EUGENE, Ore. – For students eager to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, internships provide an essential stepping stone. Last spring, two recent Bushnell University graduates, Isabella “Bella” Hernandez ‘25 and Ashley Flores ‘25, gained hands-on experience through internships with Lane County. Hernandez completed her internship with Talent Acquisition, while Flores was with Labor Relations and Talent Management.
Both departments play a key role in attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse workforce while fostering an environment in which employees can thrive throughout their careers. For the two psychology majors, it was an opportunity to explore how human behavior and organizational systems intersect in the workplace.
We sat down with the duo to discuss their internship experiences at Lane County and how these opportunities helped shape their future careers in psychology. You can watch the full interview below on Bushnell’s YouTube channel or the embedded video below.
Finding the Right Fit
For both alumnae, the internship journey began with a conversation and some guidance. “I just asked Whitney for help,” said Flores, referring to Whitney Shoun, M.S., Bushnell’s Career Development Coordinator. “I wanted to do something in HR, which ties into industrial-organizational psychology. I’m planning to pursue my master’s in that field, so I wanted to be sure it was the right fit.”
Hernandez had a similar path. “I was looking around Eugene at different HR departments, even the fire department,” she said. “It was harder than I expected, so I reached out to Whitney, and she connected me with Laura [from Lane County], and it all came together from there.”
Unlike the classroom, where everything revolves around deadlines, their internships offered more flexibility and independence. “In school, it’s very deadline-driven,” Hernandez said. “Here, it’s more about managing your own tasks and timelines.”
Gaining Wisdom Through Real-World Work
Each intern worked on meaningful projects that gave them a clearer sense of the work they might want to pursue long term.
Hernandez helped organize and attend job fairs and thereby gained insight from the other side of the table. “As a student, I’ve gone to job fairs, but being the person talking to other students and representing the organization — that was a whole new experience,” she said. “I also really enjoyed writing job postings.”
Flores worked on revamping the county’s Learn Empower Achieve Perform training program, required for all new employees. “I rewrote the safety and protocol training. It was fun to learn a new system and figure out how to phrase things clearly. It really confirmed that I enjoy this type of work.”
The experience also helped them reflect on pacing and lifestyle. “I think I want a year off after graduation before jumping into corporate,” said Hernandez. “It helped me realize what kind of balance I want.”
Bushnell’s Support System
The students emphasized how critical Bushnell’s support system was to their success.
“The best part of the internship program is Whitney. Whitney, period,” Flores and Hernandez said. “She made everything easier. I know a lot of schools don’t require internships, but Bushnell does — and that really helps you build experience and a network.”
“Even if you can’t find an internship on your own,” Hernandez added, “someone at Bushnell will find one for you. They make sure you get that opportunity.”
Internships are more than just resume-builders, they noted: they are career launchpads. “You’ve got to try it before you buy it,” said Hernandez. “It’s about figuring out what you want — and even if it’s not what you expected, you’ve still built valuable connections.”
For more information about Bushnell University’s psychology programs, including concentrations in neuroscience, forensic psychology, and general psychology, visit www.bushnell.edu/psychology. To explore our online psychology program, visit www.bushnell.edu/psychology-online. To learn more about Bushnell’s internship program and how it helps students gain hands-on experience, visit www.bushnell.edu/career-development.