"Get in the Game and Add Buckets": Public Health Students & The Power of Internships

“Advocate for yourself.”
“Take Risks.”
“Just be coachable.”

Valuable advice from students – for students. It came from internship participants who gained real-world knowledge and skills while also earning credit hours. Known as experiential learning, it has become an even more important part of the holistic education and career preparation students receive at UNT Dallas.

It couldn’t be done without the cooperation of community partners, who host students and provide opportunities they can’t get elsewhere. “Our partners’ sites serve as our students’ classroom,” said Dr. Bonique Morton, Public Health Lecturer. “The skills they develop go far beyond what any course can teach.”

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The six students who gave testimonials shared their stories at a first-of-its-kind strategy session organized by the Public Health, Human Services Management & Leadership, Child Development & Family Studies, and Social Work programs.

Those academic programs are all part of the UNT Dallas College of Education and Human Development, formerly the School of Education and the School of Behavioral Health and Human Services. In the spirit of wellness and collaboration, the College brought together dozens of community partners, along with the university’s Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success (CELCS), on June 23, 2026.

The gathering’s goal was to reinforce relationships, build even more productive bridges, and, ultimately, serve students and community members alike. The students’ candid reflections left a lasting impression.

“I was able to exercise my passion.”
“It’s a launching pad.”
“Go in with a growth mindset.”

Empowering students and strengthening communities are part of the UNT Dallas mission. There’s no better way than educating our neighbors and helping them stay healthy physically and mentally.

“Public Health is about preventing disease, promoting wellness and protecting people,” said Dr. Carron Sanders, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor in Public Health. “Collaboration between our partners and students is a win-win. Everyone benefits, including underserved populations who need support because of healthcare and food insecurity.”

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Officially titled “Community Partners Engagement & Appreciation Brunch,” the event included for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations who work in harmony to provide healthcare services, wellness activities and recreational opportunities, primarily in the southern Dallas region.

By offering UNT Dallas students internships and practicums, these organizations play an important role in training future public health professionals. It’s known as experiential learning – learning by doing – working under the supervision and mentorship of leaders in the same field the students plan to enter.

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Anderson and the CELCS team have developed a five-step holistic career ecosystem (see graphic above) for every student at UNT Dallas. It starts with a plan to achieve their career goals, followed by making connections and building a professional network. The growth phase comes next, when students learn the skills to excel in their field, which leads to practice through real-world experiences where they gain confidence. The final step is labeled "Launch," as students translate their value into opportunity and begin (or continue) their path to career success and socioeconomic mobility.

Those five steps are now more accessible than ever, with the new Trailblazer Tuition Trust program, which offers free tuition and mandatory fees to eligible high school graduates.

"You play a huge role in helping students prepare for their career," Anderson told attendees, saying internships are an audition for a job offer.

UNT Dallas alumna Arlana Brumfield knows exactly what Anderson was talking about. She is not only a 2023 graduate, but she founded a nonprofit called Soilutions Holistic Urban Garden and now serves as a community partner by offering internships to current students.

"I had a 100 hour internship when I was a student," Brumfield said. "I studied biology and public health." She is passionate about farming and agriculture, STEM, environmental issues and food insecurity. Siolutions offers solutions such as gardening classes, farm-to-table food pipelines that benefit both growers and consumers, and holistic healing advice. Brumfield's student interns play an active role.

"How do you take skills out of the class and into real life?," she asks. That's her goal: letting students learn by literally getting their hands dirty.

As Soilutions grows its impact, UNT Dallas students will grow right along with it. Their experiences will fuel even more growth as they enter the workforce.

Brumfield attended the event and enjoyed reconnecting with UNT Dallas faculty and staff. Some of them joined the university after she graduated, so it was a way to establish new connections, too.

For example, the CELCS was established in 2025 to accelerate experiential education and expand collaboration with community partners like Brumfield. Internships and similar hands-on learning opportunities are built into all UNT Dallas programs and courses, as is AI instruction. They are part of the university’s Classroom-to-Career initiatives designed to ensure students are career-ready when they graduate, whichever degree they earn.

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These hands-on working environments are part of holistic career preparation, with an emphasis on communication, critical thinking and teamwork. They provide students with a valuable combination of  experiences and competencies - enduring skills that support lifelong learning far beyond the UNT Dallas campus – meaning our graduates become true Trailblazers.

Note: Other faculty and staff who planned the event included Dr. Nedra Washington-Goss, Senior Lecturer, Child Development & Family Services, Dr. Amanda Coleman-Mason, Visiting Lecturer, Human Services Management & Leadership, Dr. Celina Boykin, Cynthia Gonzalez, and three students, Katie Hepfer, Tiffany Hayes, and Neiby Rodriguez.