Fayetteville State University and the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation hosted the inaugural SECU Foundation & Preceptor Luncheon on Aug. 7 on campus, celebrating the results of a $110,000 grant for student internships and regional workforce support.

This summer, as part of the annual SECU Public Fellows Internship Program, 20 students from all four FSU colleges completed 10-week internships with 16 businesses and organizations in Cumberland County. More than 60 students applied, showing a strong demand for practical experience that bridges academic learning and professional readiness.

“This program is about more than internships; it drives economic development,” said Rodney McCrowre, assistant professor in the Broadwell College of Business and Economics and university coordinator for the SECU Public Fellows Program in a press release. “When our students apply their skills at organizations like Cape Fear Valley Health, the City of Fayetteville, and Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division, they not only prepare for their careers, but they also strengthen the institutions that drive our community forward."

The SECU Foundation established the Public Fellows Internship Program in 2015 to provide meaningful, paid internship placements for North Carolina undergraduates at rural and community-focused agencies throughout the state. Funded by SECU members, the program was first offered at FSU in 2016 and has continued every summer since, building capacity in underserved areas, reducing talent drain from rural communities, and fostering civic engagement—all while providing select student talent with valuable professional experiences.

FSU interns worked on projects in data analytics, HR modernization, compliance, healthcare support, and community outreach. They often assumed full-time responsibilities, providing employers with extra capacity in areas that directly impact residents, such as city services and health outcomes. 

“This is a direct investment in the region’s economy,” said Chancellor Darell T. Allision in a press release. “Internships lead to jobs, jobs lead to families who stay, and a stronger workforce attracts new opportunities. With the SECU Foundation and our campus teams, we will scale this model and keep talent in Cumberland County.”

Several members of the university’s campus team collaborated to organize the program and luncheon. Stepheria Hodge-Nicholson and Rachel Townsend oversaw placements, Mallonee Clay managed logistics, and Dean Ulysses Taylor advocated for paid opportunities with support from Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Monica Leach and the Chancellor.

"While our front-of-the-house team was the visible face of this achievement, their success stands upon a foundation built by the immense dedication and talent of our entire community," McCrowre added in the release. "From department chairs and advisers to faculty, preceptors, and community partners—if we didn't mention you by name, please know your efforts truly made a difference for our students and for this region."

Applications for the next round of internships are expected to open in spring 2026, subject to the availability of grant funding. Interested students should monitor the university's Career Services website for specific dates and instructions when the application period is announced.