State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. highlighted SUNY’s commitment to paid internships during a visit to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University on Tuesday, June 9. SUNY has set the goal that every undergraduate student will participate in a high-quality internship or other experiential learning opportunity that prepares them for their future before graduation. At the New York State College of Ceramics, students can participate in paid internships and research through the Summer Ceramic Internship Program and Engineering Summer Research Program.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. greets Alfred University senior Mika Leith during King’s visit to Alfred University on Tuesday, June 9.
King and Joseph Sempolinski, New York State assemblyman representing the state’s 148th legislative district, visited the New York State College of Ceramics Tuesday morning. They met several undergraduate students on campus this summer participating in a ceramic internship program and the Engineering Research Institute—which both reflect SUNY’s priority of providing students with experiential learning opportunities.
“Internship opportunities are drivers of upward mobility that give our students the opportunity to gain hands-on job training that will prepare them for future careers,” said King. “Through SUNY’s robust internship programs and partnerships, we are investing in the success of our students and empowering them to explore career paths that interest them. I applaud the New York State College of Ceramics for their work to provide students with high-quality internships that will prepare them for successful careers after graduation.”
“Through the support of Governor (Kathy) Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY is able to invest in programs and initiatives that provide our students with vital opportunities to engage in paid internships and gain real-world career skills,” stated the SUNY Board of Trustees. “We commend New York State College of Ceramics for their dedication to providing SUNY students hands-on learning opportunities and thank Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued investment and support in our internship programs.”
Gabrielle Gaustad ’04, vice president of Statutory Affairs and dean of the Inamori School of Engineering at the NYSCC at Alfred University, said, “When I was an undergraduate student in the New York State College of Ceramics, I was so fortunate to participate both in our summer undergraduate research program on campus and in two internships. The hands on experiences gained in those summer programs set me on a path for success and I’m thrilled to be here 20-plus years later to sustain and expand these programs, thanks to the support of the SUNY Board of Trustees, for years to come.”
“As a member of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, I applaud the leadership of the SUNY Board of Trustees and SUNY’s commitment to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and for creating internship opportunities for students at the College of Ceramics that provide the kinds of hands-on, real-world learning experience they need to join the workforce of tomorrow,” Sempolinski commented.
“We welcome SUNY's commitment to providing these opportunities to gain direct, invaluable learning and research experiences through the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University,” added Tom O’Mara, New York State senator representing the state’s 58th District. “It's an outstanding initiative that will provide excellent, high-quality internships and other specialized training opportunities at one of SUNY's premier institutions. This commitment led by the SUNY Board of Trustees goes a long way toward leading and preparing a vital workforce for the future.”
SUNY has five statutory campuses, including the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and at Cornell University, the New York State College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, New York State College of Human Ecology, New York State School of Industrial & Labor Relations, and the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Annika Blake-Howland (right), who earned a master’s degree in glass science from Alfred University in May and is pursuing her doctoral degree in glass science from Alfred, discusses a display at the Paul Vickers Gardner Glass Center with New York State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (left) and SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. King and Sempolinski visited Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics on Tuesday, June 9, to highlight SUNY’s support for internship and research opportunities.
At the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, opportunities for students to participate in internship programs and experiential learning include the Summer Ceramic Internship and Engineering Summer Research programs.
Students who participate in the Summer Ceramic Internship program work alongside studio technicians to gain hands-on experience with the operations that support professional art and design practice. Through this immersive experience, participants develop skills in ceramic studio organization and workflow, equipment maintenance, materials management, health and safety procedures, technical demonstrations, fabrication processes, and the use of specialized equipment. By engaging directly with the systems that sustain creative work, students gain a deeper understanding of the technical expertise, infrastructure, and collaborative efforts required to support artists, designers, and makers in educational, professional, and institutional settings. This experience provides valuable professional development while broadening students’ understanding of the many roles that contribute to successful creative environments.
King and Sempolinski toured ceramic art facilities in Harder Hall, School of Art and Design, before meeting with several students in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) program. The students—who are supervised in the Summer Ceramic Internship program by Shawn Murrey, senior kiln specialist—talked about their interest in ceramic art, their experiences at Alfred University, how they chose to attend Alfred, and their future plans.
Tanner Eidle, who is on course to earn his B.F.A. in December, said he chose to attend Alfred after visiting campus. “The facilities just blew me away, so I decided to come here,” he said.
Pittsburgh resident Katie Serafin, a senior art and design major, said she decided to look into attending Alfred on the recommendation of a high school ceramics teacher. “I’m glad I checked it out first,” she said. “It made my decision easy.”
Grace Roberts, a senior art and design major, talks about her experiences at Alfred University with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. during King’s visit Tuesday, June 9, to the New York State College of Ceramics.
Mika Leith, senior art and design major (art history minor) from Colorado, and Grace Roberts, senior art and design major from Penn Yan, NY, both said they plan to earn their M.F.A. degrees and hope to pursue careers in teaching. Denver Whaley, a sophomore art and design major from Utah, hopes to enroll in graduate school after earning her B.F.A. and eventually open a studio practice.
The Engineering Summer Research Program provides students with the opportunity to work on research projects with faculty and graduate students; this year there are over 50 projects funded by 16 different federal and state agencies. Additional professional development opportunities during the programs include industry field trips, specialized equipment trainings, professional guest speakers, and culminate in a research poster competition and celebration.
Following a tour of the Paul Vickers Gardner Glass Center, several students who are working on projects through the Engineering Summer Research Program, talked with King and Sempolinski about their experiences.
Alfred University students Noa Broekman (left), junior glass engineering major, and Abby Atnafe, junior majoring in glass engineering, mathematics, and computer science, participate in a roundtable discussion focusing on internship and research opportunities at Alfred University. The discussion took place during SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.’s and New York State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski’s visit to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University on Tuesday, June 9.
Noa Broekman, a junior glass engineering science major from Los Angeles, is participating in a research project studying the physics of glass. She is advised by Collin Wilkinson, assistant professor of glass science engineering and director of the Engineering Summer Research Program. Broekman, originally a mechanical engineering major, said after working in undergraduate research she changed her focus to glass science.
“Taking part in (engineering research projects) shifted my interests,” said Broekman, noting that her participation in research has opened new opportunities, such as attending the recent spring American Ceramic Society (ACerS) Conference in Seattle, where she presented a poster on her research.
When asked by King why they are on campus over the summer working on research when many of their peers are relaxing back home, students talked about the valuable experiences they are having and how it will impact their academic pursuits.
“You have the opportunity to do things other than sitting in a classroom,” said Holly Lyimo, a sophomore ceramic engineering major from Tanzania. “You get experiential-type learning and a better understanding of what you’ve learned in the classroom.”
“You have a chance to dive right into a project, with all the help and mentorship you need,” Broekman added. “You build skills.”
Wilkinson and Benjamin Moulton, assistant professor of glass science engineering, are advising several of the student research projects and were on hand to discuss the program. Moulton said student participation in the Engineering Summer Research Program helps make him a more effective instructor.
Collin Wilkinson (standing), assistant professor of glass science engineering at Alfred University, speaks during a roundtable discussion focusing on internship and research opportunities at Alfred University. The discussion took place during a visit to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. (right of Wilkinson) and New York State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (right of King) on Tuesday, June 9.
“These students become mentors for their peers,” Moulton commented. “It really is a big boost for our teaching.”
Wilkinson said active participation in research provides students a more well-rounded education. “We own the educational outcomes of our students,” he said. “Teaching in the classroom can only take (students) so far; this (research opportunities) gives them hands-on experiences.”
Paid internships are invaluable opportunities for students to learn on the job, be compensated for their work, and apply their academic experience to real world tasks. Through strong investment from Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the SUNY Board of Trustees provides $14.5 million in annual state funding to support paid internships for students at state-operated campuses. In addition, SUNY awarded funding to 23 community colleges to expand access to stipends and wraparound services, including transportation and child care expenses, so students could complete internships.
SUNY has worked to expand paid internship opportunities for students through partnerships with organizations including the New York State Association of Counties, the New York State Insurance Fund, as well as an internship exchange program with the University of Puerto Rico and the conservation organization Para La Naturaleza. SUNY has also launched programs including the Mental Health Internship Program, SUNY Educational Opportunity Career Development Internship Program, Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund, the SUNY Institute for Local News, the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, and the SUNY Climate Corps. SUNY has also designated regional workforce coordinators across the state to assist campuses in identifying internship opportunities.
Coral Lambert (left) professor of sculpture in Alfred University’s School of Art and Design, talks about plans for the university’s new foundry with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. (second from left), Jamie Babcock, associate vice president for Facilities Services at Alfred University (second from right) and New York State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (right). King and Sempolinski visited Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics on Tuesday, June 9, to highlight SUNY’s support for internship and research opportunities.
King and Sempolinski toured the Cohen National Casting Center Foundry, currently under construction with an expected opening in late fall 2026. Coral Lambert, professor of sculpture, went over the floor plans and discussed the interdisciplinary programming that will be offered via an intersection of art and engineering. The facility, located in the former central heating plant building, is supported by a $6 million gift from Michele Cohen, Alfred University trustee, and her husband, Martin, as well as $8.3 million from the SUNY Construction Fund. The foundry creates the potential for new degree programs combining art and engineering, such as digital fabrication design and engineering, and is expected to significantly benefit Alfred University’s student recruitment and retention efforts.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
