MTSU students share their internship experiences

Completing an internship is a requirement that students in nearly every major face at some point in their college career.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:22pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a laptop, coffee mug, and notebook repeated in a tight grid pattern, representing the various tools and settings of a modern internship.Internships provide college students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and gain real-world professional experience.Murfreesboro Today

The article highlights the internship experiences of several MTSU students, including a digital media student who interned at the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, a music business student who interned at the Country Music Association, a social work student who interned at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute, and an audio production major who interned in tour management. The students share the challenges, surprises, and valuable skills they gained from their internships.

Why it matters

Internships are a crucial part of the college experience, providing students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world settings and gain valuable professional experience. The article showcases how internships can help students explore different career paths, build their networks, and develop essential soft and hard skills that prepare them for the workforce.

The details

The article profiles several MTSU students and their internship experiences. Savanah Gill, a digital marketing student, interned at the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, where she took notes, conducted research, and created social media content. Music business major Jack Burrows completed four internships, including one at the Country Music Association, where he worked backstage during the CMA Awards. Social work student Regan Gomez interned at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute, shadowing social workers and participating in interdisciplinary meetings. Audio production major Phil Spates interned in tour management at RichMGMT, where he shadowed tour managers and production managers.

  • Savanah Gill completed her internship in fall 2024.
  • Jack Burrows graduated in fall 2025 with four completed internships.
  • Regan Gomez is currently interning at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute as she completes her Master of Social Work program this summer.
  • Phil Spates completed his internship in 2025.

The players

Savanah Gill

A senior digital marketing student at MTSU who completed an internship with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

Jack Burrows

A music business major at MTSU who graduated in fall 2025 with four completed internships, including one at the Country Music Association.

Regan Gomez

A student in the Master of Social Work program at MTSU who is currently interning at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute.

Phil Spates

An audio production major at MTSU who graduated in 2025 and completed an internship in tour management at RichMGMT.

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What they’re saying

“Definitely network and ask around; don't be hesitant to follow up with people on LinkedIn after you meet them out in the world, on campus, at a career fair. Go interview at places, even if you think you don't want to work there or don't need a job, growing that skill will help you gain confidence, and that is what makes you stand out to hiring managers.”

— Savanah Gill, Digital marketing student

“What surprised me most about my time at the CMA was the amount of preparation and labor that goes into the CMA Awards. It was fascinating to see the amount of work required to plan a single night, as everything needed to be timed to the exact second.”

— Jack Burrows, Music business major

“Many of the patients are experiencing a mental health crisis rather than being what society might label as 'crazy.' Spending over seven hours a day in the hospital helped me see them as individuals with complex, often heartbreaking life experiences who deserve compassion, dignity and appropriate treatment.”

— Regan Gomez, Master of Social Work student

“What surprised me the most about the experience was being able to be on a tour bus while still in college.”

— Phil Spates, Audio production major

The takeaway

Internships are a crucial part of the college experience, providing students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world settings and gain valuable professional experience. The diverse internship experiences highlighted in the article showcase how internships can help students explore different career paths, build their networks, and develop essential skills that prepare them for the workforce.