For Gloriest Lubamba, a senior business student at UNC Pembroke, an internship with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond was more than just a summer gig—it was the first step toward a dream career. 

After spending 10 weeks at the prestigious bank, she returned with an impressive job offer, securing a spot among the nation’s elite in one of the country's most influential financial institutions. The Federal Reserve Bank––the United States central bank–– sets interest rates, influences the money supply and implements other monetary policy tools to promote stable prices and moderate interest rates.

Set to join the Federal Reserve’s main headquarters in Richmond after her graduation in May 2025, Lubamba will work alongside top-tier economists, auditors and IT professionals—a path she once only dreamed of.

 "I feel really grateful," she said, crediting mentors and opportunities at UNCP for helping her reach this milestone. The internship welcomed students from 20 colleges and universities nationwide. Lubamba was assigned to the cloud portfolio management and agile team, where she helped oversee the migration of multiple applications to cloud-based platforms. 

"The biggest thing for me is to stay humble and remember the people who encouraged and guided me to success," she said.

Lubamba’s achievement reflects UNC Pembroke’s commitment to experiential learning, where students like her gain hands-on skills that transform academic knowledge into real-world expertise. Through internships, campus jobs and service learning, UNCP students are finding their footing—and their futures—in high-demand careers.

Landing a job with the Federal Reserve Bank is difficult due to the highly competitive nature of the hiring process. Lubamba is confident the internship experience gave her an edge over the other applicants. Internships are one of many ways UNCP students, like Lubamba, gain experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to engage in hands-on experiences and reflect on those experiences to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. UNCP students also gain experiential learning through campus employment, service-learning and study abroad. 

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 89% of undergraduate UNCP students reported engaging in experiential learning. And the university saw a near 20% increase in student participation from fall to spring across internships, field experience and clinicals for course credit.

Currently, there are 1,348 students enrolled in service-learning courses.

John Dunlap, director of professionalism, internships and career preparation with the Thomas College of Business and Economics, said the college’s widely successful Passport to Professional Success Program is another key resource to ensure students like Lubamba are equipped with the soft skills needed to set them apart in the marketplace. The passport program guides students through every phase of their professional journey.

“From mastering essential entry-level skills to leading teams as managers to ultimately developing the executive-level expertise to drive organizations forward, the program empowers students to excel at every stage of their careers,” Dunlap said. 

When she’s not busy with classes or participating in TCOBE events, Lubamba can be spotted at the Dick and Lenore Taylor Track, where she competes in the javelin, long jump and pole vault on the track and field team. Lubamba––whose parents immigrated from the Congo––is fluent in French and active in the Accounting Student Association and African Student Organization. She also doubles as a captain of the Spirit Squad. 

Lubamba credits her BraveNation experience, as well as staff like Dunlap and faculty mentors in the TCOBE, for preparing her for what comes next after college. 

“The corporate world can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the people I’ve interacted with at UNCP trusted me in leadership roles and showed me how to network and build relationships,” she said.

“They gave me the confidence I needed. I owe much of my success to John Dunlap, Dr. Jeff Bolles, Dean Mo (Mohamed Djerdjouri) and Associate Dean (Cliff) Mensah. It takes a team, and my team has pushed me to be the best I can be,” Lubamba added.