Heddleson Internship With Extension and Outreach
- Be enrolled in an academic department/major within the College of Health and Human Sciences (Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management; School of Education; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Human Development and Family Studies; or Kinesiology).
- Be an undergraduate student that has earned at least 60 credit hours (classified as junior or senior) or be at graduate student status at time of internship.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Desire to work alongside an Extension faculty or staff member on a project related to family wellbeing or food and health, contributing to program development, implementation, and/or evaluation efforts.
- Have already initiated conversations with Extension faculty or staff about interest in an extension project in an Iowa county for 6 weeks.
- Show evidence of preparedness for an internship that provides hands-on experience in community engagement, public service, community education, and/or career development in Extension.
- Be eligible to receive the grant only once in college career.
- Provide own housing and transportation.
- Explore career pathways in Extension, community engagement, public service, and outreach.
- Gain practical experience supporting Extension programs and educational initiatives.
- Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based programs.
- Build professional skills while working alongside Extension faculty and staff to address community needs.
- Gain experience working in a collaborative, professional environment focused on serving communities.
- Engage with individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- Learn how county Extension offices operate and contribute to local community needs.
- Strengthen organizational, time management, and project coordination skills.
- Observe how Extension staff and community partners work together to create meaningful impact.
- Receive mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback from experienced professionals.
- Expand your professional network through connections with Extension faculty, staff, volunteers, and community leaders.
- Build confidence in communicating with a variety of audiences and stakeholders.
- Apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges and community-based initiatives.
- Develop transferable skills that support future careers in Extension, education, outreach, public service, and related fields.
- Complete 240 internship hours during the spring or summer term, as outlined in their approved internship plan.
- Work closely with their internship supervisor and actively participate in assigned projects and activities.
- Maintain regular communication with their supervisor and HHSEO contacts, as appropriate.
- Demonstrate professionalism and contribute positively to Extension and community-based programming efforts.
- Upon completion of the internship, deliver a 10–15 minute presentation during a virtual HHSEO professional development meeting. The presentation should highlight the internship experience, key projects and accomplishments, lessons learned, professional growth, and the impact of the work completed.
- The Associate Dean and Director of Health and Human Sciences Extension and Outreach (HHSEO) will appoint a review committee, with members serving two-year terms.
- The committee will include representatives from HHSEO campus faculty, Professional and Scientific staff, and an educator who works in Iowa counties.
- The committee will review and evaluate all applications and submit ranked funding recommendations to the HHSEO Director for final approval.
- Applicants will be notified of funding decisions after the review process is complete.