Brown reflects on his summer internship through the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program

Cameron Brown, a junior Planning student, participated in ECU’s SECU Public Fellows Internship Program in the Summer of 2022. Hosted by the Office of Engaged Research (OER), the Public Fellows Internship Program connects the university and regional communities through projects that address community-identified priorities. 

Since 2015, the Community and Regional Planning program has been participating in this program. Twelve students helped the communities and non-profit organizations in eastern North Carolina.

Planning students who completed a SECU Public Fellowship Internship:

• Gilbert Combs with Uptown Greenville (2015)
• Damiere Powell with Greene County Economic Development Commission (2016)
• Andrew Strong with Uptown Greenville (2016)
• Kenneth Staton with Windsor/Bertie County Chamber of Commerce (2017)
• Madeline Tripp with NC Coastal Federation (2018)
• William Stanton with Uptown Greenville (2018)
• Allen Mills with Sylvan Heights Bird Park (2018)
• Jenny Basil with the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina (AMEXCAN) (2018)
• Heather Mosesso with the Town of Simpson (2019)
• Spencer Crawford with the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina (AMEXCAN) (2019)
• Cameron Brown with the City of Goldsboro (2022)
• Ian Jethro with Lenoir County (2022)

“Cameron and Ian both had an awesome summer at their internships. Both of them differed significantly, and it was almost comical to hear Cameron talking to Ian after our last workshop this week about how Ian’s internship was awesome and would give him such an advantage in the workforce. Just hearing them two talk about how different the experiences were but how each one would be beneficial in their future career it truly made me feel like this program helps mold the students just a little more for their future careers.” – Comment by Cassie Keel, OER, 2022

Read Cameron Brown’s internship reflections:

“This summer, I was selected by the City of Goldsboro to take part in the State Employees Credit Union Public Fellows Internship Program. This program allows students to participate in public service by addressing the needs of eastern North Carolina organizations while also gaining lifelong professional development skills. Serving in the Goldsboro City Manager’s office, this program allowed me to gain greater insight and understanding of the demands of the region and small-town eastern North Carolina. This internship also allowed for a great introduction to the workings of local government and the various departments housed within city halls.

As a management analyst intern, I primarily worked on three projects which focused on the city’s strategic planning initiatives, the city’s capital improvement plan, and the creation of a financial metric that focused on the city’s bond rating. Each of these projects required that I work with departmental leadership to accomplish their objectives best while respecting the vision of the Goldsboro community. The main task was updating the city’s strategic plan, which looks at metric data to understand where the city needs improvement most. These goals use the city council’s vision and values which directly reflect the local community’s values.

Another great project was when I worked with department heads to revise their capital improvement plans. This insight directly allowed me to understand how administrators rationalize purchasing equipment to improve their services and community. It was also a great chance to see how each department can sustain operations by adequately planning for additions and replacements to their equipment fleet. My final project involved researching and understanding how local governments can track their finances to improve government accountability. I produced a city bond rating metric that looked at how the city can improve its financial situation by improving its credibility through the annual bond rating. Bond ratings are important because Goldsboro can ultimately save citizens money on significant projects and advancements to their services with a good city bond rating.

Coming into college, I knew I had to work in public service but never knew what the profession would entail. This internship opportunity allowed me to work directly in local government with leaders responsible for maintaining the public good. Much of this work goes unseen, so to serve this community in this way was something that I think was amazing just due to how much I was able to appreciate the work done behind the scenes. This internship was a great way to spend my summer serving the region I now call home.

If I could give any advice to a current or a future planner, it would be to do as many internships as possible. Internships allow you to gain knowledge about the field you are working in and technical skills that your future employers will value. The intern experience also enables you to develop your professional skills by doing everyday tasks such as making professional phone calls, emails, and video conferences. Promoting these skills was another significant aspect of the program, and by developing these skills, my confidence as a future professional increased. While internships may not be inside a classroom, the knowledge promoted through real work exposure makes all the difference in understanding your profession.”