Maya Valverde reflects on her Alaska Airlines PR internship, where she gained hands-on corporate public relations experience and industry insight.
by Maya Valverde, Class of ’26
Finding a summer internship can be one of the most stressful challenges for a college junior. I have to admit, I had no idea where to begin looking for the ideal internships that would give me career experience and be an adventure I would remember for the rest of my life.
That’s why in September of my sophomore year, I turned to my advisor, Sally Garner, to guide me. Garner is the senior director of student success for the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), and thanks to her help getting started, I was able to find the Alaska Airlines internship program.
After applying and going through a six-week interview process, I got the call last winter that I would be spending my summer in Seattle. I was thrilled, and I had no idea how much I would learn or how many doors would open for me. Here are my five key takeaways from that experience:
1. I gained hands-on corporate public relations experience.
As a public relations major, this opportunity boosted the skills I’d been practicing at the SOJC. I learned how to take my writing from the level of a college student to that of a professional. My manager challenged me to learn the language of aviation, reflect on my writing style and sharpen my written communication. I learned how to eliminate extraneous words and get straight to the point. I also learned to expand my vocabulary to make my writing stronger and choose words that make me sound more confident.
My internship also gave me a glimpse into the corporate public relations world, and I learned a lot from assisting with media, watching the behind-the-scenes happenings of earnings season and witnessing how the organization managed crises.
One of my big projects was filming a video for National Intern Day. I created a strategy, executed my plan and worked with the social media team to share the post on our channels. I was proud to learn that the post led to a significant boost in LinkedIn traffic and increased awareness of the Alaska Airlines internship program.
2. I made unforgettable connections.
Throughout the 12-week summer internship, my manager and mentor pushed me to think critically and presented me with professional experiences that changed the way I view myself and PR. She also introduced me to amazing people, which led to invaluable conversations. Toward the end of my internship, I met with Constance von Muehlen, chief operating officer, and Kyle Levine, executive vice president of corporate and public affairs, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. They both inspired me to think big and not limit myself to one career possibility.
3. I got a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the airline industry.
At San Francisco International Airport, I learned about the hard work that goes into running an airline.
I spent a morning at SFO learning all the aspects of how airlines run. I helped travelers check their bags, assisted in boarding announcements, and then headed down the ramp to observe the ins and outs of the baggage system, watch the catering process and observe how ramp agents get the planes ready for takeoff. I even sat in the car while a ramp agent towed a plane into position.
It was an unforgettable and eye-opening experience to see the hard work of customer service agents, ramp agents, flight attendants and pilots. It didn’t stop there! Thanks to the amazing pilot interns, I got to fly the simulators and learn more about the intense training pilots go through.
4. I became a travel champ.
During my internship, I spent 43 hours flying over 14,000 miles to and from nine cities. I went west to Hawaii, east to Chicago, and up and down the West Coast. I spent time in Maui, O’ahu, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Eugene and Chicago. When I wasn’t working, I was fortunate to explore Mt. Rainier National Park and see Lady Gaga in Seattle.
Not only did all that travel time teach me how to pack light, it also drilled in crucial skills. I went from having flight anxiety at the beginning of the summer to never wanting to stop traveling.
With the perks of unlimited travel comes the catch of flying standby. That can teach you some tricks, and packing only a carry-on is one of them. It’s convenient and necessary when you might have to change flights at the last minute, which is something I learned to take in stride.
5. I got by with a little help from my SOJC friends.
One thing that helped me succeed in this internship is the training I got from the SOJC. Thanks to Assistant Teaching Professor Lisa Peyton and her Writing for Digital Audiences class, I learned foundational WordPress skills that came in handy when I had to write and post two blogs for the combined news hub of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. Also, Assistant Teaching Professor Courtney Munther made sure we all knew AP style, which was critical for writing corporate communications.
Ultimately, this experience has been career-changing. I’m forever grateful for the experiences I learned at Alaska Airlines. Being able to apply foundational skills from the SOJC and take it to new heights has been the opportunity of a lifetime. As I look toward my final term at the SOJC, I’m thankful for the people I’ve met and learned from along the way. I am proud to say I will always be a Duck and always be an Atmos Rewards member.
Maya Valverde is a Chicago-born fourth-year public relations major at the SOJC with minors in legal studies and sociology. Maya is passionate about brand reputation and deeper storytelling. She is deeply involved in the UO community, currently as an account executive for Allen Hall Public Relations and a member of the Student Life Advisory Council.