Webinar: How to Develop a Superb Internship Program

Update: View the Webinar Recording and Slides

We invite you to join a webinar sharing best practices for developing strong, intentional internship programs that help students learn the full range of skills they need to be successful in the workforce.

In this one-hour session, we will go over the elements of an exemplary internship experience as seen in Murray State University’s Public & Community Health program, which was recently awarded EEQ Certification by Quality Assurance Commons. Participants will hear firsthand from the program’s faculty lead and the Career Services Director, who lead the program, as well as a participating employer.

The student experience begins with the senior seminar, in which students explore careers, work on their resumes and portfolio, and do the required outreach to set up their work-based experiences. The following semester, a course accompanies the internship that includes reflective discussions, presentations, and other exercises that help students get the most from their experience.

Faculty and staff from ALL disciplines will come away from this webinar with ideas they can implement in their own programs and at their own institutions.

Meet the panelists:

Dr. Elizabeth Gordon

Assistant Professor and Program Director in Murray State University’s Public & Community Health Program, Dr. Gordon leads the student internship experience. She is an experienced scientist and administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the academic & healthcare industry. Dr. Gordon holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Masters in Public Health from the University of Louisville, and a BS in Biology from Murray State University.

Matthew Purdy

Director of Career Services at Murray State University since 2017, Mr. Purdy works collaboratively with faculty across all academic fields at the university, helping them to integrate a focus on employability into programs. In his role, Mr. Purdy has also developed and implemented a comprehensive employer relations plan with a focus on increasing contact with hiring managers, developing outreach strategies, and marketing campaigns. Mr. Purdy holds MBA and BS degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Dr. Michael Muscarella

Executive Director of Ambulatory Services at Baptist Health Paducah, Dr. Muscarella supervises pharmacy, TCU, respiratory therapy, specialty nursing/diabetes, wound care/hyperbaric medicine and rehabilitation services. He also leads the organization’s internship program. Dr. Muscarella holds a DPT from University of Kentucky and a BS in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University.

Michelle Deasy

Vice President of QA Commons, Ms. Deasy has led all employability programs since 2019. Prior to her work in education and workforce, she spent fifteen years working for corporations such as Oracle, Merrill Lynch, and Atlas Capital Advisors. Ms. Deasy holds an MA in Demography from UC Berkeley and a BS in Rural Sociology from Cornell University.