Derrick Ukhuegbe
Derrick Ukhuegbe is a rising sophomore at University of Maryland Eastern Shore majoring in marketing. He is supporting Development and Alumni Relations at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. This summer, Derrick has used his curious eye to soak in as much information about development as possible.
What drew you to this opportunity?
I could tell this opportunity has a lot to offer. After one week, I knew that was true. I’ve already made connections that will put me on the right path for my career. I love that with this internship, I don’t have to focus my potential on one career path. I’m not 100% sure where I want to be in 10 years, so it has been great to see the variety of jobs at Hopkins.
What are you most excited about during your internship?
It’s hard to pinpoint one thing because there are so many valuable pieces of this internship. I plan to make the most of this opportunity, and it excites me to take on this internship in its entirety.
What is your most memorable college experience?
The most memorable college experience for me was when I traveled with several other members of a club to Penn State to see our track team compete. After that, we went to the first HBCU (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) and attended their annual party.
Where do you want to be in 10 years, and how can this internship help you get there?
I don’t have an exact image in mind of where I want to be in 10 years, and that’s OK. During my time at Johns Hopkins, I’ve met with several people in Development and Alumni Relations, and none of them expected to be where they are now. In fact, most of them would say they fell into it their position. This internship is helping me paint a clearer image of what and where I want to be in 10 years. There are so many different careers here at Johns Hopkins, and I’ve met and plan to meet with several people who focus on marketing or have a marketing/business background. I think they can help me better understand how my future could look.
What area of advancement is of most interest?
I’m interested in a lot of areas within advancement. Mostly the business areas where I can explore finance, marketing, advertising, and analytics because I’ve studied those with my major. I’ve heard little things about many divisions, and I’m happy to learn more as I figure out where I want to focus.
What area of Development and Alumni Relations interests you the most?
I’d really like to see how DAR operates. By that, I mean I’m interested to know the inner workings that DAR requires for its many pieces to function.
What does philanthropy mean to you?
Philanthropy is caring about everyone by making an effort to better not only the people you know but also the people in your community. Philanthropists want to improve the well-being of people everywhere.
What excites you most about spending your summer in Baltimore?
Getting to know the city. I know there are a lot of mixed reviews about Baltimore, but I’ve heard that Baltimore has a rough exterior, but it is really a gem. I hope by the end of this internship, I see that too.
What is your biggest takeaway from what you’ve learned so far?
When I first heard of Johns Hopkins, I thought it was just a school that specialized in medical research. But after a week of being here, I have learned that it is so much more than that. Johns Hopkins actively improves their community and helps businesses flourish to their maximum potential. Just today, I heard that Hopkins helps expunge criminal records, and I find that incredible. Everyone at Johns Hopkins wants to make their community and the world a better place, which is truly amazing. I really didn’t expect to hear half of what I learned so far, and I can’t wait to learn even more about John Hopkins while helping with their present and future missions.