Internship Spotlight: Wade Miller

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Meet Wade Miller, a rising junior studying Sports Management and Management at Isenberg School of Management.

This summer, Wade served as the Athletic Facilities Coordinator for the Mount Ida Campus, which included a range of responsibilities, from overseeing field rentals to managing the fitness center to initiating facility upgrades.

Wade's internship offered a direct view into a different side of college athletics, complementing his previous roles in Amherst. “It gave me a second experience to fill in the circle of the facility sides of things – maintenance, project planning, and renting out fields,” he said.

His organizational skills got a boost, along with scheduling experience and hands-on opportunities that put him ahead of the curve for his career path.

Challenges included dealing with external clients’ scheduling preferences and navigating the university’s administrative processes. Wade's approach? “Be friendly, be honest with them, and keep the conversation going.” Seeking guidance from his supervisor and on-campus mentor, Mount Ida Campus Director Steve Reynolds, helped him overcome hurdles.

Living at Mount Ida added a unique dimension to his internship, allowing him to see firsthand the impact of his work and fruits of his labor, as clients hosted camps, practices, games and events across campus. He also highlights the camaraderie among the summer interns working directly for the campus administration, exemplified by their regular game of pool after lunch in the dining commons.

For future Mount Ida Campus interns, Wade's advice is simple: “Embrace everything, try new things, and don't fear failure.”

Wade’s proactive attitude, willingness to learn, and dedication to making a difference helped improve campus operations while providing him valuable professional experience. His story speaks to the growth opportunities offered to University of Massachusetts Amherst students via the Mount Ida Campus.

Congratulations on your success, Wade!