26 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2026 By Jenny Gragg Carson ’03 History & Social Sciences Department Coordinator, Externship Program Coordinator Students at Ransom Everglades are stepping out of the classroom and into real workplaces through an exciting new program that is tapping into the power of the RE network. Designed to offer meaningful forays into various careers, the RE Explorer Externship Program helps students sharpen their future focus while also developing marketable skills and habits. Whether connecting with accomplished professionals who share career insights on campus, or participating in career experiences off campus, Ransom Everglades students are engaging in a new realm of experiential learning that offers fresh challenges and inspiring interactions. In many cases, they are strengthening their ties to the RE community. This summer, select RE students will experience financial analysis and data reporting at Cassel Salpeter & Co. mentored by Phil Cassel ’03. At Idea Financial, under the supervision of Co-founder and President Larry Bassuk ’00, students will learn how technologyenabled lending works in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. And for students with a passion for self-expression, Michael Toccin ’03, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Toccin in New York, will offer an inside look at the mechanics of fashion merchandising and design, while Eric Poses ’91, owner of All Things Equal, Inc., will provide a glimpse inside the world of game development. RE students will also shadow doctors at Baptist Health South Florida, observing the patient journey from diagnosis to the operating room, and learn the nuances of pediatric dentistry at All Smiles Dentistry, under the guidance of Rebecca Lenard ’04. Each of these partners is providing something a textbook cannot: the human element in professional life. I frequently get the question, “How are externships different from internships?” Externships are shorter, unpaid and focused on exploration rather than extensive job training. They are designed to help a student decide if a field is the right fit before they commit to a four-year degree or a long-term internship. This special program launched on campus last fall with a Lunch and Learn series that brought interesting professionals to the Ransom Campus for conversations with students. The series included Bassuk; Toccin; Veronica Alcorta ’96, Director of Merchandising for Bulgari; Danielle Squires ’03, a pediatrician; and Seth Cassel ’98, Cofounder of DosMundos. Students who go off campus with our externships may choose from two levels of engagement: ● Expeditions (Extended Immersion): Designed primarily for rising juniors and seniors during the summer, Expeditions last a minimum of one business week. These are immersive, skill-based journeys where students tackle meaningful tasks or projects. Whether it’s drafting marketing materials at an investment bank or observing a surgical procedure, Expeditions provide valuable insights that will allow students to make informed decisions about their college majors and future careers. Externships: What’s Next at RE New program allows students to explore and learn outside of the classroom OnCampus Jenny Gragg Carson ’03
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