STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Penn State helped student be flexible during remote internship

Hanna Rose

Hanna Rose

Senior, Human Development and Family Studies

Prior to the start of COVID-19, Hanna Rose, a senior in majoring in Penn State’s Human Development and Family Studies program, had set up an internship experience with Intercept Pharmaceuticals in New York City.

Rose was set to be a human resources operations intern, helping to implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion program at the company and updating onboarding information and surveys for new employees.

When the effects of the global pandemic required social distancing and remote work, Rose was lucky enough to do the internship remotely and experience the industry in a whole new way.

Nittany Lion Shrine
9

Anticipated Graduation: May 2021

“A lot was impacted in positive and negative ways,” she said. “The biopharmaceutical industry was directly impacted because passing drugs through the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) had to be pushed back. Personally, I had a hard time adjusting to the completely remote work environment, but I learned new ways to motivate myself and connect with coworkers.”

Having this internship during the pandemic was a particularly educational experience for Rose, as she had previously worked with Intercept Pharmaceuticals during the summer of 2019 and specifically sought out another opportunity with the company.

Although Rose was able to keep the internship as a remote experience, the transition required steep adjustments.

In making the transition, Rose sought out colleagues at Intercept and HDFS faculty, including Marc McCann, instructor and internship director. “He truly made this unsettling time a very approachable and even exciting one,” Rose said.

“The flexibility that I had through Penn State really allowed me the privilege to make this experience possible, and I am very grateful for that.”

Explore other student experiences

The student experience in 2020 was unique in the history of Penn State. Many traditional hallmarks of student life were altered by our inability to gather in large groups. However, our students have shown resilience, tenacity, and the ability to work together.  WE ARE…