Chancellor King Announces SUNY Educational Opportunity Career Development Internship Program
February 6, 2025
Students will be Provided Real-World Professional Experience in their Chosen Field at Various State Agencies
Up to 50 Eligible EOP Students Will Participate in One of Three Cohorts in Year One
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the inaugural cohort for the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Career Development Internship Program. The program builds on SUNY's vision of providing an internship or other high-quality experiential opportunity for every SUNY student prior to graduation. Up to 50 eligible EOP students will participate in one of three cohorts in year one and receive up to $5,000.
"For over 50 years, the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program has been a driving force in student success and upward mobility," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The launch of the EOP Career Development Internship Program marks another significant milestone in SUNY's mission to empower our incredible EOP students with the resources they need to thrive. This initiative offers invaluable professional experience with New York State agencies, setting students on a clear path to successful careers, including in public service."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program is a pathway to student success and positive lifelong outcomes. Matching EOP students with public service internships will continue to open up doors of opportunity for our students as they prepare for thriving careers after graduation."
The EOP Career Development Internship Program will connect students with New York State agencies as they pursue completion of their degree and prepare for the launch of their careers by providing them with real-world professional experience and skill development within a field that aligns both with their academic pursuit and personal interests; personalized mentorship; as well as financial support that helps students develop personal budgeting, as well as basic needs support in the event a student has transportation or other accessibility hurdles that would otherwise prevent them from participating in the program. The program is made possible through funding allocated to SUNY by Empire State Development.
Last February, Governor Hochul announced SUNY campuses will invest nearly $10 million in recurring state funding to provide 3,000 SUNY students with internships and other experiential learning opportunities before graduation. The funding was secured through the historic $163 million increase in direct operating aid to SUNY's State-operated campuses for FY 2024.
The inaugural group of students in the SUNY EOP Career Development Internship Program for Cohort 1 are:
- Mohammed Ahsan, Erie Community College
- Marzia Amin, Stony Brook University
- Nicole Buitron, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Frank DePalma, III – Hudson Valley Community College
- Kalyiah Haynes, SUNY Cortland
- Ladnijirah Lightner, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Janielis Rivera Bauzo, SUNY Cortland
- Tatienna Samuels, SUNY Oswego
- Esdras Velazquez, University at Buffalo
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "SUNY's EOP provides assistance for students who face significant obstacles along their higher education journey. The Career Development Internship Program is another way SUNY will provide these students with the experience and opportunity for meaningful careers in areas of economic growth. EOP is one of the many programs keeping SUNY a driver of upward mobility."
State Senator Robert Jackson said, "As a proud SUNY EOP alumnus, I carry firsthand the transformative power of this program. The EOP Career Development Internship Program is more than an opportunity—it's a bridge between dreams and reality, equipping students with the skills, support, and vision to thrive. By intertwining real-world experience with academic ambition, this program is nurturing a generation ready to lead, serve, and soar. This is the promise of EOP: turning potential into purpose and possibilities into progress."
State Senator Lea Webb said, "As a member of the New York State Senate's Higher Education Committee and Educational Opportunity Program alum, I am proud to see the launch of the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program's Career Development Internship Program. This innovative program is truly a game-changer, offering students not only invaluable real-world experience but also the financial and personal support they need to succeed. I commend Governor Hochul, Lieutenant Governor Delgado, and Chancellor King for their forward-thinking vision, which equips students with the tools to reach their fullest potential. Thank you to the Senate Majority Leader for your support of this important initiative. Congratulations to Kalyiah Haynes and Janielis Rivera Bauzo, both of whom are students at SUNY Cortland, for being selected as part of the inaugural cohort. By providing students with meaningful internships and mentorships, we are not just preparing them for careers—we are investing in the future of New York State."
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "There is no better education than hands-on, real-world experience. SUNY continues to elevate and innovate its educational opportunities and career pathways."
Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Higher Education Committee, said, "As Chair of the Higher Education Committee, I am proud to support the launch of SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program Career Development Internship Program. This innovative program reflects the transformative power of the Educational Opportunity Program in creating pathways for success and advancement. Providing EOP students with valuable real-world professional experiences, personalized mentorship, and financial support; we are not only preparing them to excel in their chosen fields but also addressing the barriers that often hinder equitable access to these opportunities. I commend Governor Hochul, Lt. Governor Delgado, and Chancellor King for their visionary leadership in ensuring that all SUNY students have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive academically and professionally."
Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos said, "I'm grateful to see my alma mater, the State University of New York, expand its Educational Opportunity Program by introducing a program that will allow students to get hands-on experience to help them grow as they become professionals. The Career Development Internship Program will build on the EOP mission of helping low-income students achieve their educational and career goals. With the announcement of the Career Development Internship Program – thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, Lt. Governor Delgado, and Chancellor King – there is now a more defined and supported pathway carved out for these students' career goals."
Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest said, "As an EOP graduate who is now a State elected official, I applaud the creation of the EOP Career Development Internship Program. I hope it will inspire more students like me to go into public service and see themselves reflected in our government."
Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker said, "The SUNY Educational Opportunity Program has helped more than 85,000 students across five decades to pursue their academic and career goals. I was one of those students. Having grown up in Brownsville, I know all too well that most young people need opportunities, and they need support in order to succeed. The EOP Career Development Internship Program will connect promising students to state agencies, providing access to mentors and valuable experience that will help launch their careers. I commend Governor Hochul and Chancellor King for their leadership and Empire State Development for their financial support. And, of course, I offer my congratulations to the initial group of students who will participate in the Career Path Initiative during its first year."
For more than 50 years, SUNY EOP has served students, helping more than 85,000 participants graduate from college. EOP also contributes to New York's workforce development, with more than 78% of EOP graduates staying in New York to live and work.
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, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire 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 $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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