Dionna Swinson, class of 2026, spent the fall 2024 semester as an arts administration intern with Theatre Exile. (Photo courtesy of Dionna Swinson)
At Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to enter their desired professional industry.
While much of that preparation occurs through their education in the classroom, integral experiential learning occurs through an experience outside of it, too: an internship.
An important step for any student at STHM, we checked in Dionna Swinson, class of 2026, to recount her fall 2024 internship in the community and recreation industry.
Dionna Swinson
STHM class of 2026
Major: Events and entertainment management
Hometown: Philadelphia PA (High School for the Creative and Performing Arts)
Internship: Theatre Exile
Role: Arts Administration Intern
Internship Location: Philadelphia
What were your primary responsibilities at your internship?
My primary responsibilities were to answer emails, phone calls, fulfill ticket orders, create social media content, oversee email newsletters and read/analyze scripts!
What completed project were you most proud of?
I am very proud of the work I got to do with Theatre Exile’s “Giving Tuesday” project, which centered on a campaign that was designed to raise money for their youth theater program. Utilizing various marketing tactics, we raised money while also raising awareness for youth, the theater itself and the importance of giving back.
What did you most enjoy about your internship experience?
While I enjoyed being within the theater environment, I really appreciated how much I was able to network with so many creatives within the entertainment and community and recreation industries—I know these connections I made will be beneficial for my career in the future. Building my connections was a lesson that I learned through my education at STHM—seeing those lessons be useful in a professional environment is reassurance that my academic journey is paying off.
What important lessons did your internship teach you about the community and recreation industry?
Most importantly, I found that my internship experience helped me gain knowledge of all the business and creative elements that go into the community and recreation industry—which makes me excited for my professional future. Also, not only did I expand my network, but I feel that I will be able to utilize the firsthand insight I experienced within the theater business into many other potential professional fields. For me personally, though, this internship felt like the perfect fit as I plan to pursue a career in operational theater management with the goal of opening my own theater company!
How do you think this internship experience will benefit you in your professional pursuits of the community and recreation industry?
As I eye my future in the industry, this experience offered me both a strong network of new connections and, perhaps even more importantly, a great baseline knowledge of all the business and creative elements that go into the field. My internship taught me the true importance of how utilizing an understanding of marketing, event planning, sales, theater management, and accounting can all lead to success in the industry!
What advice would you offer to other and future STHM students looking to intern within the community and recreation industry?
I would tell students to take any opportunity you can to gain experience and follow your own intuition! Your drive to find success is not found in the street, it is something within you. For students particularly interested in the theatre business, make sure to develop a strong network around you, as you can find the field is quite niche. In general, I recommend to any student that they complete an internship because not only will it help you gain a hands-on experience you might have never had the chance to do, but it also gives you a new perspective and insight to explore what interests you professionally.