Hayden Wolf ’27, an accounting and finance major with a minor in business economics, is seeing his classroom learning come to life at his internship with Moog Inc. “Helping with the monthly close cycle, it’s interesting to see my coursework come together throughout the process,” he says.
That same connection between classroom learning and professional experience is playing out across a range of internships and career interests available through the Wehle Business School at Canisius.
For Luke Lalli ’27, an accounting major, an internship at Lumsden McCormick CPA is giving him the opportunity to apply his coursework to real client audits. And for Maddie Fitzgerald ’27, a business economics and political science major on the pre-law track, an internship at The Legal Aid Society of Rochester is opening the door to a career in law and public service.
“Employers recognize that Canisius business students bring more than strong academic preparation,” says Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, dean of the Division of Business, Communications and Health Studies at Canisius. “They see students who are prepared to think critically, communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and approach problems with professionalism and integrity.”
From classroom lessons to real-world experience
Wolf is spending his second summer as an intern in the Cost & Intercompany Department of Moog Inc.’s Military Aircraft segment. He joined the company in May 2025 and is the third consecutive Canisius student to hold the internship.
Wolf sees a direct connection between his classes and the work he performs at Moog. “My accounting classes built the foundation and my finance coursework shaped how I think about the broader cycle,” Wolf says. “My Excel training has also been essential, but it's one piece of a larger skill set I've built at Canisius.”
The internship has also expanded Wolf’s understanding of how financial data is managed across a large organization, particularly the importance of accuracy, organization and traceability when working with data tied to government contracts. “Coursework presents the numbers and the framework,” Wolf says. “At Moog, I’ve learned what it actually takes to arrive at accurate numbers in the first place, and how much of accounting and finance work is really about organization.”
He also got a closer look at the numbers by participating in physical stockroom counts and working through the parts and work orders behind them. “It gave me a more complete picture of where financial data originates before it ever reaches a report,” he says.
The experience has reinforced Wolf’s plans to pursue CPA licensure and a career in public accounting. “It confirmed I want a career that sits at that intersection,” Wolf says. “My internship has taught me how to take ownership of a meaningful part of the process, and more importantly, I’ve gained confidence in myself.”
Learning the business of public accounting at Lumsden McCormick
Working alongside audit professionals at Lumsden McCormick, Lalli participated in the firm’s entry-level audit staff training program before working with clients. “Understanding why you are doing an audit and what you are looking for has been really valuable,” Lalli says. He adds that a project in his intermediate accounting course directly helped him understand what to look for during an audit he conducted during his internship.
“I also learned how important teamwork is,” he says. “Working with professionals has shown me just how much important communication is and how everyone helps each other.”
Tracy Johnston, SHRM-CP, human resources generalist, says Lumsden McCormick internships are part of the firm’s effort to develop its next generation of professionals. “Many of our employees began their careers as interns,” she says. “The classroom provides the technical foundation, but an internship in the field brings those concepts to life.”
Johnston says the firm looks for interns who communicate well, pay attention to detail, think critically, show curiosity and are willing to ask questions — skills Canisius students develop through their academic and hands-on experiences. “The internship has also helped me clarify my career plans and build valuable professional connections,” Lalli says.
A business economics and political science major finds her path to law school
Fitzgerald is gaining experience in the legal profession at The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, where she says her Canisius coursework has helped prepare her to draft legal documents. “Almost every course has an emphasis on developing writing skills and technique. It’s given me a foundation for drafting legal documents for family court proceedings,” Fitzgerald says.
Fitzgerald worked in the Family Law Unit, where she handled client callbacks and drafted summonses, complaints, statements of net worth and other legal documents.
The experience has also given Fitzgerald a closer look at the complexity of family law cases. “Sitting in on client meetings and attending court allowed me to connect with individuals working in the legal system and demonstrated how my coursework at Canisius can be applied to the real world,” she says.
The experience has solidified Fitzgerald’s goal of attending law school after graduation. “Seeing the way organizations like the Legal Aid Society of Rochester can have a positive impact on its community opened my eyes to new areas of the legal profession,” Fitzgerald says. “I am excited to continue exploring.”
Louise Spinelli, communications and recruiting administrator at The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, says Fitzgerald was the organization’s first intern from Canisius and hopes her experience will encourage other students to consider careers in legal aid and public interest. “Successful interns like Maddie genuinely care about our clients, view each assignment as a learning opportunity, and demonstrate initiative and inquisitiveness,” Spinelli says.
For Fitzgerald, the experience has reinforced the connection between her Canisius education and her interest in service, justice and care for others — a reflection of the Jesuit value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. “The attorneys, legal assistants and staff of the Legal Aid Society of Rochester demonstrate how members of the legal profession can put those values into practice,” she says.
Across these internships, Canisius students like Wolf, Lalli and Fitzgerald are seeing how what they learn in the classroom can shape their work — and where those experiences might lead them next.
“In the classroom, students learn about accounting, finance, marketing, management, analytics, and other areas of business; internships allow them to see how those concepts influence real decisions and solve real organizational challenges,” O’Rourke says.
The Richard J. Wehle School of Business combines hands-on learning with a strong foundation in business and the Jesuit tradition. Learn more about the Wehle Business School.
