HSU Student Earns Competitive Internship with the World’s Largest Commercial Real Estate Firm

Hardin-Simmons University may be small in size, but its impact reaches far beyond the Forty Acres. This summer, CBRE — a worldwide leader in commercial real estate services — received more than 2,300 applications for only 37 internship spots. Among those selected was Nicole Travers, a computer science and mathematics major with an honors minor from Harare, Zimbabwe, who plans to graduate in May 2026.

Nicole says the opportunity came through the kind of connections only a close-knit university can provide.

“This opportunity came through a former HSU student who shared the application link,” she explained. “Dr. Edwards in our career services office also played a big role by helping me refine my résumé and prepare for interviews.”

That personalized attention proved invaluable as Nicole advanced through CBRE’s selection process, which included a digital interview and a final round with the team she later joined.

As a digital and technology intern focusing on data analytics and visualization, Nicole created automated Power BI dashboards for quarterly business reviews — a significant responsibility that required mastering new tools such as DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) and Microsoft Copilot. She also managed her team’s internal website and knowledge base articles.

Nicole shared that her confidence in tackling new challenges stemmed directly from her experience at HSU.

“The way HSU professors structure classes, challenging us with difficult problems and giving us time to work through them, prepared me to approach new tasks with confidence throughout my internship,” Nicole said.

Her preparation showed. Gina Cibrone, End User Engineering Director for CBRE and Nicole’s line manager, described her as “an absolute delight to work with” and praised her exceptional ability to “tell a story with data.”

Nicole’s days were filled with meaningful work — from 8:00 a.m. team standups to data transformation projects, from lunch explorations with fellow interns to executive sessions with CBRE leaders. She even took initiative beyond her assigned duties, recording a “Tech Tip Tuesday” session that was published on CBRE’s global portal.

“Nicole’s primary project involved creating multiple Microsoft Power BI dashboards to assist with our quarterly business reviews and training decisions,” Cibrone said. “Beyond her technical skills, she fully immersed herself in the program, making valuable connections and contributing to our workplace culture.”

Even within CBRE’s corporate structure, Nicole discovered the same collaborative spirit she values at HSU.

“Although CBRE is a large company, it never felt overwhelming. There were 37 interns in my cohort, but it felt like a close-knit community,” she shared. “We collaborated often, shared knowledge, and built meaningful friendships that I will continue to cherish.”

Nicole also gained perspective on the many paths open to her in technology.

“I worked closely with professionals at all levels, from managers to vice presidents, with expertise in licensing, sourcing, data science, UX research, and audio-visual systems,” she said. “Their mentorship gave me valuable insight into the many different career paths available after graduation.”

Through courses such as Database Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and UX/UI, HSU gave her the foundation to grasp tasks and solve problems efficiently and quickly. But it wasn’t just the academics that prepared her.

“The smaller class sizes have built my confidence in asking questions, engaging in discussions, and developing strong connections with peers and professors,” Nicole said. “The faith-based environment continually reminds me to be intentional in my work and to view every opportunity as a way to glorify the Lord.”

Darren Wickham ’86x, a CBRE director, and his wife, Melissa ’98, met Nicole personally during her internship at CBRE.

“We were impressed by her maturity, life journey, and compelling career aspirations,” Wickham said. “It’s clear that Hardin-Simmons is providing a strong academic foundation and preparing students to be exceptional leaders.”

Nicole’s journey from Harare to a prestigious internship illustrates a fundamental truth about Hardin-Simmons University: while small in size, its reach is boundless. Through rigorous academics, personal mentorship, a faith-centered community, and a dedicated alumni network, HSU equips students like Nicole to step into the world with confidence and unlimited potential.