Welcome New Undergraduate Internship Coordinator Mike Charbonneau

Communication alum Mike Charbonneau is stepping in as the new Undergraduate Internship Program Coordinator with the desire to give back to the department that he says has given so much to him.

“I am excited to get back to play a more interactive role in the department and to help more of our bright students,” he said.

Charbonneau has an extensive career of almost 20 years as a storyteller. As a student, he interned as a broadcast journalist for WRAL. Upon graduating with a B.S in Mass Communication, he started his career as a reporter for WNCT-TV before returning to WRAL as a news reporter in 2003. Charbonneau returned to NC State and earned his M.A. in Communication with a focus in public relations in 2009.

He left the news business in 2012 to serve as Director of Public Relations for the Wake County Public School system and later as Deputy Secretary of Communication for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. With the belief that transportation shouldn’t be a barrier for education, jobs or other opportunities, he went on to become the Chief Communication Officer at GoTriangle, where he worked for nearly four years. Charbonneau was recently named Director of Communications and Marketing for NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

For the past 17 years, Charbonneau has returned to campus to speak to the internship class each semester, most of that time with Dean Phillips And for the past two semesters has taught public relations writing. These are just two of the many ways Charbonneau has already given back to the department.

As the new internship coordinator, he is committed to continuing the success of his predecessor. “Dean has done a great job of building a strong and well-respected program,” said Charbonneau. “The companies that work with our students want them to come back every year.”

Charbonneau will maintain the structure of the program by continuing to invite alumni to speak to the class and connect students to help them secure internships in various industries. His new plans for the program include coordinating with other departments on campus to create more communication internships for students.

“We have so many great stories to tell at NC State. There are so many incredible groups doing great things,” said Charbonneau. “We as communicators can help our university tell those stories.”

His advice for students looking for an internship is to start early and to, “Think about what your interests are, what you’re passionate about, and where you want to make a difference,” said Charbonneau.

While Charbonneau will be dividing his time between the two NC State units, he wants students to know he is available for advising. He will have an office in Winston Hall to help with peak advising times and has plans to connect with students virtually. Once students are back on campus, Charbonneau said, “I am only a Wolfline ride away.”