Graduate Internship Opportunities
Interns at Buffalo State University support the mission, vision, and implementation of summer orientation programs while assisting with the training and supervision of our Orientation Leaders. Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs will follow the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) guidelines through their national internship placement.
Meet our Past NODA Interns
Miko Padilla Summer 2025
Hi! My name is Miko Padilla and I just graduated with my M.Ed. In Higher Education Administration and Policy from the University of California, Riverside! During the summer (2025), I was given the opportunity to work at Buffalo State University's Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs with Thomas Trzepkowski. The campus community, environment, and staff were extremely inviting and welcoming over the couple months I was there, which was a definite relief coming from across the country. The surrounding area around the campus has an incredible amount of events, activities, and venues to choose from. From museums, zoos, parks, and gardens, to fairs, athletic events, and plays. Despite me attempting to take advantage of everything the community had to offer, there was still so much more to do.
Regarding my experience working with Orientation, I had an amazing opportunity to enhance my professional and personal development. I worked with an incredible team of 21 Orientation Leaders, Thomas, and the supporting staff members of campus. I was a little anxious of supervising a team I had never worked with before, but the team was so receptive and welcoming that I was immediately comfortable working with such an amazing group. In this role, I was able to connect and work with multiple departments and groups on campus and learn their different processes and resources they provide to their students and community. I also aided in adding areas for Orientation Leader training and working on surveys and assessment for the Orientation program for first-years, transfers, and their families/supporters. I had worked in Orientation before at my home institution as an Orientation Leader and Student Supervisor for two years, but this role allowed me to take what I had learned from my previous experience and my graduate program to provide aid for the incoming student body and their families/supporters. After pursuing my graduate degree, I also saw campus dynamics and structures from this graduate program throughout this institution, which helped connect pieces from my Masters program into practical ideas and experiences.
I am very grateful to have accepted this internship and if I could go back in time, I would immediately choose this campus again.