Kya Primm ’23 (Photo provided)
In her first semester at SUNY Geneseo, Kya Primm ’23 did something that often doesn’t happen to a freshman—she landed a summer internship with a Fortune 500 company.
Primm, who plans to major in economics, had attended a networking event on campus last fall when she met a representative from Constellation Brands, the largest beer exporter in the U.S. She interviewed at the company’s headquarters in Victor, NY, and received an offer in January.
“I’m aware that I’m really young,” Primm says. “But it’s really exciting because I’ll be able to explore where the world of business can take me.”
The opportunity to intern at Constellation Brands would not have happened without the help of faculty and staff at SUNY Geneseo, Primm says. She credits Robert Boyd, a lecturer and internship director for the School of Business, with encouraging her and other freshmen to attend the networking events. And she thanks Mary Cannon, a career advisor for the School of Business, for preparing her and driving her to the interview.
“Here at Geneseo, if you want to get something, there is a faculty member who is willing to help you,” she says. “Every step of the way, if I wanted to go somewhere or needed help with something, Professor Boyd and Mary Cannon would find a way to make it happen.”
Growing up in Bay Shore, Long Island, Primm was familiar with Geneseo from her mother, Virginia Primm ’89. Primm also felt comfortable when she visited campus because it was both small and friendly.
During her first semester, she immersed herself in a number of activities, and one of her favorites was the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). The group met every Wednesday night in the Edward Pettinella ’73 Trading Room, where it researched investment strategies and traded real securities.
“It’s real-world application in finance,” Primm says. “It’s a lot different from textbook learning about what happens to a bad stock because we’re doing it with real money.”
Another unique opportunity for Primm was meeting her mentor Peter Borgesi ’16, an investment banking associate at Société Générale, during a tour of banks in New York City. The two were matched through a finance mentorship program at the School of Business.
“It’s been very instrumental,” Primm says. “He is super helpful with assisting me to navigate my way and giving me tips on interviews.”
Since her long-term goal is to become a lawyer, Primm joined the SUNY Geneseo Mock Trial Team and received an “outstanding attorney” award at a competition held at Ithaca College. Primm notes that this is the first year the team has made it to the national competition, the Opening Round Championship Series.
Primm believes that choosing Geneseo was the best decision she’s ever made. “I don’t think there’s another college that would be able to replicate the same opportunities I’ve had at Geneseo,” she says. “I got an internship in my first semester, and I think that’s a really hard thing to find. I’m really grateful that here at Geneseo the professors and the alumni help you. I think Geneseo was definitely the best choice for me.”