This letter is in praise of Dr. Prasad Vemala’s recent editorial in this newspaper (“The state has a partnership shortage, not a worker one, Aug. 2, Page A4). His ideas are fresh and far reaching as he asks higher education and businesses to engage our communities with active partnerships which would yield internships.

He is right on point because his faculty already are experts in partnerships and placing interns. I know this because three years ago, as an alum of Slippery Rock University and board member of the Institute for Learning in Retirement, I searched for a contact at the university to find an intern. One phone call to Dr. Rhonda Clark and another to Dr. Doug Strahler, and soon we were partnering with Strahler’s capstone class for seniors as they helped us with rebranding.

The next thing that happened was history in the making — with Strahler and Dr. Allison Peiritsch placing a senior business major with the ILR as the first intern in our 25-year history. Other faculty, like the brilliant Dr. John Golden, have helped us in many ways.

Yes, Dean Vemala, with your vision and your fun and ambitious faculty, we can create more partnerships and place more interns countywide.

Andy Johnson,

Slippery Rock