Joy Tong Women in Business Members Uplift Lowell Community, Gain Vital Career Experience

12/13/2024

For 22-year-old Nicole Karp of Dudley, Massachusetts, interning with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell has helped hone her career path in ways she would never have imagined.

“I chose the role as a marketing and communications intern at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell for the opportunity to work for an international nonprofit,” said the senior who is pursuing a business administration degree with concentrations in international business and marketing. “In this role, I have learned how to utilize my marketing and communication skills from the classroom in a setting with strict brand guidelines, an entirely new experience for me.”

Karp was able to achieve this opportunity through her membership in the Joy Tong Women in Business (JTWIB) student leadership organization at UMass Lowell.

“Being a member of JTWIB has allowed me to grow tremendously within a group of wonderful, empowering individuals in a way I never anticipated,” said Karp, who serves as the organization’s president.

JTWIB was founded in 2019 to increase the number of women studying business and to improve the Manning School of Business experience for all students through networking and empowerment activities that accentuate career development. The group’s members network with industry professionals and participate in local community service projects. Each event is carefully designed to inspire members to find their voices, gain leadership experience and leave campus with a strong lasting network.

Over the past year, JTWIB members like Karp have been able to enroll in paid career-connected experiences like interning with Habitat for Humanity through the generosity of a $100,000 gift from John Pulichino '67, '14 (H) and Joy Tong ’14 (H), the student organization’s namesake. For many smaller, local organizations, these internships would otherwise be unpaid positions.

“The internships offer these students a valuable chance to contribute to Habitat for Humanity, while also serving as a key step in developing their skills and preparing them for career opportunities after graduation,” said Tong.

Internship placements, Tong added, allow students to both apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios and broaden their technical skills while building relationships with professionals in their chosen field.

Manning School of Business Dean Bertie Greer could not agree more.

“As successful entrepreneurs, John and Joy understand the challenges students will face in navigating career paths and gaining a strong foothold in the professional world,” she said. “By creating opportunities for students to gain real-world experience, particularly in the nonprofit sector, John and Joy are opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. Their generous gift to support internships through JTWIB reflects their deep commitment to preparing students for successful careers and what lies ahead.”

Nineteen-year-old Mendon, Massachusetts, native Amanda Pajak was also able to take on a paid internship with a local organization as a result of the gift.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work for the inspiring nonprofit organization Engineer To Empower, Inc. Joy and John’s generous gift has provided me with an internship I have truly enjoyed,” said the business administration major. “It has given me the confidence to take initiative and go outside my comfort zone.”

Faculty mentor Catherine Rymsha, a visiting faculty lecturer in management, and Amit Deokar, associate dean of undergraduate programs, are excited for the future of the organization, its members and its alumnae.

“John and Joy’s transformative support positions the organization as a dynamic hub for supporting future women business leaders,” said Deokar. “It will foster the members' professional development, enhance industry collaboration, and significantly enrich the future of business education and experiential learning in the Manning School of Business.”

Echoing Dean Greer, Rymsha added: “Thanks to their generous gift, we can achieve so much for our business students by providing them with invaluable real-world experiences. Joy and John have been instrumental in ensuring our students gain access to impactful and influential career opportunities.”