Celebrating 25 Years of Metcalf Internships

For 25 years, the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program has provided paid, substantive internships to UChicago students and empowered generations of students and alumni to launch successful careers.

Under the leadership of Dean of the College John W. Boyer (AM’69, Ph.D’75), the Metcalf Program has grown from a small pilot program in the summer of 1997 to a College institution providing 4,000+ internships today.

Explore the Metcalf Program’s history and major milestones as the University celebrates its 25th anniversary!

Honoring the Legacy of Harold "Jeff" Metcalf

The Jeff Metcalf Internship Program gets its name from Harold “Jeff” Metcalf, AM’53, former dean of students at the Chicago Booth School of Business from 1956-1975 and University athletic director from 1975-1981. Metcalf was a friend and mentor to students in both of these roles. He would frequently advise students on their career paths and introduce them to potential employers.

After Metcalf passed away in 1994, one of his former students Byron D. Trott (AB’81, MBA’82, University Trustee) was inspired to carry on Metcalf's legacy and establish a new internship program in his honor. Trott was one of several lead donors whose vision and investment created the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program, which continues Metcalf's efforts to help UChicago students find meaningful career experiences. The Metcalf Program has scaled up to a level where thousands of undergraduates benefit from the program each year thanks to the generations of UChicago alumni, parents, and friends who have hired students, shared internship leads with Career Advancement, and supported the program philanthropically. 

The program's founders had the foresight to launch a University internship program at a time when internships were often considered an optional, "nice to have" experience. Today, internships are widely recognized as critical for both students and employers. Thanks to the UChicago community's early investment in the Metcalf Program, it's in a strong position to provide these win-win experiences that prepare students for their future career and help employers identify strong job candidates at a time when competition for top talent is very high.

Jeff Metcalf

Metcalf Milestones

  • 1997: The Metcalf Program launches. Inaugural Metcalf employers included the Joffrey Ballet, Goldman Sachs, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

  • 1999: The first international Metcalf internship takes place in Singapore.

  • 2001: The program’s employer network grows to 50+ organizations.

  • 2004: The Metcalf Program places 100+ interns.

  • 2007: The program celebrates its 10th anniversary.

  • 2008: Students receive 200+ Metcalf internships.

  • 2012: The Metcalf Program marks 15 years and grows to 500+ internships with 300+ employers in 10+ countries.

  • 2013: More than 50% of summer Metcalfs are outside of the Chicagoland area.

  • 2014: The program grows to 1,000+ Metcalf internships.

  • 2016: UChicago pilots the first summer of the Odyssey Metcalf Internship Program, which provides a guaranteed summer internship to all first-year Odyssey Scholars under the University’s No Barriers policy. 

  • 2017: The Metcalf Program grows to 2,000+ internships in its 20th year, doubling the number of internships within just three years.

  • 2018: The University launches the Micro-Metcalf Program, a sister program that provides students with short-term, paid projects. The traditional Metcalf Program expands to 250+ cities across 50+ countries.

  • 2020: Students receive 3,000+ Metcalf internships with 1,000+ employers.

  • 2021: The Metcalf Program provides 4,000+ internships and micro-internships.

  • 2022: The program commemorates 25 years of preparing students for successful careers.

Program Impact

  • UChicago students have received 23,600+ Metcalf experiences since the program’s inception.

  • 99% of the Class of 2023 received offers for post-college opportunities at the time of graduation.

  • Recent graduating classes have launched successful careers and enrolled in graduate study in 40+ countries across 6 continents.

Metcalf Employers Speak Out

Our Metcalf employer partners love hiring UChicago students. Hear why

Metcalf Alumni - Where are they Now?

Hear from UChicago Alumni about their experience through the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program.

Employer Partners Spotlight

Metcalf employer partners range from neighborhood nonprofits to global companies throughout the U.S. and around the world. We're grateful for the support of our 1,000+ employer partners, including the amazing organizations below. 

  • ABC News

  • Amazon

  • Ariel Investments

  • Bain & Company

  • BDT & Company

  • Chicago Public Schools

  • Citadel LLC

  • City of Chicago Mayor's Office

  • Dimensional Fund Advisors

  • Dodge & Cox

  • Environmental Law and Policy Center

  • Goldman Sachs

  • Heartland Alliance

  • MacArthur Foundation

  • McKinsey & Company

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering

  • Microsoft

  • Morningstar, Inc.

  • New York Times

  • Sidley Austin

  • Smithsonian

  • Sotheby's

  • The Boston Consulting Group

  • The Kraft Heinz Company

  • U.S. Department of State