Schools
From Campus Interns to Industry Voices: Phalen Hamilton and Ezrah Rodriguez Take the Stage at NACUFS
Hamilton and Rodriguez share how campus dining internships helped build the skills, confidence and connections to advance their careers.
Louisiana — Two young marketing professionals who began their Sodexo journeys on university campuses recently brought their perspectives to a national audience at the NACUFS Conference in New Orleans.
Phalen Hamilton and Ezrah Rodriguez were selected to participate in “The Student Beat: How Campus Dining Shapes Careers,” a student panel examining how campus dining employment prepares students for professional success. Moderated by Dee Nguyen, unit manager of recruitment at Texas Tech University, the discussion explored the leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and hospitality skills students develop through campus dining roles.
For Hamilton and Rodriguez, the panel offered an opportunity to discuss their growth within Sodexo and SodexoMagic and explain how their internships helped shape their career goals.
Rodriguez joined the marketing Street Team at Nicholls State University in 2023 as one of the program’s original interns. Since then, she has taken on additional responsibilities while strengthening her marketing and professional skills.
“Being a marketing intern for Sodexo has provided me with professional experience I wouldn’t have gained otherwise,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve learned about teamwork, time management, and communication while nurturing my creativity and problem-solving abilities. It’s also given me unique opportunities, such as networking inside and outside of the company.”
Speaking at the NACUFS Conference became another important step in that experience.
“Having a chance to give my perspective as a student intern was invaluable,” Rodriguez said. “I also had the opportunity to meet many people working throughout the industry.”
Hamilton’s internship led directly to the start of her professional career. She joined the marketing Street Team at Xavier University of Louisiana during her senior year, combining her interest in food with the sales and marketing education she received at Xavier. After graduating, she became the marketing manager at Dillard University.
“My journey from intern to marketing manager has been such a rewarding one,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always had a passion for food, and pairing that with my degree in sales and marketing from Xavier University of Louisiana, the internship with Sodexo felt like the perfect fit during my senior year.”
Hamilton entered the internship hoping to gain practical experience in an industry she already enjoyed. Her work, creativity, and commitment ultimately helped her move into a full-time leadership position.
“As an intern, I built skills in communication, leadership, and client relations that prepared me for where I am today,” she said.
During the panel, Hamilton spoke about the importance of including student voices in decisions affecting campus dining programs.
“At the end of the day, students are our consumers, and hearing directly from them helps shape dining halls the right way,” Hamilton said. “Having students on the other side, advocating for their peers, makes that feedback even more valuable.”
Sharing her experience with representatives from other colleges and universities carried special meaning for Hamilton because she had recently been a student intern herself.
“Being able to share my journey and offer advice to other universities meant the world to me,” she said.
The paths taken by Hamilton and Rodriguez reflect the purpose of the Sodexo and SodexoMagic internship program: giving students meaningful, hands-on opportunities to build confidence, strengthen their professional skills, and explore potential careers.
Their participation also demonstrated the value student employees bring to campus dining. Because students understand the preferences and expectations of their peers, they can offer insights that help dining teams make stronger decisions, improve communication, and create programs that better serve their campus communities.
From Rodriguez’s continued development to Hamilton’s transition from intern to marketing manager, both women show what can happen when students receive the experience, guidance, and opportunity to lead.
Their appearance at NACUFS marked an important professional achievement while giving conference attendees a firsthand look at how an internship can become the foundation for a promising career.
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