SHU Joins Alliance Linking Students to Local Business

Partnership opens real-world learning and career opportunities for SHU students while strengthening the local economy

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University joins the new Fairfield Business & University Alliance, a partnership with the Town of Fairfield, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, and Fairfield University
• The alliance connects SHU students with local businesses through internships, consulting projects, networking, and other experiential learning opportunities
• Students gain real-world experience by applying classroom knowledge to business challenges, strengthening career readiness, and building professional connections

Sacred Heart University has joined a new alliance with the Town of Fairfield and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, called the Fairfield Business & University Alliance, creating a pipeline of real-world learning experiences and career opportunities for students.

The alliance connects SHU students directly with area employers, giving them the chance to apply classroom knowledge to meaningful projects, build professional networks, and pursue jobs and internships within the community. The initiative positions students as both learners and contributors to Fairfield's economic vitality.

For students in SHU’s Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), the partnership means hands-on engagement with the entrepreneurs and small businesses that drive the regional economy. Through consulting projects, internships, and collaborative problem-solving, students will gain experience that strengthens their résumés and prepares them for careers after graduation.

“Universities should not simply prepare graduates for the economy, they should help build the economy alongside the communities they serve,” said Andrew Gaudes, interim dean of the WCBT. “The future of higher education is not confined to the campus. It is embedded in the communities we serve. Our role is to bring together students, faculty, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, create opportunities, and strengthen the regional economy. This alliance represents exactly that kind of partnership.”

The economic benefits extend across the community. As students engage with local employers, businesses gain fresh talent, new perspectives, and access to the next generation of professionals. The presence of young people working and learning throughout Fairfield brings energy and opportunity to the local economy.

“This alliance is a natural and powerful extension of Fairfield's commitment to economic vitality,” said Mark Barnhart, director of community and economic development for the Town of Fairfield. “By aligning our local business ecosystem with the academic strength of our universities, we are creating opportunities that benefit students, entrepreneurs, and the broader community alike.”

The alliance also includes Fairfield University, reflecting a shared regional commitment to linking higher education with economic development. Together, the partners aim to build lasting connections between students and the businesses that define the Fairfield community.

“Successful local economies are built on strong relationships between education, business, and community leaders,” said Jennifer Trudeau-Tham, SHU associate professor of economics, and member of the Fairfield Economic Development Commission. “This alliance creates opportunities for students to contribute fresh ideas while learning directly from the entrepreneurs and organizations that make Fairfield such a vibrant place to live and work. These experiences encourage students to see Fairfield as a community where they can build their futures and continue contributing long after graduation.”