The Exploration Externship is a four-day virtual experience designed for first-year and sophomore students beginning their career journey. Students choose from one of six industry-focused tracks, each designed to provide a rich foundation for early career exploration.
Student participants will receive:
- Direct Access to Alumni and Employers: Each track is a curated experience, featuring 6–8 engaged alumni and sessions and 2-3 employers. Students will hear authentic stories, learn how a Carleton education translates into daily work, and get an inside look at what employers look for in early-career candidates.
- Skill-Building and Clarity: Supported by a professional Career Coach, students will participate in a résumé workshop and guided reflection session. They will walk away with a deeper knowledge of roles in the field, clearer employer expectations, and a solid plan for their next steps.
There are no travel or lodging costs involved, no previous experience or résumé is required, and there are no limits on the number of students who can participate.
Registration opens: Tuesday, October 14
Registration closes: Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m. CST
Program Duration: virtually on Tuesday, December 2 through Friday, December 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST
The deadline to register for an exploration track was November 14. All spots are filled. Registration for 2026 opens in the fall. Stay tuned.
Exploration Tracks for careers in:
Arts, Design, and Communications
Media & Journalism, Public Relations & Corporate Communications, Architecture, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Museum & Heritage Management, Publishing, Film & Television Production
Speakers
Janice Vick ’03, (Psychology) | Project Director and Director of Learning and Development, Banyan Communications
Jake Zivin ’07, (Mathematics) | Lead Play-by-Play Broadcaster, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Sarah Moore ’01, (Studio Art) | Director of 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Association for Visual Arts
Jeff Chertack ’01, (Psychology) | Interim Director, Global Communications, Gates Foundation
Ross Brown ’14, (Biology) | Architect, HOK
Isaac Reynaldo ’19, (Cinema and Media Studies) | Junior Producer, TBWA\Media Arts Lab
Molly Work ’14, (English) | Reporter, MPR News
Andrew Cely ’15, (Cinema and Media Studies, Mathematics) | Television Producer – Sports, WFAA
Nick Cohen ’18, (Political Science/IR) | Director, Global Content and Editorial, General Catalyst
Business and Finance
Financial Services, Marketing & Advertising, Consulting, Human Resources, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Accounting & Audit, Consumer Product Goods (CPG)
Speakers
David Nonberg ’09, (English) | Director, Business Affairs, DC Comics, Warner Bros, Discovery
Jipei Zhang ’06, (Political Science/IR) | Enterprise Account Executive, Celonis
Patrick Whitehead ’09, (Economics, Political Science) | Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
John Smith-Ricco ’07 (History) | Managing Director, Centerbridge Partners
Ziyu Fan ’18, (Chemistry) | Strategic Estimator, Microsoft
Jon Fraser ’10, (Political Science/IR) | Head of Advertising Attribution Solutions, Google
Cary Tiernan ’07, (Political Science) | Head of Product Marketing, North America, Xero
Selam Nicola ’19, (Economics) | Senior Investment Associate, Kaiser Family Foundation
Stacy Grunden, Human Resources Manager, Compeer Financial
Data, Technology, and Innovation
Software Development/Engineering, Product Management, Data Science & Analytics, Cybersecurity, UX/UI Design, Cloud Computing, Tech Sales/Business Development, Startup Ecosystem
Speakers
George Ahn ’87, (Economics) | Operating Partner, Waud Capital Partners
Justin Thomson ’01, (Computer Science) | SVP, Engineering & Data Science, LinusBio
Shelby Jones ’19, (Political Science/IR) | Marketplace Operations Strategist, Slack/Salesforce
Ignacio (Nacho) Rodriguez Cortes ’22, (Computer Science) | Research Cyberinfrastructure Specialist II, UW-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health
Eric Carr ‘96, (Computer Science) | President, Compoze Labs
Taylor Owen ’13, (Economics) | Senior Data Analyst, EBG Solutions
Dylan Wells ’16, (Economics) | Senior Manager, Marketing Technology, Dow Jones
Tory Peterson ’18, (Economics) | Enterprise Solutions Engineer, Persona
Matt Borland ’95 (English) | Senior UI Architect (Rtd), Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Health and Applied Sciences
Physicians (various specialties), Nurses, Allied Health (PT, OT, SLP), Mental Health, Counseling & Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Pharmaceutical & Biotech R&D, Medical Devices, Health Technology, Public Health, Industrial Chemist
Speakers
Tim Bielecki ’11, (Biology) | Medical Science Liaison, AstraZeneca
Diane Walters ’12, (Chemistry) | Lithography Process Engineer, Intel
Nina Curvis ’03, (Mathematics) | Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Sodexo / Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Johanna Fierke ’12, (Psychology) | Medical Social Worker, Lurie Children’s Hospital
Gifty Amos Nwankwo ’19, (Psychology) | Research Analyst, Huron
Jacob Anderson ’11, (Physics) | Staff R&D Engineer, Shockwave Medical (Johnson & Johnson MedTech)
Sabrina Mora ’18, (Psychology) | Manager, Clinical Research Coordinator, Helios Clinical Research
Ilana Crankshaw ’16, (Geology) | Senior Staff Scientist – Hydrogeologist, S.S. Papadopulos & Associates
Minnesota Department of Health, The Public Health Laboratory Division
- Anna Strain, Infectious Disease Laboratory Manager
- Marla DeVault, Research Scientist – Emerging Contaminants
- Breahna Giles, Chemical Threat Preparedness Coordinator
- Sarah Bwabye-Namugenyi, Sequencing & Bioinformatics Laboratory Manager
- Michael Murphy, Lab Scientist – Metals and Radiochemistry
Legal and Law Learning
Law Firm, Law School
Speakers
Julia Hanagan ’07, (History) | Policy Director/Lead Attorney, Dependency Legal Services
Honorable Bruce Manning ’96, (Political Philosophy) | Judge, Minnesota Fourth Judicial District
Grant Bowen ’11, (Chemistry) | Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Brett Landis ’04, (History, Theater) | Director of Pro Bono Resources, Colorado Access to Justice Commission
Heidi Manschreck ’03, (Political Science) | Chief, Health Care Fraud Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Illinois
August (Gus) Leinbach ’17, (Religion) | Senior Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Manhattan Legal Services
Roger Yarett ’11, (American History) | Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
Becca Rogers ’15, (History) | Counsel, Forsgren Fisher McCalmont DeMarea Tysver LLP
Issa DiSciullo, Associate Dean for J.D. Admissions and Financial Aid, William and Mary Law School
Public Service and Policy
Federal, State, and Local Government, Diplomacy, Public Policy, Public Administration, Non-Governmental Organizations
Speakers
Hilary Renner ’87, (English) | Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Mexico City
Tyler Rogstad ’01, (Political Science/IR) | Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Nonoko Sato ’00, (Political Science/IR) | President & CEO, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Erik Hanberg ’02, (English) | Director of Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations, KNKX Public Radio
Elizabeth Randa ’04, (Russian Studies) | Acquisition Management Specialist Senior, State of Minnesota, Department of Administration, Office of State Procurement
Erin Heydinger ’11, (Biology) | Principal Engineer – Feather River Program Manager, California Department of Water Resources
Hannah Nayowith ’16, (Sociology/Anthropology) | Director, Impact and Special Projects, Eleven Eleven Foundation
Liz Watson ’96, (Political Science) | Director – Federal Government Affairs, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Jeff Juul ’13, (Political Science/IR) | Government Affairs – Midwest/Central, Instacart