Authored By Gabby Rivera, Marketing and Content Specialist

“When you’re not focused on making a profit, you can focus on making a change instead,” communications senior Ryleigh Knox said. 

Knox is stepping up to help her community through her Communications & Marketing Internship with SHARE Charlotte. She visualizes non-profit organizations (NPOs) as “what makes the world go round.” Knox thrives in a field where she creates impact, not just observes it. 

Knox describes the greatest impact within an NPO comes from personally aligning with its mission. Her internship is encouraging others to “empower nonprofits and help people invest in their communities.” 

“Their [SHARE Charlotte] primary focus is on helping others, not on one’s own benefit,” Knox said. “They can change the world in ways that for-profit organizations can’t.”

Through her role, Knox has served as the connector between the public and an NPO. She has gained exposure to different media, such as podcasts, websites and email newsletters. As her role is mainly remote, she enjoys “seeing her future” when events are held. 

She envisions her career founding her own NPO, providing mental health resources and mentorship for young women. With a pen pal exchange, girls can connect with adult women who offer guidance, support, and a “big sister” perspective. This would create opportunities for meaningful conversations that are often overlooked but are important to address at a young age.

Planning for postgraduate life, Knox is able to form her experiential learning into valuable skills that will give her an advantage in the job market.

The SECU Public Fellows Intern Program connects UNC Charlotte undergraduate students with paid, community-focused summer internships across the Charlotte region. Supported by the SECU Foundation and administered by the Career Center team, the program offers meaningful, hands-on internships while strengthening community impact.