s career-readiness.
Tuma is one of many interns at the Pearce Center who joined the Pearce Center this semester to improve her graphic designing and public relations skills. Tuma decided to work at Pearce Center after being influenced by the Pearce Center’s assistant director, Ashley Fisk. After taking a business class taught by Fisk, Tuma discussed her career goals, and Fisk recommended Tuma apply to the internship program.
Some specific skills Tuma wanted to add to her resume included creating social media strategies, designing marketing material and developing public relations strategies. In addition to her major in marketing, the opportunities at the Pearce Center have given her will further prepare Tuma as she follows her career path.
The new interns have also achieved great accomplishments being new to the program. In only a few months, interns have the chance to reflect on the progress they have made and the recognition they received. One notable accomplishment of Quinn is her contributions to the Ripple of One auction.
“It was rewarding to contribute to a meaningful cause and helped me improve my communication and outreach skills.”
In addition, she learned important skills such as professional writing and collaboration. Even when facing challenges, Quinn remained determined and contributed meaningful and professional work.
Meanwhile, Tuma is proud of her work in designing and reconstructing client websites and her growing expertise in platforms such as Illustrator and InDesign. The new interns at the Pearce Center have shown their dedication and work ethic and will continue to demonstrate this hard work during the remainder of their time at Clemson and their work beyond.
For many students, the Pearce Center is more than just an internship – it’s a formative experience that shapes their professional identities and prepares them for success after graduation. The Pearce Center looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence by welcoming even more talented interns in future semesters.
By: Sammy Sirover, editor-in-chief