SUNY Oswego Included in 2027 Puerto Rico Internship Exchange

OSWEGO — SUNY Oswego is one of seven campuses selected for a summer 2027 internship exchange with the University of Puerto Rico and conservation organization Para La Naturaleza, SUNY announced. Nine SUNY students will participate in the program.

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the third annual internship exchange program on November 5 in partnership with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the conservation organization Para La Naturaleza, according to a SUNY release. Through the annual internship exchange program, SUNY students are given the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico to conduct hands-on research to take climate action and improve sustainability.

“Internship opportunities play a vital role in preparing students to enter the workforce, as well as to explore career paths that interest them,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “This partnership with the University of Puerto Rico and Para La Naturaleza has empowered SUNY students to gain hands-on research experience, contribute to conservation efforts, and take climate action. We are proud to work with Para La Naturaleza to continue providing our students with high-quality internship opportunities that will lead them to a successful future.”

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY’s robust internship programs and partnerships, made possible through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, give our students opportunities to enrich their education through hands-on experiences. We applaud Para La Naturaleza and the University of Puerto Rico for their strong partnership, and we are proud to continue this internship program and give more of our students and institutions the chance to participate.”

This year, nine students from seven SUNY campuses will participate in the internship program with Para La Naturaleza in Summer 2027. Chancellor King announced the third year of the program during the SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico. The SUNY campuses selected to participate in this year’s program are:

• State University of New York at Albany
• SUNY Cortland
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF)
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• SUNY New Paltz
• SUNY Oneonta
• SUNY Oswego

Para La Naturaleza President Fernanda Lloveras said, “Thanks to our strong partnership with the SUNY System, students from seven SUNY campuses throughout New York State were able to join us in Summer 2026 to study Puerto Rico’s diverse ecosystems, flora, fauna, and the impacts of invasive species. Students were also able to explore unique natural environments, spelunk in the Karst Cave System, and learn about the past and present contributions of Indigenous peoples and people of African descent. Additionally, this partnership helped support three students from the University of Puerto Rico to conduct research at SUNY Upstate Medical University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. We thank SUNY Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees for ensuring that this partnership grows and thrives as we seek to help more students experience this wonderful opportunity.”

In summer 2026, nine students from the State University of New York at Albany, SUNY Cortland, SUNY ESF, the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, and SUNY Oswego, were selected to participate in the program. As part of their summer internship, students studied multiple topics including Puerto Rico’s diverse ecosystems, flora, fauna, wildlife regulations, and the impacts of invasive species, explored unique natural environments through hiking in El Yunque National Forest, spelunking in karst cave systems, and birdwatching, examined historical and contemporary environmental management practices, including hydraulic power systems and ecosystem restoration efforts, and gained hands-on experience with marine science techniques, including organism sampling in a bioluminescent bay. In addition, three students from the University of Puerto Rico were selected to conduct research at SUNY Upstate Medical University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook over the summer.

State Assemblymember Karines Reyes, RN, Chair of the New York State Senate & Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, said, “Giving SUNY students the chance to conduct hands-on climate research in Puerto Rico, and welcoming Puerto Rican students to New York, builds a cross-cultural understanding and prepares the next generation of environmental leaders. Paid, career-connected internships open doors that many students could not otherwise access. This exchange shows how the State’s investment pays off for the students and communities they serve. I commend Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees for continuing this program.”

State Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “As a proud Puerto Rican, I am elated to see SUNY continue strengthening its partnership with the University of Puerto Rico and Para La Naturaleza, creating opportunities for students to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact. Puerto Rico has so much to offer, from its rich natural resources and unique ecosystems to the knowledge and expertise of the communities working to protect them. This exchange is about building connections between New York and Puerto Rico, exposing students to new perspectives, and preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle the climate and sustainability challenges facing our communities. I commend Chancellor King, the SUNY Board of Trustees, the University of Puerto Rico, and Para La Naturaleza for continuing to invest in our students and in a stronger, more sustainable future.”

State Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I am so proud to see the expansion of meaningful internship opportunities, as I believe it is essential for the future generation of leaders and professionals. Especially such an exciting, beautiful program like this one. With the University at Albany and other SUNY campuses participating in this exchange, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while learning from the environmental resources and conservation efforts in Puerto Rico. Programs like this create valuable opportunities for students to develop new skills, explore career pathways, and engage with communities beyond their own, supporting their future success. I’m grateful to the University of Puerto Rico and Para La Naturaleza for their continued partnership and to Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their commitment to investing in our students and building a more sustainable future.”

The internship exchange program between SUNY, the University of Puerto Rico, and Para La Naturaleza showcases SUNY’s commitment to collaborating with partners to increase student access to internships, and awareness of the array of career paths available to students. To support paid internship opportunities for students, SUNY has launched internship partnerships with organizations including Special Olympics New York and the New York State Insurance Fund. SUNY has also launched programs including the SUNY Educational Opportunity Career Development Internship Program, Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund, the SUNY Institute for Local News, the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, and the SUNY Climate Corps. As part of Chancellor King’s 2025 State of the University agenda, SUNY also designated regional internship coordinators across the state to assist campuses in identifying internship opportunities. For more information about SUNY’s internship initiatives, please visit SUNY’s internship initiatives page.

Through strong investment from Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, the SUNY Board of Trustees provides $14.5 million in annual state funding to support paid internships for students at State-operated campuses. In addition, SUNY awarded funding to 23 community colleges to expand access to stipends and wraparound services, including transportation and child care expenses, so students can complete internships. Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget includes an additional $7.4 million to expand career-connected internships across the SUNY System.

About SUNY

According to SUNY, the State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.