Internships are an important way to get insights into a career field, obtain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills. These experiences are valuable to students and there are many opportunities for students to pursue paid internships while doing service-related work through a variety of University programs. The outreach office sponsors two paid internships, and there are numerous other internships available through other offices that have a service focus as well.

Canale Leadership and Service Internship

Supported by the Canale Endowment, students pursue a semester-long community service project of their choosing. These paid internships promote projects that benefit the greater Sewanee community, while also developing the individual intern’s leadership, communication, emotional, and analytical skills. Interns are self-directed but receive assistance from a mentor and the Outreach Office of the University. Canale internships take place during the academic year and interns are encouraged to spend at least 10 hours a week on their projects.

• Canale Interns Advent 2011
• Canale Interns 2010-2011

Lilly Summer Discernment Institute

The Lilly Summer Discernment Institute was established in 2002 by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to the University of the South. The purpose of the program is to develop a new generation of religious and service-oriented leaders through substantive experiences in summer internships. In particular, the program was developed to help attract students to the ordained ministry and to vocations that embrace service as a way of life. To that end, the University has established a Summer Discernment Institute (SDI) that consists of five days of classes, orientation, speakers, discussion groups, and group activities at the University of the South, followed by six weeks of internships, and culminates in a five-day session back at Sewanee for formal presentations by participants on their experiences, reflection, and discussions of significant learning. Sixteen internship opportunities through the SDI are broken down into two tracks as follows:

• Track 1 — Parish-Based Internships: These internships involve students participating in the religious life of the parish community in addition to engaging in parish-sponsored outreach. Students can either find their own placements or contact LSDI coordinator for assistance in finding a placement.
• Track 2 — Independent Internships: These internships provide an opportunity for students to explore service as a way of life.

The Summer Discernment Institute operates within the Christian tradition, but invites interns to reflect on concepts of vocation and service from a variety of religious and ethical perspectives. The Institute solicits applications from all students interested in participating in such reflection, regardless of their religious or ethical orientation. We welcome a variety of vocational paths and ways of exploring your classing.

2011 Lilly Interns

Other Service-related internship opportunities include:

• ACE Internships: Internship opportunities in any field.
• Biehl International Research Internship Fund: Self-directed social science research internships conducted outside of the United States.
• Fund for Innovative Teaching and Learning: Collaborative student-faculty research
• Tonya Public Affairs Internship Fund: Student-developed internships that enable students to contribute to the formation, adoption, or implementation of a public policy or program.
• SEED: Social Entrepreneurship Education Program