Student Treks
Student Treks connect you with alumni during organizational site visits and job shadowing experiences.
Hosted over breaks, these CCI-led trips are cohort experiences that provide you with an opportunity to explore a particular field of interest.
The CCI works with Middlebury alumni and parents to plan meaningful experiences. Activities include but are not limited to the following:
- Job Shadowing opportunities with industry-specific alumni in various job functions and roles
- Reflection dinners
- Opportunities to engage with alumni and Middlebury parents
- Career Networking Reception for alumni and students
Upcoming Student Treks
Media, Entertainment, and Communications Student Trek to Los Angeles, CA
February 2-7, 2025
Applications closed October 21st
Global Affairs and Conflict Transformation Student Trek to Washington, DC
March 16-21, 2025
Open to Rohatyn Global Scholars only
Past Student Treks
Media, Entertainment, and Communications Trek
New York, NY (June 13, 2024)
Innovation Trek
Boston, MA (Spring Break 2024)
See the Spring 2024 CCI Student Trek newsroom story.
DC Career Acceleration Trek
Washington, DC (Spring Break 2024)
See the Spring 2024 CCI Student Trek newsroom story.
Law, Advocacy and Conflict Transformation Trek
New York, NY (Spring Break 2023)
Global Affairs Career Exploration and Mentoring Trek
Washington, DC (Spring Break 2023)
See the Global Affairs Career Exploration and Mentoring Trek newsroom story.
Conflict Transformation Trek
Washington, D.C. (June 5-8, 2022)
Environment and Sustainability Trek
San Francisco and Monterey County, CA (Feb Break 2020)
Technology Trek
Boston, MA (October 21, 2019 - Fall Break)
Media and Entertainment Trek
New York, NY (June 2019)
Innovation Trek
Silicon Valley, San Francisco, CA (February Break 2019)
See the Innovation Trek newsroom story.
Media and Entertainment Trek
New York, NY (June 2018)
DC Trek
Washington, DC (Spring Break 2018)
Technology Trek
San Francisco Bay Area, CA (February Break 2018)
See the Tech Trek newsroom story.
Media and Entertainment Trek
Los Angeles, CA (Spring 2017)
See the M&E newsroom story.
Government, Politics, Energy, and Environment Trek
Washington, DC (Spring Break 2017)
Conflict Resolution Trek
Washington D.C., June 5-8, 2022
The Center for Careers and Internships and the Middlebury in DC office collaborated to provide a fully funded visit to Washington D.C. in early summer. The objective was to expose students interested in areas of conflict transformation, including peace and security studies, and migration and refugee issues, to real-world professional experiences that will enable them to apply their liberal arts learning while informing their career exploration and other post-graduate planning.
Over the course of four days, 14 students and three staff visited a variety of organizations including FHI 360, Search for Common Ground, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Embassy of Qatar, Bridge Alliance, United States Institute for Peace, International Monetary Fund, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Friends Committee on National Legislation and Capitol Hill to visit with the Vermont delegation.
We were also pleased to be joined by two special guest speakers for evening reflection dinners. Middlebury Trustee Catherine Lee ’92 shared stories about her career in a warm welcome to the city on the first night. And another Trustee Dr. Helen Riess spoke about her work at her company that provides evidence based empathy and communication skills training for healthcare, law enforcement and business that was well received by the students.
This program was funded by the new $25 million grant from the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation to support programming in this area. Michelle McCauley, professor of psychology and the faculty director and acting executive director “noted the distinction between conflict transformation and conflict mediation and reconciliation, which often proceed more pragmatically to dissolve conflicts. Conflict transformation, in contrast, assumes that conflict will always be present, but that it can be transformed toward positive and not destructive societal goals. The approach focuses on addressing the underlying conditions that give rise to conflict, preferably well in advance of hostility—and ensuring, as much as possible, a sustainable peace. Conflict transformation attempts to reshape the social structures and dynamics behind the conflict.”
Students Share Their Experience
“The DC Career Acceleration Trek has been one of my most transformative experiences at the College so far. Embracing a young adult’s lifestyle in Washington DC for an entire week will help me in the future as I transition between being a student and entering the workforce. Overall, I am glad for the connections I forged and the knowledge I acquired, and I couldn’t have asked for a better intro to adulthood and careers 101.” ~DC Career Acceleration Trek participant
“This Global Affairs Career Exploration and Mentoring Trek provided me with information and experiences that made me want to switch my major from neuroscience to either IP&E or IGS. I was exposed to so many incredible opportunities and people that I was inspired to pursue what I truly care about.” ~Madaket Rzepka ‘26
“Before the Law, Advocacy and Conflict Transformation Student Trek, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but I had no idea what the life of a practicing lawyer looked like and furthermore had no idea if that was the type of lifestyle I wanted for myself. All these questions were answered and then some. The people we met on the trip, not only answered these questions but provided so much clarity on the pitfalls/things to avoid if I was to go down the legal route. The speakers spoke honestly and bluntly about their vocation and did not hold back in voicing their opinions in response to all the questions I had for them as well as questions that came from my peers. After this trip, I feel that my drive and ambition to do well academically are now more potent than ever before. I saw the heights I wanted to reach, and I now have a better understanding of what must be done to reach said peaks. It was a truly deeply interesting and eye-opening experience.“ ~Fabien ‘Fabs’ Achinda ‘25
“By the end of the week at the Global Affairs Career Exploration and Mentoring Trek, I had learned about several new organizations that interest me and had a list of connections and internships/jobs to apply for. I was feeling much more empowered and determined in my job application process.” ~Vera Rousseff ‘23
“Some helpful advice from the Law, Advocacy and Conflict Transformation Student Trek is to give yourself time and get some life experience before going to law school. It’s better to know exactly what you want to do before going into law school so that you can get more [out] of it. Also, keeping up with the news is so crucial to understanding the world because in the news there is always a type of conflict to transform. It’s also important to look at both sides of a conflict and the history that is involved. Seeing the big picture and the events that lead up to conflict can make it easier to come up with solutions that benefit each party in the short and long term. I am very grateful to have gone on this trip and experience it with such an amazing group of students and CCI staff.” ~Masaylo Aye ‘26
“Before this Law, Advocacy and Conflict Transformation Student Trek, I knew I was interested in law but could never articulate what drew me to it and how it connected to my values. However, after hearing about why our contacts chose their field of work, I realized I value human connection, particularly with people with different backgrounds. I want to make people feel heard and recognized, and deeply appreciated hearing the same sentiment shared among the lawyers we visited. This has given me a lot of direction, encouraged me toward individually-focused work within the justice system, and drawn awareness to the value I place on individual stories.” ~Charlie Fisch ‘26
“This Global Affairs Career Exploration and Mentoring Trek experience has been a valuable learning opportunity that has affected my development as a student and emerging professional. I plan to approach academics, work, and career with a more open and adaptable mindset, focus on developing soft skills, and pursue opportunities in the Global Affairs sector.” ~Juan Ceron Vallejo ‘26