UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Valley National Bank has become the newest organization to join the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology’s Corporate Associates Program.
Valley National Bank is one of 16 businesses active in the program, which provides opportunities for organizations to engage with the IST community by funding college initiatives and student internships.
Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, Valley is a regional bank with locations in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama. Over the last few years, Valley has undergone a technological renaissance, embracing innovative solutions to improve the customer experience and enhance organizational efficiency. Much of Valley's evolution has been led by its chief operating officer, Bob Bardusch, a 1988 Penn State alumnus, who also serves on the College of IST Advisory Board.
“The IST program has done an incredible job of cultivating the next generation of big thinkers in tech,” said Bardusch. “Valley’s unique size as a financial services organization allows us to be nimbler and more imaginative in our innovation, and IST students, whether they come on as interns or full-time associates, challenge us and push us to the next level. We’re very excited to be joining the Corporate Associates Program and look forward to the tremendous contributions of our IST students.”
Over the last few years, IST students have held summer internship positions at Valley, and several have taken on full-time positions in roles focused on big data and enterprise architecture.
“Valley’s culture of blending personalized communication and collaboration with innovative technology solutions aligns perfectly with the College of IST’s mission,” said Brianne Lippert, assistant director for career solutions and corporate engagement in IST. "As our newest corporate partner, Valley will get immediate exposure to the talented IST students who will be well-positioned to excel in professional roles with the company, and our students will benefit from Valley’s commitment to enhancing their academic and professional development experience.”
Valley joins organizations like Boeing, Merck and the National Security Agency as IST Corporate Associates. In the program, organizations connect with IST students through recruiting at annual career fairs, participation in professional development activities, and opportunities to bring real-life scenarios from their organizations into the curriculum. Students benefit from associates' extensive technological expertise, mentoring sessions, facility tours and networking events.
For more information on the Corporate Associate Program, visit the College of IST website.