Since 2004,  over 135 students have been placed by SEF in nearly 70 nonprofits and foundations throughout the region focused on providing advocacy, grant-making, policy analysis, research, community organizing, and direct service in education.   Students are given summer placements that pair well with their experience, educational interests, career paths, and developmental needs. During this experiential learning opportunity, students examine strategies for improving education, addressing community needs, and putting theory into practice.

The selection process for interns is highly competitive. SEF’s website, www.southerneducation.org provides additional information about the internship.  Diversity is important to SEF so we hope that you will act on this request for assistance by sharing it broadly and inclusively with qualified students.

Interns receive:

• An opportunity to work for eight weeks in an organization concerned with equity and excellence e.g., a policy institution, community-based organization or philanthropic institution;
• Trainings that expose students to research in the field, stress the importance of civic engagement, teach strategies for making change, and provide opportunities to meet and learn from inspiring leaders involved in education policy and practice; 
• Guidance and supervision provided by seasoned sector leaders to work through the summer intensively on challenging research, education policy, and nonprofit program related projects; and
• The opportunity to present their work to their peers, reflect, brainstorm how to take the lessons learned from this experience back to their communities, and become part of a network of emerging leaders in the sector.

 The program provides a generous stipend of $4,000 for undergraduates and $4,500 for graduate students along with reimbursement for all airfare/car mileage expenses associated with travelling to and from SEF trainings to summer placements.

We know that you are busy and time is short, but we are hopeful that you will take a few minutes to reach out to your best and brightest students who ought to apply to be involved in this program because of their interests in education equity, community service, public policy, and philanthropy.

The application can be downloaded here.