Influential Woman · Internship Education and Talent Development
Christine Barkley MS, SHRM-CP
Founder and CEO, Internology
Prattsburgh, NY 14873
Her Story
About Christine
Christine Barkley is an educator, career development professional, and entrepreneur whose work is centered on helping students, employers, and institutions design more intentional and impactful internship experiences. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work in education, which led her to pursue dual bachelor’s degrees in Childhood Education and Mathematics at SUNY Cortland, where she aimed to make math more engaging and accessible for learners. During her undergraduate years at Penn State University, she immersed herself in a wide range of experiences including study abroad, club sports, mentoring programs, internships, and student orientation work—an experience that sparked her deep interest in higher education and student development.
She went on to earn her master’s degree in Higher Education from Penn State while working as a graduate assistant in career services, where she discovered a strong passion for helping students explore and clarify their career paths. This led to nearly a decade of work across higher education institutions, including the University of South Carolina and a state university in New York, where she supported career education, experiential learning, and employer engagement. Over time, she expanded into the private sector, focusing on internship research, program development, and training, building expertise in how organizations can create more meaningful early talent experiences.
After several years in internship education and workforce development, Christine transitioned into entrepreneurship by acquiring the intellectual property behind the research and workshops she had been leading and founding Internology. Through Internology, she now works with employers and educators to design high-impact internship programs grounded in research, practical strategy, and intentional design thinking. Her work emphasizes that strong internships are not accidental, but built through thoughtful structure, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and she continues to evolve her offerings based on the needs of the field and the organizations she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christine
01What do you attribute your success to?
For Christine, education isn’t just a career—it’s a calling that took root in childhood and has since grown into a dynamic, joy-driven mission. With a decade in higher education followed by four years in internship education and talent development, she’s always been drawn to the moment potential meets opportunity. A year ago, she launched Internology, a venture dedicated to studying internships not as mere pipelines but as powerful investments in emerging talent, team strength, and innovation—crafting inclusive, meaningful, mutually beneficial experiences. Yet her proudest moment predates the business: in grad school, she created her own three-month internship in Australia, proving that if the path doesn’t exist, she’d build it herself. A devoted member of the Cooperative Education and Internship Association and a passionate fan of the Design Your Life framework, she was featured in their article and led a workshop in 2020—a turning point that opened her eyes to what else was possible. Now, as a new mom to a three-month-old son, she measures success not just in impact but in joy. Whether traveling the U.S. in an RV with her husband for three years or simply seeking new food, cultures, and long walks, Christine believes the journey itself is the point—and she’s living it, one intentional step at a time.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important in my work and personal life are growth and personal development, joy and happiness, alignment between work and life, continuous learning, and meaningful connection with others.
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