Current App State public relations student Sophie Baine, a rising senior, is gaining invaluable experience and insights during her summer communication and marketing internship with Equitable, a financial services company based in Charlotte.
This situation was made possible largely by Baine's networking skills and a mentoring relationship she forged with App State alumnus Parker Sherman, a 2022 graduate, who is chief of staff and project manager for the chief talent officer of Equitable's wealth management business. Sherman, who was also a PR student as an App State student, was a guest speaker in the public relations course Baine took during the spring of 2024. Impressed by Sherman's talk, Baine reached out to gain more insights.
"Sophie was smart in how she made the connection, and she knows how to build a professional relationship," Sherman said. "She did not ask for a job. Instead, Sophie requested general career advice. In getting to know Sophie, she obviously has the interpersonal skills that set her apart. When I became aware of this internship, I emailed Sophie and let our hiring manager know that Sophie would be great for our organization."
The former and current App State students have much in common.
"I was inspired by what Parker shared during her presentation and wanted to know her better," Baine explained. "Parker spoke about being a competitive runner and setting goals. That really resonated with me."
Further, both Sherman and Baine have utilized all that their App State educational experiences have to offer, and both are open to the various career routes available to PR students.
"App State focuses on developing both the technical skills and other attributes that are important in building a career," Sherman said. "More than just produce copy, I learned how to articulate a story. To get this job, I put together a website of my writing and design work, and all of my samples were from my App State courses."
Baine said, "There is a unique culture at App State, especially in the Department of Communication. The mentoring and support of both faculty members and older students built my confidence and opened up a different way of looking at things and career opportunities. The upperclass students have been very engaging and helpful, and I want to follow in their footsteps in that regard."
Sherman is happy to lend a helping hand to current App State students.
"It is all part of 'paying it forward.' When I was about to graduate, it was confusing about what the future held, and I was unsure about my career path. App State has great students with the technical and people skills that are important, and I am happy to provide direction to them. It feels good to be part of something that is bigger than myself," Sherman said.
Among Baine's duties are internal communication. She has been working on projects that share the stories of individuals who crossed over from other careers to become financial advisors.
Recently, both Parker and Baine traveled to the company's headquarters in New York City.
"That experience allowed me to hear from the company's executives, which is unusual for someone who has been in an internship for barely a month," Baine said. "Equitable has a strong mentorship program for its interns."
Baine has a very involved student life. She is the president of the university's PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) chapter after serving as treasurer. She has also completed two previous internships and is active in the National Guard.
"My time at App State has set me up well for my future," Baine said. "The internships, in particular, have made me more aware of where I want to take my career."
The summer internship has been rewarding for both the current and former App State students.
"From my college experience, I learned the importance of being resilient. At the end of the day, you have to be able to figure it out as things change, and App State prepared me for that," Parker said. "There are many career options within PR, and I am glad to provide some direction. This internship has worked out well for both Sophie and for Equitable. I am fortunate to work for a company that emphasizes the importance of being happy at home as well as at work."
Below is information on job opportunities at Equitable:
Internship Spotlight
Internship Spotlight