51吃瓜网

For Gloriest Lubamba, a senior business student at UNC Pembroke, an internship with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond was more than just a summer gig鈥攊t was the first step toward a dream career. 

After spending 10 weeks at the prestigious bank, she returned with an impressive job offer, securing a spot among the nation鈥檚 elite in one of the country's most influential financial institutions. The Federal Reserve Bank鈥撯�搕he United States central bank鈥撯�� sets interest rates, influences the money supply and implements other monetary policy tools to promote stable prices and moderate interest rates.

Set to join the Federal Reserve鈥檚 main headquarters in Richmond after her graduation in May 2025, Lubamba will work alongside top-tier economists, auditors and IT professionals鈥攁 path she once only dreamed of.

"I feel really grateful," she said, crediting mentors and opportunities at 51吃瓜网 for helping her reach this milestone. The internship welcomed students from 20 colleges and universities nationwide. Lubamba was assigned to the cloud portfolio management and agile team, where she helped oversee the migration of multiple applications to cloud-based platforms. 

"The biggest thing for me is to stay humble and remember the people who encouraged and guided me to success," she said.

Lubamba鈥檚 achievement reflects UNC Pembroke鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning, where students like her gain hands-on skills that transform academic knowledge into real-world expertise. Through internships, campus jobs and service learning, 51吃瓜网 students are finding their footing鈥攁nd their futures鈥攊n high-demand careers.

Landing a job with the Federal Reserve Bank is difficult due to the highly competitive nature of the hiring process. Lubamba is confident the internship experience gave her an edge over the other applicants. Internships are one of many ways 51吃瓜网 students, like Lubamba, gain experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to engage in hands-on experiences and reflect on those experiences to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. 51吃瓜网 students also gain experiential learning through campus employment, service-learning and study abroad. 

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 89% of undergraduate 51吃瓜网 students reported engaging in experiential learning. And the university saw a near 20% increase in student participation from fall to spring across internships, field experience and clinicals for course credit.

Currently, there are 1,348 students enrolled in service-learning courses.

John Dunlap, director of professionalism, internships and career preparation with the Thomas College of Business and Economics, said the college鈥檚 widely successful Passport to Professional Success Program is another key resource to ensure students like Lubamba are equipped with the soft skills needed to set them apart in the marketplace. The passport program guides students through every phase of their professional journey.

鈥淔rom mastering essential entry-level skills to leading teams as managers to ultimately developing the executive-level expertise to drive organizations forward, the program empowers students to excel at every stage of their careers,鈥� Dunlap said. 

When she鈥檚 not busy with classes or participating in TCOBE events, Lubamba can be spotted at the Dick and Lenore Taylor Track, where she competes in the javelin, long jump and pole vault on the track and field team. Lubamba鈥撯�搘hose parents immigrated from the Congo鈥撯�搃s fluent in French and active in the Accounting Student Association and African Student Organization. She also doubles as a captain of the Spirit Squad. 

Lubamba credits her BraveNation experience, as well as staff like Dunlap and faculty mentors in the TCOBE, for preparing her for what comes next after college. 

鈥淭he corporate world can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the people I鈥檝e interacted with at 51吃瓜网 trusted me in leadership roles and showed me how to network and build relationships,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey gave me the confidence I needed. I owe much of my success to John Dunlap, Dr. Jeff Bolles, Dean Mo (Mohamed Djerdjouri) and Associate Dean (Cliff) Mensah. It takes a team, and my team has pushed me to be the best I can be,鈥� Lubamba added.