Applications for Fall 2026 sustainability internships are now being accepted!
Are you a student interested in making a difference and gaining professional experience? The following paid opportunities with the Office of Sustainability are available to all current Wake Forest University students. Unless otherwise indicated, all internships are slated to begin on or around August 19, 2026. See individual descriptions for the duration of each position. Some positions are eligible for renewal in subsequent semesters based on availability and performance.
How to Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, 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 by Monday, April 13, 2026. Please direct any questions to cohenbj@wfu.edu.
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 Positions
Click on the position titles below to read their full descriptions.
Important Information
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 different time commitment. Interns will also participate in a required orientation program August 19-21 (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 an Office of Sustainability intern, students are eligible for a $1/hour increase. Eligibility is dependent upon performance.
Academic Credit: 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.
The Office of Sustainability encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.
Dining Engagement Intern
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2026 and continuing through the Spring 2027 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 educating customers on the components of sustainable dining at Wake Forest and empowering them to align their dining behaviors accordingly. Engagement will be focused largely on students, but may also include internal engagement for Harvest Table staff. This position will also work closely and collaboratively with the Dining Operations 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 sustainable food systems, conducting outreach, and/or planning events.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Planning and executing tabling events to educate the student body on sustainable dining initiatives and campaigns and to promote sustainable behavior change
- Collecting and analyzing engagement data (e.g. surveys, feedback) to improve programming strategies
- Working with Harvest Table marketing to develop creative educational materials (signage, games, digital content, and social media) that communicate sustainability concepts
Requirements:
- Exceptional face-to-face communication skills
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
- A creative mind
- An interest in interacting with large numbers of people, both in person and through social media.
Dining Operations Intern
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2026 and continuing through the Spring 2027 semester. This position will dually report to Harvest Table Culinary Group and the Office of Sustainability.
The Dining Operations Intern will focus on projects and initiatives that reduce the carbon footprint of Wake Forest’s dining operations. 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 within the field of sustainable food and/or research and data.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Auditing purchasing reports and communicating findings to Harvest Table culinary team
- Identifying areas for enhancing Harvest Table’s sustainable food spend (third-party certified and plant-based) and/or reducing the impact of single-use flatware
- Assessing pre-consumer food waste metrics and developing mitigation strategies
- Improving waste diversion processes
Requirements:
- Self-motivation and a history of reliability
- Strong analytical skills and experience with data
- An operational mindset
Peer Engagement Intern
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2026 semester with the opportunity to continue in subsequent semesters. There is also the potential for optional work in Summer 2026 for those in North Carolina.
The Peer Engagement Intern will plan and host a variety of opportunities for students to engage with sustainability on campus. These opportunities will be designed to educate students on sustainability topics, build community through sustainability across campus, foster an appreciation for nature, and/or otherwise further a culture of sustainability on campus.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Developing and hosting at least three “pop-in” opportunities and one larger-scale event
- Exploring partnerships with student organizations and student-facing offices
- Recruiting volunteers to assist with execution
- Conducting educational outreach through occasional tabling
Requirements:
- Excellent organization and time management skills
- A proactive, self-starter mindset
- A proven ability to collaborate with and/or engage a wide variety of students
- Previous experience planning events at Wake Forest
SLG Student Coordinator
This is a year-long position beginning in August 2026 and continuing through the Spring 2027 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 help oversee all aspects of the Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG) program.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Enhancing the SLG program’s prominence on campus
- Selecting the SLG ‘30 team
- Developing semester-long plans that prioritize the pillars of leadership, education, and community
- Planning and running SLG ‘30 meetings, projects, and initiatives
- Mentoring and assisting SLG ‘30 members, both in groups and one-on-one settings
- Collaborating with campus partners and student groups to maximize the experience of SLG ‘30 members and the reach of the SLG program
Requirements:
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Self-motivation and reliability
- An open and creative mind
- The ability to assess efficacy and adapt accordingly
- A passion for mentoring younger students
- Previous participation in SLG
Sustainability Outreach Assistant
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2026 semester, with the opportunity to continue in subsequent semesters. This position will require an estimated 3-5 hours per week.
The Sustainability Outreach Assistant will serve as a face of sustainability education on campus, interacting with students in various locations and engaging them in interactive learning opportunities. This position is vital to fulfilling the Office of Sustainability’s mission of empowering others to lead the sustainability transformation on campus and in the world.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Using the Office of Sustainability’s pre-existing tabling materials to engage and educate passersby in key locations on campus
- Maintaining a semester-long schedule of tabling events.
- Recording data on tabling efficacy for assessment of approach and selection of topic, time, and location
- Training volunteers how to table effectively alongside you
Requirements:
- Excellent face-to-face communication skills
- The ability to project confidence, enthusiasm, and friendliness
- Strong organization and time management skills
- A flexible schedule that allows for tabling during key time blocks
- Familiarity with sustainability topics and climate change solutions
Sustainability Staff Writer
This position will run for the entirety of the Fall 2026 semester, with the opportunity to continue in subsequent semesters. This position will be set up as a freelance writing role, with the intern completing work as assigned. Anticipated hours are variable depending on storytelling needs each week, and should never exceed 5 hours per week.
Please submit two journalistic writing samples with your application materials. Your sample can be unpublished (e.g. story written for a class) or published (e.g. in the Old Gold & Black).
Do you have a knack for telling stories through concise and compelling writing? Apply your skills as a sustainability staff writer. The Sustainability Staff Writer will work under direction from the Assistant Director for Sustainability Strategy and the Communications and Events Coordinator.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Drafting questions and conducting interviews
- Reporting, writing, and editing articles about campus sustainability, including:
- Profiles (e.g. alumni features, Champions of Change)
- Event Recaps (e.g. Let’s Taco-Bout Sustainability, Earth Talks, Arbor Day)
- Upcoming Opportunities (e.g. Alumni Career Panel)
- Other topics as assigned, depending upon writing ability and mastery of topics
Requirements:
- Strong writing skills and an appetite for storytelling
- A proven ability to meet deadlines
- Some background in journalism and/or writing for a publication
- Strong preference for candidates who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in JOU270: Introduction to Journalism or an equivalent course
Propose Your Own Internship
If there is a topic that you are passionate about working on that is not listed above or on our current intern roster, please email cohenbj@wfu.edu to discuss your idea prior to submitting an application. Propose-your-own internships may be considered in exceptional circumstances when they address a sustainability need on campus in a unique, thoughtful, and practical manner. Further instructions on how to apply will be provided for ideas that are preliminarily accepted.