DENTON (UNT), Texas — Human resource management students at the University of North Texas are spending their summer gaining real-world experience at companies such as Sherwin-Williams and Toyota, where they’re applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to high-impact internships that prepare them for the workforce.

“Our students aren’t just learning the functions of HR; they’re learning how to lead,” said Mariya Gavrilova Aguilar, clinical assistant professor and director of the human resource management B.B.A. program in UNT’s G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “They graduate ready to make decisions, solve problems and advocate for people.”

The Human Resource Management program requires internships for all majors, giving students firsthand exposure to the business environments they plan to join after graduation.

Senior Osasona Isokpunwu is interning at Sherwin-Williams’ Powder Coatings plant in Arlington. Dressed in goggles and a lab coat, she works in a fast-paced manufacturing setting — far from the stereotypical image of a corporate HR office. Her work includes organizing employee engagement events, reviewing attendance data, and supporting communication around workplace policies and procedures.

“I always thought HR was mostly paperwork,” Isokpunwu said. “But it’s really about supporting people and keeping things running smoothly. UNT gave me the confidence to speak up and be part of a team.”

She said faculty mentorship and resume help made a difference in landing the internship.

“I felt prepared walking into the interview because my professors took time to help us one-on-one,” Isokpunwu said.

Senior Rylee Hunter is interning with Toyota’s college programs team in Plano. She’s supporting recruitment efforts, helping departments define internship roles and assisting with engagement events for college interns across the company.

“This is my first time working in a corporate office, and it’s been an amazing learning experience,” Hunter said. “I’ve been able to apply what I learned in talent acquisition and really understand how internships fit into a company’s long-term hiring strategy.”

Both students said UNT’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter played a big role in building community and boosting their confidence as future HR professionals. The student organization, which is affiliated with the national SHRM, is co-advised by faculty members Erin Welch and Gavrilova Aguilar. 

“Our students are capable, motivated, and eager to make a difference,” Gavrilova Aguilar said. “These internships show them what’s possible, and they’re proving they belong in these spaces.”