SUNY is on a mission to ensure every undergraduate student on each of our campuses takes part in a paid internship or other experiential learning opportunity before they graduate.
In 2023, Chancellor King established a goal that every undergraduate student take part in an internship or other experiential learning program tied to High-Impact Practices. These HIP metrics include:
For each of the above, except noncredit internships and study abroad experiences, there is a three-credit threshold to count as a success under the High-Impact Practices metrics. View progress toward our goal on our High-Impact Practices Dashboard.
These experiences set students up for success during their campus experience, after graduation and in the future. Students build real-world skills and industry-specific knowledge, have higher rates of retention and job placement, build professional networks and see greater earning potential in their career.
Whether you're looking to host interns, hire top talent, or help design tomorrow’s curriculum, SUNY can help you engage directly with skilled students in wide ranging programs across New York State.
Complete our Partnership Interest Form and we will reach out to help match you with the right opportunity, campus, or program.
Regional Internship Coordinators (RICs) serve as connectors between SUNY campuses and employers across New York State. They work directly with businesses, community organizations, and workforce partners to develop new paid internship opportunities and help employers navigate the process of hosting SUNY interns. RICs also collaborate with campuses to identify local needs, share best practices, and expand access to meaningful, career-connected experiences so more students can gain real-world experience before graduation. RICs are not student-facing, leaving student interactions to our campus partners who are best equipped to manage student conversations and know their students most intimately to best support individual needs.
Below, please find introductions to our entire Internships and Employer Partnerships team, including our state-wide Regional Internship Coordinators (RICs). Contact information can be found within the bios, and general questions may be sent to internships@suny.edu.
Interested in becoming a trusted industry partner? Please fill out our Partnership Interest Form.
Brandon Aldous serves as the Director of Internships and Employer Partnerships for SUNY System Administration, where he leads statewide efforts to expand experiential learning opportunities and strengthen employer partnerships. He collaborates with campuses and industry partners to create high-impact internship pathways that promote student success, workforce readiness, and equitable access to career-building experiences.
Prior to joining SUNY System Administration, Brandon built a career in secondary and higher education, focused on student support, partnership development, and career mobility. He holds undergrad degrees from SUNY Cobleskill and his Master's in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and is currently pursuing his EdD in Educational Leadership at the University at Buffalo.
Outside of work, Brandon is a proud husband and father of four who brings positivity, gratitude, and plenty of "sports dad" energy to everything he does.
Brandon can be reached at brandon.aldous@suny.edu.
JR Williams serves as the Regional Internship Coordinator for the NYC Region. JR has lived in Brooklyn for the past 5 years, and now can't imagine living anywhere else. With such a multifaceted cultural identity, and dedication to the community, there really is nowhere else like it. Plus, it's much easier on their shelter dog, Gherkin! JR's previous professional experience stems from NYC social services, ranging from supportive housing to homelessness prevention, as well as international exchange, where they processed J-1 Intern and Trainee Visa Sponsorship applications. Throughout JR's career, they have learned that access to resources can be absolutely world-changing. JR is thrilled to connect SUNY students to opportunities they might not have otherwise considered, and to foster connections between people across all walks of life. In JR's opinion, there's no better place for that than in one of the most diverse cities in the world!
JR can be reached at jr.williams@suny.edu
As the daughter of immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate, Dalila knows firsthand how powerful access to education and opportunity can be. Dalila currently serves as the Regional Internship Coordinator for SUNY's Mohawk Valley region, partnering with campuses and employers to create meaningful internship experiences for students. Prior to this role, Dalila worked as an elementary educator, where she developed a deep appreciation for helping learners grow, build confidence, and achieve their goals. Dalila later served as a Career Exploration Specialist at OHM BOCES, where she supported K–12 students in exploring career pathways and preparing for life beyond high school. Throughout her career, her passion for education, learning, and student success has remained constant. Dalila earned a bachelor's degree in Child Psychology and Early Childhood/Childhood Education from Utica University and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from SUNY Empire State University. Today, that passion drives Dalila's work as she works to build partnerships that help students gain access to valuable experiential learning and workforce development opportunities.
Dalila can be reached at dalila.hasanagic@suny.edu.
As the Regional Internship Coordinator for the Western NY region, Fiona has the privilege of supporting existing internship opportunities while also building new partnerships that create meaningful career experiences for students across the region. Fiona has been working in workforce development for nearly three years and am incredibly passionate about connecting students with opportunities that help them explore careers, build professional skills, and gain real-world experience.
Earlier in her career, Fiona worked at a women's employment and resource center, where she had the opportunity to support many individuals as they navigated career goals, gained employment, and took important steps toward their professional futures. That experience shaped her passion for workforce development and continues to inspire her work today as she helps create pathways for the next generation of talent.
Fiona is also a SUNY graduate, having earned her degree in Communications and Journalism from SUNY New Paltz. During Fiona’s time as a student, she participated in an internship that helped her develop skills and confidence that she continues to use in her work today. Experiencing the impact of applied learning firsthand has strengthened Fiona's commitment to helping students access the same types of transformative opportunities.
Fiona can be reached at fiona.quintana@suny.edu.
Gaston Neville is the Regional Internship Coordinator for SUNY System Administration's Mid-Hudson region. In that role, he develops employer partnerships that open internship pathways for SUNY students in industries from Westchester north through the Hudson Valley.
Gaston's background is in equity-focused workforce development and public policy. At Yale, he worked on the New Haven Hiring Initiative, expanding local hiring pipelines for underrepresented New Haven residents. As a Repairing and Empowering People and Places (REPP) Fellow at Tufts, where he earned his M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, he focused on community economic development and creating direct connections to Boston firms for disadvantaged students.
Gaston came to this work believing that internships are one of the most direct levers for economic mobility available to students without built-in professional networks. That conviction shapes how he approaches employer's conversation and every partnership he builds in the region.
Gaston can be reached at gaston.neville@suny.edu.
Kristin Smith-O'Neill serves as the Long Island Regional Internship Coordinator for SUNY System Administration. As a higher education professional and first-generation college graduate, Kristin is passionate about helping students discover opportunities that support their academic, professional, and personal growth. Before joining SUNY Administration, Kristin spent more than four years working with SUNY students through the CSTEP program at SUNY Old Westbury, and prior to that, she worked with student interns in the SUNY Old Westbury ID Room. These experiences allowed Kristin to see firsthand how research, internships, and hands-on learning can build confidence, develop career skills, and open doors to new possibilities. Kristin believes that every SUNY student deserves access to these transformative opportunities, and she is committed to helping students achieve their goals and realize their full potential.
Kristin can be reached at kristin.smithoneill@suny.edu.
Questions? Connect with our Director of Internships and Employer Partnerships, Brandon K. Aldous, at brandon.aldous@suny.edu or call 518-320-1695.