SXU Student Completes Disney College Program
Saint Xavier University (SXU) management and marketing major Josephine Delisi has been offered a position with Walt Disney World after interning with the Disney College Program.
Delisi interned with Disney in spring 2018. Over 50,000 students around the country applied to participate as an intern with the Disney College Program, and with the help of Delisi's advisors -- Nicholas Mancari, director of Graham School of Management (GSM) undergraduate programs, and Suzanne Cromlish, Ph.D., GSM professor -- Delisi was selected to work in the Quick Service Department at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where she gained experience in six different quick service restaurants on Sunset Boulevard. She worked on the register to take orders, bussed tables, prepped and cooked food and rotated with other cast members to learn a variety of skills. "The work there helped me step outside my comfort zone. As a double major in hospitality and marketing, guests are my number-one priority," said Delisi.
Also a member of the GSM Student Advisory Council, Delisi finds that the knowledge she's gained in her business courses have been an integral part of her journey, and her mentors couldn't be more pleased. "One of the things we push heavily here at the GSM is getting students real-world experience, like internships during their time as a student. We could not ask for a better internship opportunity and now position than with Mickey Mouse. Josie is the fifth GSM student that has obtained an internship through the Disney College Program and our first hire for Disney. We hope to grow those numbers and our relationship with the Disney College Program as time goes on. This is well-deserving on her end and not a surprise at all. I know she will be great at Disney and represent us well," said Mancari.
Cromlish is just as proud as Mancari, believing that Delisi is a remarkable student. "She demonstrates excellent initiative by seeking every available opportunity to fulfill her passions. It's obvious that Josie has a true passion for hospitality management. She's always shown excellent critical thinking skills by adding intellectually-stimulating insight to classroom discussions. She's truly living her values of hard work, dedication and willingness to learn new concepts. Disney could not have offered this opportunity to a more deserving applicant," said Cromlish.
Delisi is just as fond of her mentors as they are of her, and she enjoyed the smaller class sizes, teacher-to-student ratio and highly-experienced and intelligent faculty. "Nick and Dr. Cromlish have been willing to go above and beyond to help me or any other student who approaches them. They are the heart of SXU, always willing to help in any way they can. On my last program, I was 1,200 miles away from school, but if I had any questions, they were just a phone call away," said Delisi. "My favorite class was actually Organizational Behavior with Dr. Cromlish. All the classes I've taken the past four years have been very beneficial for my future career. They've given me many real-world experiences and helped me to understand how to handle potential business situations."
Delisi found that the best part of working for the Disney College Program was being able to watch families and their loved ones cherish memories and experience the magic of Disney. "I found the program fits the interests and talents of other management and marketing professionals around the world, and this program really expanded my knowledge, especially since it is a company that is one of the most well-known industries in the world."
Delisi has also been a part of the cheerleading team at SXU for the past four years. "My favorite memory at SXU is going to cheer camp over the summer and winning a silver bid to compete at Nationals in Daytona this April. I'm excited to end my time at SXU by representing the University," said Delisi.
Delisi plans to continue working for the Walt Disney World Company for years to come. "I aspire to work in Guest Services to utilize my education in hospitality. I’m looking forward to working with the diverse guests who come to Disney for a vacation, and ultimately, I hope to continue making magic."