Name: Jessica Smith
Class Year: 2025
Major: Sociology
Minors: History and Africana Studies
Hometown: Turlock, Calif.
Internship Organization: Dallas Wings
Internship Title: Youth Programs Intern
Location of Internship: Arlington, Texas
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
This summer, I had the opportunity to work for the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. As the Youth Programs Intern, I have been working on the event planning for our upcoming youth basketball camps and clinics. During our past youth clinics, I served as a director and coach, teaching kids basketball skills and bridging the gap in access to Dallas Wings hoops. Our biggest event was our Summer Camp, where we had over 100 girls attend. We developed their basketball skills, taught them important life lessons beyond the game, and had the opportunity to invite them to attend our home game against the Indiana Fever. I have also worked with staff from different departments, such as marketing, game presentation, and social responsibility, to organize in-game activations and community events.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship to gain experience in professional sports, specifically women’s basketball. I have had a passion for sports, especially basketball, for most of my life, so when I saw the opportunity to work for a WNBA team, I jumped on it. I also had experience coaching youth basketball camps, which I really enjoyed, so I wanted to expand on that by getting the chance to be a part of the operational and event management side of putting together youth sports programs. This internship will be pivotal in opening up opportunities to work in the competitive field of professional sports in the future.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is that I get to be around basketball every day. I get to attend each home game, watch the players train, and coach youth athletes myself, so each day is new and exciting. From the first day, the office environment was very welcoming, and I made friends with many other interns and staff, making my experience very rewarding overall. Also, I have had the chance to connect with staff in the departments I’m interested in exploring in the future, which has been very helpful for me in growing my understanding of working in the sports industry.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
This internship has been exactly what I expected it to be and more! I have learned what goes into hosting youth and community events, which involves more planning and coordination between departments than I had thought. Being able to experience and be a part of what goes into game days has been something that is as gratifying the tenth time as it was on the first. But I also have had the chance to learn more about the roles of other departments, all while building relationships with mentors and developing useful skills for resume building and interviewing, like time management and the development of my personal brand.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CENTER Sociology History Africana Studies