Dr. Wech Named Internship Coordinator for Management Print E-mail
Dr. Barbara Wech

The Department of Management, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods (MISQ) in the School of Business has named Dr. Barbara Wech as the Internship Coordinator for Management Majors. Dr. Wech brings to this position a wealth of knowledge, ranging from her seven years of experience in human resources management in the private sector along with her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management and eight years as a professor here at UAB.


As a former human resources manager, Dr. Wech knows first‐hand the importance of internships. As a master’s degree student at Michigan State University during the 1980’s, when economic times were tough and paid internships were unavailable, Dr. Wech did an unpaid internship in order to gain practical experience and improve her chances for employment. Dr Wech reflects on this experience stating: “I have no doubt that the unpaid internship helped me to be a viable and successful job candidate in a tough economic market.”

Here are some more of Dr Wech’s thoughts as she takes on this new challenge:
“Employers want people with experience, but what are college students to do about
getting that experience? For new college graduates with little to no work experience,
internships show potential employers that applicants have some experiential knowledge
in the field and were serious enough about their future profession to experience it in the
real world. Internships also provide employers with a glimpse into what a possible
future employee can contribute in their work environment. But let’s not forget what
benefits these internships provide to our students. They allow students to apply what
they have learned in the classroom to a real work setting. By getting their feet in the
companies’ doors, successful internships may result in job offers when students
graduate. Internships also allow students to network and develop valuable contacts.
For example, a reference from an employer who has experienced a student’s work is an
important and credible reference. After doing an internship, students may even decide
that it really is not what they want to do for a living and they may elect to change
majors. However, it is better for students to discover their career preferences while in
school, rather than after having earned the degree! “

Our department views experiential education as an important component in our students’
education because it links the information presented in the classroom with the practical
experience that internships provide. Management student interns can assist organizations in
achieving their goals in a variety of ways, including their contributions as onsite labor to assist with ongoing project at these companies.

Organizations wishing to hire interns majoring in various Management concentrations or
wanting to learn more about setting up internships are encouraged to contact Dr. Wech at
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