Fall 2024 Internships
Applications for Fall 2024 internships through the Office of Sustainability are now being accepted. Applications are due Tuesday, April 9.
Are you a student interested in making a difference and gaining professional development experience? The following paid opportunities are available to all Wake Forest University students. Unless otherwise indicated, all internships are slated to begin on or around August 20, 2024. See individual descriptions below for the duration of each position. Most positions are eligible for renewal in subsequent semesters based on availability and performance.
Time Commitment: Interns should expect to work approximately 5-6 hours per week on average, though some weeks may be slightly heavier and others lighter. See position descriptions for any internships that may require a larger time commitment. Interns will also participate in a required orientation program August 20-23 (tentative dates subject to change).
Eligibility: Unless otherwise indicated, all current Wake Forest students are eligible to apply, including those who qualify for federal work study. Positions may not be completed while studying away from campus.
Compensation: All positions pay $11/hour as a base rate. After every two semesters (consecutive or not) as a sustainability intern, students are eligible for a $1/hour increase. Eligibility is dependent upon performance. Through the Office of Sustainability internship program, all students also gain professional development experience through curated programming and one-on-one mentorship.
Academic Credit: Some internships may be pursued for academic credit in lieu of or in addition to monetary compensation. Arrangements must be made in advance between the student and the relevant academic department or program in accordance with their policies. As an administrative office, the Office of Sustainability is unable to grant permission for academic credit directly.
How to Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, any required supplemental materials, and the names and contact information for two professional references via this form. You may apply for multiple positions, but you must submit a separate application form for each. Applications must be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Please direct any questions to cohenbj@wfu.edu.
The Office of Sustainability encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.
In your cover letter, please include the following:
- the position for which you are applying;
- relevant work and/or volunteer experience;
- relevant coursework;
- a brief description of why you want to pursue the position;
- skills you would bring to the internship; and
- what you hope to gain from the experience.
Available Internships
- Alternative Transportation
- Campus Garden
- Dining Carbon Reduction
- Dining Engagement
- Peer Education
- SLG Student Coordinator
- Propose Your Own
Alternative Transportation
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2024 semester with the opportunity to extend through Spring 2025.
The Alternative Transportation Intern will focus on increasing the adoption of alternative modes of transportation among students on and around campus. While no previous experience in the transportation field is required, excellent organization, communication, and time management skills are a must. Previous experience with project management, community-based social marketing (CBSM), and/or data gathering, analysis, and visualization is preferred. Depending on the intern’s skill set and the needs of the Office of Sustainability and Transportation and Parking Services, this internship will focus on one or more of the following topics. Please address your interest in and experience with these topics in your cover letter.
- Micromobility on and around the Reynolda Campus
- Student commuting to and from Deacon Place and nearby properties
- Data visualization
Campus Garden
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2024 semester with the opportunity to extend through Spring 2025.
The Wake Forest Campus Garden, located at 1141 Polo Road, is a learning space that engages participants in sustainable agricultural practices. Previous experience working in the Campus Garden and/or in sustainable/regenerative agriculture is required. Garden interns should be prepared to work outdoors in potentially inclement (though not unsafe) weather. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Developing proficiency in sustainable agriculture concepts and techniques
- Working both individually and as a team with other Campus Garden interns
- Leading regularly scheduled volunteer sessions in the Campus Garden and occasional garden tours
- Garden maintenance and cultivation, at the direction of Office of Sustainability staff
- Organizing and supporting the Connect & Cultivate volunteer team so that they can lead weekday volunteer sessions
- Potential planting and/or invasive removal in other garden spaces on campus, such as the Tohi Garden
- Collaborating with other sustainability interns as needed on the development and execution of events in the garden spaces
Dining Carbon Reduction
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2024 and continuing through the Spring 2025 semester. This position will dually report to Harvest Table Culinary Group and the Office of Sustainability.
The Dining Carbon Reduction Intern will focus on projects and initiatives that reduce the carbon footprint of Wake Forest’s dining operations. Potential tasks may include, but are not limited to: auditing purchasing reports, identifying areas for enhancing Harvest Table’s focus on sustainable spend (third-party certified and plant-based), and improving waste diversion processes. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and possess research skills, experience with data, and an operational mindset. This position will also work closely and collaboratively with the Dining Engagement Intern and be advised through the sustainable dining working group. In their cover letter, candidates should describe their areas of interest and their experience with the field of sustainable food and/or research and data.
Dining Engagement
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2024 and continuing through the Spring 2025 semester. This position will dually report to Harvest Table Culinary Group and the Office of Sustainability.
The Dining Engagement Intern will develop, create, and implement new and existing initiatives to educate customers on the components of sustainable dining at Wake Forest, as well as to effect sustainable behaviors. Engagement will be focused both internally for Harvest Table and externally towards students and other patrons. Requirements include a creative mind, excellent time management and communication skills, and an interest in interacting with large numbers of people. This position will also work closely and collaboratively with the Dining Carbon Reduction Intern and be advised through the sustainable dining working group. In their cover letter, candidates should describe their areas of interest and their experience with the field of sustainable food, conducting outreach, and/or planning events.
Peer Education
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2024 semester with the opportunity to extend through Spring 2025. There is also the potential for optional work in Summer 2024 for those in North Carolina.
What do I put in the recycling bins at Wake? How can I conserve energy and water in the residence halls? Do my food choices actually have an impact on the environment? These are just a few of the questions asked by Wake students as they consider how to align their actions with sustainability and a Pro Humanitate mindset. The Peer Education Intern will be responsible for closing this knowledge gap and ensuring that all Deacs understand what actions they can take to make a difference on campus and beyond. Requirements include a self-starter mindset, excellent organizational and face-to-face communication skills, and a friendly and welcoming personality. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Assessing sustainability knowledge gaps on campus
- Conducting educational outreach through frequent tabling, especially with first-year students
- Partnering with RAs and Faculty Fellows to reach students in residence halls
- Helping to recruit, train, and manage a team of volunteer peer educators who will be part of a new Office of Sustainability program
- Presenting to student groups on event planning and other topics
SLG Student Coordinator
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2024 and continuing through the Spring 2025 semester. Only students who have already participated in SLG are eligible to apply.
The SLG Student Coordinator will work alongside the Assistant Director for Sustainability Engagement and oversee all aspects of the Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG) program. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, assertive, and personable, and see themselves as a mentor to younger students. An open and creative mind is essential. Primary responsibilities include:
- Enhancing the SLG program’s prominence on campus
- Selecting the SLG ‘28 team
- Developing semester long plans that prioritize the core values of leadership, education, and community
- Planning and running SLG ‘28 meetings, projects, and initiatives
- Mentoring and assisting SLG ‘28 members, both in groups and one-on-one settings
- Collaborating with campus partners and student groups to maximize the experience of SLG ‘28 members and the reach of the SLG program
Propose Your Own Internship
Do you have a great idea for a sustainability-focused internship that’s not listed above? Submit a unique internship proposal. We are always looking for new, innovative ways for students to generate sustainability-focused solutions on campus. Please submit a detailed proposal in addition to your cover letter. Note that while you must demonstrate an understanding of the issue as it relates to Wake Forest, you do not need to identify specific solutions at this point. Your proposal must include, at minimum:
- an internship title
- the issue or topic you plan to address
- a clear articulation of the need for the proposed project
- the landscape of issues surrounding the project
- the expected duration of the internship (e.g. one semester, one year, etc.)