Binghamton University student Haven Collinsworth quickly adapted to new challenges during his summer internship with Cornell University IT’s infrastructure services team. “As an intern, I led a comprehensive overhaul of the documentation for CIT managed servers, encompassing both public-facing and internal resources,” he said.

The junior Psychology major began his documentation wrangling assignment by analyzing existing documentation to identify areas needing attention. He then developed a new organizational structure for the content. To ensure accuracy and relevance, Collinsworth delegated specific pages to subject matter experts within the managed servers team.

“Given my unfamiliarity with the subject matter, I conducted thorough research to gain a solid understanding of managed servers and their associated technologies,” Collinsworth said. “Working directly with my team leader helped me better understand the team’s needs and enabled me to make informed decisions about the direction and preferred outcome of the assignment.”

Despite his initial lack of experience with managed servers, Collinsworth systematically reviewed all existing articles, assessing their content and identifying areas for improvement. “Based on my analysis and insights from my team leader, I developed a new organizational framework that better aligned with the managed server team’s objectives for information dissemination to both team members and customers,” he said.

With his supervisor’s approval, Collinsworth revised the group’s web pages to enhance navigation and streamline information for both managed server customers and CIT engineers. “The result of this project was a more coherent, user-friendly documentation system that effectively serves the needs of both internal team members and external customers,” Collinsworth said. “The new structure facilitates easier access to critical information about managed servers, their capabilities, and associated services.”

In addition to supporting the managed server team with their documentation needs, Collinsworth gained valuable insights into professional careers in higher education. He discovered numerous opportunities previously unfamiliar to him and found that working with professionals in various roles helped alleviate his apprehension about pursuing a career in higher education.

Collinsworth discovered his internship through the Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion (ADI) Student Intern Program. He advises prospective applicants to become comfortable asking questions to clarify assignments.

“Effective communication and proactivity are essential components of success in this internship,” he said. “This opportunity offers a valuable platform to develop crucial communication skills and apply them within a professional setting. The experience you gain will largely depend on your initiative and engagement with your work responsibilities, making it imperative to take a proactive approach to maximize the benefits of your time here.”