Campus to Career: "Bosses" Panel

As many of you will be looking to enter the professional workforce in the near future, WII has organized two panels of local professionals to point you in the right direction. These panels are the first installments in our new series: Campus-to-Career. The series aims to answer your questions about the job search, networking, resumes, and other career questions that you may have. 

The first installment was the “Bosses” panel on Tuesday, June 17th at 6pm. Several advanced career professionals  shared the traits they look for in young professionals and new hires. These were the type of people that could be offering you that first position after you finish college.

The second panel, "Young Professionals," will be Tuesday, June 24th at 6pm. This panel will be comprised of young professionals who started careers much more recently and know what it is like to be an intern looking for their first full-time job opportunity. They recently navigated the job search and are here to give you tips on how to best present yourself, find opportunities, and maximize your network. Our young professionals represent diverse professional fields and can offer a wide range of advice.

This panel will be held at the offices of SmithBucklin at 2025 M Street, NW. The meeting space is on the 7th floor. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

WII Announces Appointment of Gregory M. Weight as President and CEO

Washington, DC—June 9, 2014—The Washington Internship Institute (WII) announced the appointment of Gregory M. Weight, Ph.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 7, 2014. Dr. Weight will assume this position after serving for the past four years in Academic Affairs at Ursinus College.

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Dr. Weight brings to the position a strong background in undergraduate education. His current responsibilities at Ursinus are extensive and varied. In addition to assisting in the improvement of student retention and advising, he chairs several academic committees, including the Committees on Outcomes Assessment and Academic Standards and Discipline.  He serves on both the Working Group for Undergraduate Research and the Advising Group for the Independent Learning Experience.

Dr. Weight is coordinator of the Health Professions Advising Committee at Ursinus, and he advises students preparing applications for graduate study. He is charged with tracking and recruiting promising students for nationally competitive awards, which includes assisting students and faculty with application preparation, as well as faculty award advisors and committees responsible for on-campus interviews. He also coordinates both the Summer Fellows Program and the Celebration of Student Achievement.

“His strong interest in high-impact, transformational learning experiences for students, such as internships, makes Dr. Weight a perfect fit for WII,” said Mary Ryan, who founded WII in 1990 and served as president and CEO for more than two decades.

“Greg’s enthusiasm and creativity have already brought forth excellent ideas to further benefit WII students, as well as their home institutions.  Schools will be very glad they partnered with us,” said Michael True, Director of the Internship Center at Messiah College and chair of the WII Board of Directors.

Dr. Weight received his B.A. from Pomona College and his Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware. Previously, he served as both Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator of Student Fellowships and Scholarships at Ursinus College. He also served as Assistant Professor of English at the Community College of Baltimore County. Dr. Weight has published and presented on a range of higher education issues, including diversity, assessment, and undergraduate research. 

Critical Dialogues Series: Life Lessons Learned While Fighting Crime with Mr. Joseph Persichini, Executive Director of the Washington DC Police Foundation

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On April 23, Mr. Joseph Persichini spoke during the final spring installment of the Critical Dialogues Series, detailing “Life Lessons Learned While Fighting Crime.” Mr. Persichini has had a distinguished career with the FBI for 30 years and served as the Director of the Washington Field Office for the FBI.  He is now the Executive Director of the Washington DC Police Foundation. The Washington DC Police Foundation brings together business, civic, nonprofit and professional communities and individuals to promote public safety through support of Chief Cathy Lanier and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Mr. Persichini highlighted many of the characteristics and skills that he had observed in the best leaders he ever worked with during his time at the FBI. He also spoke of the importance in education and mentoring for young people in preventing crime from becoming endemic.