Chi Pham didn’t expect to find himself on a film shoot or contributing to a $2 billion revitalization project that’s reshaping downtown Houston this summer. But as an intern with the George R. Brown Convention Center’s Convention Services Team, the Rice University sophomore worked alongside city leaders, corporate clients and creatives from the Houston Film Commission.
His job? Helping build the future of his hometown.
“I’m honored to be part of something so monumental,” Pham said.
That sense of impact is no accident. Across the country and globe, Rice students are seizing hands-on roles with real stakes by interning in fields as diverse as offshore energy, arts education, global sports marketing and refugee housing. While their paths vary, many trace their success to a shared source: Rice’s Center for Career Development (CCD).
“At the CCD, we recognize that mission-driven internships are often the catalyst for students discovering their purpose and refining their goals,” said Nicole Van Den Heuvel, CCD executive director and associate dean of students. “We empower students to pursue these opportunities by first helping them understand what matters most to them. Through individual appointments and group workshops, students explore their values, interests and strengths and identify ways to align their goals with practical steps forward to pursue and secure mission-driven internships.”
Through one-on-one coaching, résumé and interview workshops and the Career and Internship Expo, the CCD helps undergraduates find their professional footing and aim high. Van Den Heuvel said the support structure is designed to remove barriers, build readiness and increase student confidence.
“According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, internships are one of the strongest predictors of postgraduate success, and by removing barriers and offering structured support, CCD ensures students are prepared to engage meaningfully in mission-driven work,” Van Den Heuvel said.
Rice students take it from there — bringing rigor, initiative and purpose to every role they step into.
“Employers consistently tell us they’re impressed not only by our students’ technical competence but by their adaptability, collaboration and work ethic — traits highly valued by employers, according to the NACE Job Outlook 2024 report,” Van Den Heuvel said.
That preparation lasts beyond a single summer. For students like junior Bess Glenn, who found her internship lead at a CCD event and followed it through months of strategic prep, the office didn’t just help with logistics — it changed her career trajectory. And as students evolve, so does the CCD.
“We view career development as a lifelong process, and our programming reflects that philosophy,” Van Den Heuvel said. “While recruiting remains central, we are equally focused on career engagement — creating space for students to explore evolving goals and interests and to build career readiness as an ongoing, iterative process, not a one-time outcome.”
CCD is the first stop for all students exploring their career paths, offering guidance from the moment they step on campus. Whether students are unsure of their direction or refining a specific goal, the CCD provides tools, resources and support to help them move forward confidently. From career assessments to employer connections, it’s where students begin building a meaningful future. Here’s how six Rice undergraduates are shaping industries and their futures through transformative internships.
