Her approach benefits her company and Nazareth students.

Kerry Brooks ’92 and Tyler Putney ’25 describe how their connection through Nazareth benefited each of them — and Lincoln Financial.

Kerry Brooks ’92 (business administration) has found a win-win approach in recruiting strong interns from her alma mater, who then have a foot in the door to become long-term employees at Lincoln Financial. She is a senior vice president and head of account management for Lincoln, focused on workplace solutions. Her unit has 6,000 employees and services more than 30,000 employer groups with products such as life insurance and leave administration. Lincoln Financial’s internship program was ranked the best by Vault for the financial services industry in its 2026 rankings.

The first Nazareth student whom Brooks welcomed as a summer intern and then hired into a formal account management rookie program is Tyler Putney ’25 (finance). He also is pursuing a graduate degree in strategic marketing at Nazareth.

When Brooks was in Rochester, the two met up at Nazareth University to share their story. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Tyler Putney, how did you get connected to Lincoln Financial?

I got a flyer from Nazareth and liked that it was a remote internship so I could stay at home that summer (Fredonia, New York). I reached out and got an interview with a scout for Lincoln. Then I was interviewed by Kerry and by two others, one of whom is now my manager. It was a great process.

The internship was remote?

Yes, except that about four or five weeks into the internship, we got to go to Philadelphia and meet the cohort of interns and people we were working with. It was pretty cool to see everybody in person and get to know them a little bit better through a structured week that Lincoln planned out. We heard from the higher-ups and leaders at Lincoln about how they started — and many of them started the same way we did. Working remotely was the most challenging part of the experience, but I feel like I made connections with people.

Tyler Putney and fellow interns in Philadelphia, 2024. 

How did Naz support your internship experience?

I took a 3-credit Naz internship course online with assignments such as talking to my manager about specific goals — and asking a set of questions to get to know him better. We still keep in touch.

Throughout the summer, I got more experience reaching out to people and getting to know them. People don't necessarily want to talk about work all the time, so I’d ask: “How's your family doing? What are your hobbies? What do you do on the weekends?”

When I’m going to meet with someone, I look at their background on LinkedIn and make a list of questions about their college or that town.

As a basketball team captain at Naz, I had reached out to every teammate during the summer. Especially for the freshmen coming in, I’d see if there were any questions I could answer.

What did you like about your internship?

It was cool to realize my work is benefiting the company, helping our clients in need, and taking things off other people's plate that they might not be able to get to. It feels good to know that you're helping somebody out.

Any advice for other Naz students?

Use the Nazareth resources, including any alumni. I’ve talked to Naz students who interned at Lincoln Financial after me. If you're nervous, there are no wrong questions to ask.

Reach out to the Naz internship program to point you in the right direction.

Tyler Putney at work

What is it like now, as a long-term employee?

As a rookie, you learn the products that Lincoln sells, and you take the time to network and take different courses and trainings. All the leaders at Lincoln emphasize that listening is the best communication skill. My job includes handling service calls or tasks daily for brokers. So, if I'm doing my job well, I am getting information out to the client ASAP. Our team leader emphasizes that it should be a 24-hour turnaround.

Did you feel well prepared?

Yes. At Naz, with small classes, you have to pay attention and speak out more in class. You have to learn presentation skills.

Kerry Brooks, how did you start getting interns from Nazareth? 

Not being near campus (I’m based in Charlotte, N.C.) makes it hard to be active as an alum. But in my position at Lincoln Financial, I had an opportunity to expand the recruiting process for interns and for our new hire classes. It was a great way to reengage with Nazareth and to give back. I knew I could enable a cool experience for some Nazareth students and help them start their career. 

I was put in touch with Dale Leyburn (Nazareth’s director of internships), and we worked out a program that benefited both the students and Lincoln.

How do the student interns benefit?

The students get practical, hands-on experience in the insurance industry. They're able to hone their communication skills, their presence, and understand firsthand what it's like to work for a big corporation.

They also get the benefit of networking and engaging with more than 90 other interns across the organization. We bring them all together for four days in Philadelphia, where they get to meet and connect. They also meet with all the various leaders across our organization, including our CEO and chairman of the board.

Few college folks dream of a career in insurance, and that’s partly because folks just aren't really sure what it is — or how expansive the insurance industry is.



What do you look for in selecting interns?

Certainly we look at their degree program. Anything in the business sector is appropriate. 

But equally important as their studies and GPA is: What else have they done? Activities on campus, are they working, or are they in athletics — like Tyler was (as a basketball player and leader). These additional engagements provide a great opportunity to bring folks in who know how to prioritize, how to manage their day, how to manage their time. It really positions folks for success when they join our team.

Do you find similar levels of talent from all colleges?

Sometimes I think there’s a stigma about smaller liberal arts schools, when they're bumped up against the large universities. But I would argue the smaller-college education is as good or even better. The quality of the students, the quality of the education, and the skills that they’ve brought from a smaller college have been on par with, if not better than, some of the talent we've acquired from the larger universities across the country.

Are the internships designed to lead to jobs?

Tyler was one of our first interns in a newer program where the goal was to leverage the summer internship program almost as the path to a full-time position for rising seniors. At the conclusion of the internship we would offer full-time employment in our rookie class following graduation. It’s a win for both sides: Tyler tested us out. And we tested him out. 

Thankfully, he accepted our offer of employment as a rookie in 2024 (before the start of his senior year, to start work after graduation). And he's killing it. We're thrilled to have him.

What’s the rookie program?

We take about 90 days to train entry-level employees in the basics of insurance. There's a lot of financial training, and focus on communication skills to prepare for client and broker engagement. 

We recruit from seven to eight colleges and universities for this program. I’ve committed to including one or two recent grads or rising seniors from Nazareth. It’s a very competitive process.

The quality of the applicants has been phenomenal. And the quality of people we've brought on are top notch. I look forward to working with these folks for a very long time.

We’re always hiring. I'd gladly take a call from any alum that finds themselves looking for a new opportunity.

What was your own Nazareth experience like?

Two things stand out that were very helpful for my education and for career preparation. 

The smaller class size and the availability of the professors throughout my time. That availability and opportunity for feedback helped me lean into my degree program in the best way possible.

Alongside that, my own internship experience was phenomenal. I was able to intern at the attorney general's office, in the consumer affairs department. That really gave me a taste for what the real world is like. I was a mediator for complaints. I learned a lot about behavior, honed my communications skills, and learned to manage through difficult situations, with poise and with calmness. I'm really thankful for that experience.

Learn more: Nazareth’s Professional Internship Program