The Leadership Enrichment Internship (LEI) is a paid mentored internship experience enhanced with professional development, career advisement, networking opportunities and real-life experience for students with diverse academic interests whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented in such careers. The program was first piloted in spring of 2016 and with additional funding we are pleased to announce its return in 2018
The LEI is a collaborative effort: campus and community units/organizations provide the internship experience and mentorship capacity, UO departments such as the Career Center and the Holden Center provide enrichment opportunities focused on professional development, career advisement and networking, and the Division of Equity and Inclusion (DEI) funds these internship opportunities to support leadership development for underrepresented UO students.
Downloadable PDF
LEI 2019 Application
Student responsibilities will include:
Attend LEI cohort meetings for collaborative professional development and networking opportunities (meetings are paid work hours).
Meeting with your internship sponsor (employer) to jointly determine the content and structure of work placement and responsibilities. The work should maximize your transferable skills and knowledge base, as well as develop goals to help you cultivate new skills.
Prompt correspondence to any communication or requests from the DEI Internship Coordinator or the department.
Student Qualifications and Expectations:
Qualified applicants are UO undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of 3 credits who have:
- A 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher at the time of application. Students with GPAs below a 2.5 or on academic probation are eligible, but will be required to develop an academic success plan with an advisor in the Center for Multicultural and Academic Excellence
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- An interest in positively engaging with on- and off-campus staff members and developing new skills
- The ability to work effectively in teams and independently
- A commitment to promoting equity and inclusion during internship placement
- A successful candidate should possess the specific skills and qualifications of the placement they are applying to (Please refer to list of open placements at the LEI homepage).
- Satisfactory completion of the application and a face-to-face interview with LEI staff and internship employer.
Student Pay and Benefits:
This is a paid position ($12/hr. for up to 10 hrs. per week). The internship pay will be covered by a grant from DEI.
Interns will participate in an ongoing exchange designed to develop leadership skills in the workplace
Students receive professional development capacitation about leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills
Direct access to an employer mentor
Previous partners include:
Mobility International USA
Downtown Languages
UO Innovation and Partnership Services
University Housing
The Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI)
UO Department of Architecture