8:30 a.m. Registration + Networking (Light Breakfast)
9:15 a.m. Welcome + "Coffee Chat"
Main Auditorium, Dubois Center
- Welcome + Talent Profile Data Presentation
- Dr. Patrick Madsen, Associate Dean of Advising + Experiential Learning + Executive Director, Career Center | UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Education
- "Coffee Chat" - The Future of Talent Pipeline Development
- Dr. Madsen sits down with Jennifer Albrecht, Vice President of Partner Success at Riipen, to talk about the future of talent development through university-industry partnerships. Riipen is the top experiential learning platform for educators, learners, and employers.
10:30 a.m. Move to Sessions
10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Session Tracks (Pick One)
Dubois Center, Classroom
Track 1: Designing Internships + Projects That Get Work Done
Faciltators: Amy Browns, Sydney Gallup, and Samantha Pfeiffer
- Best for employers exploring or expanding student talent through internships, micro-internships, or project-based work
- This interactive session helps employers identify real organizational work and scope it into meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Participants will explore the differences between internships, micro-internships, and project-based experiences, work through real examples, and apply a guided work-scoping framework to their own needs. Employers will leave with a draft opportunity outline, clarity on the best format for their work, and a clear next step for recruiting students in the upcoming semester.
- You’ll leave with:
- A clearer understanding of which work fits an internship vs. project model
- A drafted scope for one or more student opportunities
Track 2: Strengthening + Scaling Your Internship Program Through Campus Partnerships
Facilitator: Dr. Patrick Madsen
- Best for employers with established internship programs looking to deepen university partnerships and improve recruiting outcomes
- This discussion-driven workshop is designed for employers ready to move beyond transactional recruiting and into sustained, strategic campus partnerships. Participants will learn how universities are structured (colleges, departments, faculty, and Career Centers) and how to navigate those systems to source talent more effectively. Through peer discussion and guided worksheets, employers will assess what they are doing now, identify what’s possible next, and map out a fall engagement plan that includes department partnerships, co-designed internships, and targeted student outreach.
- You’ll leave with:
- A better understanding of how to partner with academic departments and faculty
- Ideas for co-designed, course-aligned or department-specific internships
- A fall campus engagement plan aligned with your recruiting goals
Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch + Networking
Dubois Center, Atrium
1 to 1:50 p.m. Employer Awards + Charlotte Student/Alumni Panel
Dubois Center, Auditorium
Student Panel Moderator: Rama Yakkala, B.S. in Computer Science, '26
Panelists
Jake Fabrizio, B.S. in Computer Science + Data Science, '26
Monisha "Mo" Pirela, Architecture + Arts Rising Senior
Levi Truong, Accounting + Management Information Systems Rising Senior
Melanne Camacho, B.S. in Public Health + Health System Management '26
1:50 to 2 p.m. Closing Remarks
Dubois Center, Auditorium