A Slippery Rock University safety management major broke into the oil and gas industry by gaining invaluable real-world experience. Emma Santom, a senior from Grove City (Grove City HS), was a safety and security intern this summer at Range Resources, one of the leading natural gas producers in the eastern United States with operation sites across western Pennsylvania.
Santom examined and evaluated contract sites, looking for compliance in accordance with the safety culture of Range Resources. Some days required Santom to work from the Canonsburg office, but others had her on the building pads in person.
“Every day was different,” Santom said. “I enjoyed how I never really knew what I was in for each day.”
Santom and her team orchestrated several safety engagement events, including an interactive dinner activity for contractors. Range Resources provided the meal while safety specialists detailed some areas of improvement in terms of location safety and security.
“We would feed them to show how much we appreciated the work they were doing, and we’d talk with the contractors to see how we could make it a better work environment for them,” she said.
While working at Range Resources, Santom worked with Maximus Lockerbie, a 2025 SRU safety management graduate who one of Range’s water supervisors. Lockerbie completed an internship similar to Santom’s at the company, and after graduating, Range offered him a position based on his success and attitude.
A unique insight that Santom gained came from safety professionals who took a nontraditional route—some entered the safety department after working up through the ranks of the company in other roles.
“These managers have been in the boots of the contractors they’re now managing, and that knowledge is valuable,” said Santom.
She combined this perspective with her training in the classroom at SRU. Having industry-specific experience, especially in the oil and gas industry, helped set Santom apart from other students similarly on the cusp of graduation. Santom said her experience in the drilling environment gives her the edge employers are looking for.
SRU’s safety management career fair, where more than 50 employers visit campus to recruit safety professionals and interns, was the catalyst for Santom’s success. She credits the event as one of the greatest resources for students.
“These companies are willing to take a student on and give them the resources to learn,” Santom said. “They want to teach you.”
After she graduates in December, Santom said she’s ready for the job search, and to put her valuable experience into play as a safety professional.
More information about the safety management program at SRU can be found on the department’s webpage.
