Our student employees, interns, and Empire State Service Corps members are making meaningful contributions while gaining valuable hands-on experience that supports their academic and career journeys. Through their work, they are building professional skills, exploring career pathways, and making an impact across the SUNY Empire community and beyond. We are proud to highlight the experiences and accomplishments of these students as they grow both personally and professionally. Their stories showcase the power of experiential learning and the important role these opportunities play in shaping future careers.
Meet Yolanda Rumph. Yolanda is majoring in Public Affairs. She had the opportunity to work as a member of the Empire State Service Corps in the civil discourse cohort. As a member of ESSC, Yolanda worked with Ade Bryon in SUNY Empire’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
What is your major?
I am majoring in Public Affairs, focusing on how policy, leadership, and organizational systems shape community outcomes and workplace environments.
What are your career goals?
My goal is to continue advancing in the field of occupational safety, public policy, and organizational leadership, ultimately moving into a senior‑level role where I can influence safety standards, compliance strategies, and public‑sector partnerships across large regional or national operations.
Describe your student worker experience. The experience can be an internship and/or work-study. (ie, what did you do? What projects did you work on?)
My experiential learning came through the Empire State Service Corps (ESSC), where my focus was on civil discourse. I supported structured conversations, helped design discussion frameworks, and contributed to programming that encouraged empathy, active listening, and community connection.
What did you learn?
I learned how intentional communication can transform group dynamics and how civil discourse serves as a foundation for effective leadership, conflict resolution, and public engagement. I also gained insight into how policy, culture, and institutional structures influence the way people communicate and collaborate.
What is a takeaway from this experience that you think will help you in your career path?
My biggest takeaway is that civil discourse is a practical leadership skill, not just a concept. The ability to guide conversations, reduce tension, and help people find common ground directly strengthens my work in Public Affairs and my professional role in safety leadership. This experience taught me that meaningful progress, whether in policy, safety, or community work, begins with creating spaces where people can communicate openly and respectfully.
