JWU and Disney: Where Dreams Meet Opportunity

For Ashley Lindman ’26, Disney and JWU go hand-in-hand. A long-time, loyal Disney fan, Lindman happened to be visiting Walt Disney World when she found out she was accepted to JWU. Later, as a JWU Providence student, she attended a Disney information presentation on campus, interviewed with a recruiter and was chosen for a Disney Culinary Program internship. She’s now done two internships for the company known for its theme parks, films and iconic characters, and is hoping to do a third.

"I fell in love with the company and how the program worked. The day that I got accepted I knew ‘this is where I'm going to be,’ whether it was working in baking and pastry, attractions or anywhere on a Disney the property. I just wanted to be with the Walt Disney Company,” said the Food & Beverage Industry Management major.

A Full Circle Moment: Disney to JWU and Back Again

Lindman has had a personal connection to Disney since visiting as a child. “I grew up going to Disneyland in California and Disney has always played a big role in my childhood. I remember going to the parks with my family and seeing a lot of attractions when they first opened, like Star Wars land, one that my family was super interested in. Seeing it come to life was amazing."

When Lindman’s family moved from California to Florida, she didn’t waver in her commitment to Disney. “Once I moved to Florida, three years ago, I began going to Walt Disney World. I remember the day that I got my notification that I was accepted into JWU. I was in Epcot Theme Park,” she shared. “It was a full circle moment being placed in Epcot for my first Disney internship — the same exact area where I started my journey with JWU and then started my journey with the Walt Disney Company."

How Lindman Learned about the Disney College Program

JWU promotes opportunities at Disney to its students on both the Providence and Charlotte Campuses, where Disney representatives attend career fairs, Employer-in-Residence programs, information sessions and interview students on campus. Faculty at JWU also help spread the word about the company’s internship and career opportunities to students like Lindman.

"One day, one of the chefs came into my plated desserts lab and told us about the Disney College Program, and I instantly wanted to join, knowing that there's so many connections to my childhood,” notes Lindman.

How JWU Helped Lindman Make Her Way to Disney 

Staff from both Accessibility Services and Experiential Education & Career Services have supported Lindman throughout the process of applying and interviewing for Disney positions.

Carrie Ann Marshall, experiential education & career services advisor, and Shelly Olausen, accessibility services advisor, both played a big part in helping Lindman obtain her internship. “Carrie Ann helped me prepare for the interview, with my résumé and the application questions. She's a big spokesperson for JWU when it comes to the Disney College program," explained Lindman.

"Shelly Olausen helped me with communication. She also helped me focus and she worked with me on how to present myself, how to talk to Disney Chef Pauli Milotte who interviewed me, and with being confident during my interview. Shelly has helped me since my first year at JWU with getting settled into new situations and with changing my degree program."

Lindman’s First Disney Internship

Lindman’s first internship was at Disney World in 2023. She started as a catering bakery chef at the Epcot Catering Bakery where she expanded her knowledge and her palate by learning about and trying dishes from various cultures. “There are a lot of things I had never had before being there — I had never tried matcha or an Indian dish or Norwegian cuisine,” said Lindman.

Partway through the internship, Lindman’s position changed to a hospitality role which led to her transitioning her educational and career plans. “I started in the catering bakery area but by the end of my program I was a main gate greeter at Magic Kingdom which helped me realize that I like being in the front of house versus the back of the house. It was a big eye opener.”

Lindman’s new role helped her realize hospitality was now the career path she wanted to follow. “As a main gate greeter, I worked on hospitality skills I hadn’t been able to develop before. I’ve worked on parties, special occasions and events with celebrities. It was cool to put all those skills to use.”

Lindman changed her degree program from a bachelor’s in Baking & Pastry to a bachelor's in Food & Beverage Industry Management 2+2 with an associate degree in Baking & Pastry. “I switched my degree halfway through my program. I had my baking & pastry background, but now I’m also getting to explore the hospitality field. I'm happy I did that because my main goal once I graduate is to become a maître d' at the only Michelin Star restaurant on Disney property, Victoria & Albert’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa,” shared Lindman.

Second Internship as a Disney Alum

With one Disney internship completed, Lindman applied to and was accepted into the Disney Alumni Program for summer 2025. She worked at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida as a seater, bringing guests to their tables and using her newfound passion for hospitality to communicate guests and make them feel welcome.

During her second internship, Lindman met Ny-Leiha McCants ’28, a Culinary Arts major who was also working at Hollywood & Vine for her sophomore-level internship as a cook. She also met Stevan McCabe ’25, who graduated in May 2025 from the Food & Beverage Industry Management 2+2 program. He was also on his second Disney internship as part of the Disney Alumni Program and worked at the Coronado Springs Resort.

Benefits Beyond the Front and Back of House

As Lindman worked, learned and lived all things Disney, she expanded not only her culinary and hospitality skills, but also had opportunities for new cultural and social experiences.

"Disney wants you to connect with people around you because there are not just students from the United States doing the program; there are people in the Disney International Programs. I’ve had a housemate from the UK who I’m learning about England from. I met someone from Japan who I'm still in contact with and someone from France. I find it interesting that all these cultures and different types of people can bond over one thing — Disney.”

The JWU Career Advantage

JWU's connection to Disney for career-related events, speakers and more is a plus for students as far as learning about Disney opportunities and what the company looks for in students.

“JWU is one of the biggest schools connected with the Disney program. I feel like my chances of actually knowing about the program would have been a lot less if I hadn’t been a JWU student especially for the culinary program because JWU is one of the biggest places they hire from for culinary.”

Lindman explained that the Disney Culinary Program isn't the only opportunity for students. “The Disney Culinary Program is specifically for culinary and baking & pastry students. The Disney College Program is for students in a variety of other majors including hospitality."

To apply for the Disney Alumni program, you must have already completed a Disney internship to qualify.

Lindman found the Experiences and Support she Wanted at JWU

When deciding where to go to college, Lindman had a few specific qualities she was looking for. "I wanted a real college experience. I was debating between another culinary school that was purely focused on culinary and is very competitive versus JWU, where I would be able to have a real college experience. That was one of my biggest reasons," explained Lindman.

"Another reason was JWU’s Wildcat Learning Effectiveness in Action Program (LEAP). It helped me communicate with people and make friends. I now have two friends at JWU who were also in LEAP who said that they can communicate better and bond with people because of Leap. It's like a helping hand.”

Lindman is grateful for LEAP since it has helped her transition to JWU from the start. "I have ADHD. It's hard for me to concentrate when it comes to things that I'm interested in. I have been able to find different coping mechanisms. Even though I have a disability, I'm still able to reach out to others to say, ‘Hey, anybody can do this.’ You could have a disability. You could be a first-year student, a second-year student or even a graduate — it's still possible to do what you want and follow your dreams.”

Advice for Students Interested in Disney

Having now completed two Disney internships, Lindman has advice for other students interested in making their own journey to Disney.

“Just be yourself. People will respect you more if you are authentic. If you're able to show who you are as a person, it doesn't matter if you're the best at something. What matters is trying your best and showing who you are on the plate.”

As a rising senior, Lindman shared some words of wisdom for her peers:

“You're always going to have a million different choices in life, but if you follow your heart, it will guide you to the right place. JWU was what my heart was telling me to do. I love JWU and it is my home. I'm really happy that I attend JWU.” 

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