In Internships

The Bill Lane Center for the Study of the North American West maintains relationships with organizations throughout the North American West which operate their own internship programs.  The Center provides information about these organizations, but the student is responsible for arranging these internships directly with the listed organizations.  Students interested in applying for any of these positions are encouraged to contact the Center’s Internship Coordinator to learn more about these organizations. 

Bonneville Power Administration

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is a federal agency which serves the Pacific Northwest by operating an extensive electricity transmission system and by marketing electrical power from dams, power plants, and hydroelectric and wind energy generation facilities. As the public steward of the Federal Columbia River Power System, BPA has a broad range of responsibilities to consumers, the environment, industry, states, tribes and residents of the Pacific Northwest. BPA has an established student employment program for both temporary student employment and full-time co-op employment. BPA is located in Portland, Oregon.

http://www.jobs.bpa.gov/Just_For_Students

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency which regulates the interstate transmission of energy, including natural gas, oil and electricity. FERC's goal is "reliable, affordable energy through reliance on competition and effective regulation." FERC offers a summer internship program in Washington D.C., as well as an academic year program in which students work between 16 and 40 hours per week. Both programs offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a wide variety of fields. Students receive a competitive salary and a transit subsidy to defray commuting expenses.

http://www.ferc.gov/careers/student-rel.asp

High Country News

High Country News is a nonprofit, bi-weekly news magazine headquartered in Paonia, Colorado. It is “a respected source for environmental news, analysis and commentary on water, logging, wildlife, grazing, wilderness, growth and other issues changing the face of the West.” Internships are six months long and begin in June and January. Interns may be students or graduates. Prior journalism experience is preferred.

http://www.hcn.org/about/interns.jsp

PolicyLink

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute dedicated to advancing economic and social equity. PolicyLink works with partner organizations to highlight practices and support promising strategies to ensure that local and regional growth and development benefit everyone, including low-income communities of color. PolicyLink's focus areas include equitable development, housing, public investment, health, and leadership for change. Internships are generally for graduate students, are full-time and last 10 weeks, are during the summer, and are in the Oakland or New York offices. Occassionally, internships for undergraduates or internships during the academic year may be available.

http://www.policylink.org/Internships.html

Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart is a non-partisan organization located in Philipsburg, Montana.  It is dedicated to providing citizens with accurate and unbiased information for electoral decision-making.  Internships may begin at any time during the year, but interns must commit to ten consecutive weeks.  Interns may be students or recent graduates.  Interns are encouraged to apply early.

http://www.vote-smart.org/program_internships.php 

Public Policy Institute of California

The Public Policy Institute of California is a non-profit organization located in San Francisco.  It is “dedicated to improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research on major economic, social and political issues.”  Project descriptions for summer interns are posted in mid-January and applications are generally due in mid-March.  The organization generally seeks students with a background in areas such as economics, public policy or urban planning, who have strong computer and/or statistical skills.

http://www.ppic.org/main/opportunities.asp 

SCA

SCA, formerly Student Conservation Association, is a non-profit organization which places high school and college-age volunteers at national parks, forests, refuges and urban green spaces throughout the nation.  SCA offers a wide array of opportunities for both summer internships and jobs extending up to one year.

http://www.thesca.org/ 

Stanford-in-Government

The Bill Lane Center works together with Stanford-in-Government (SIG) to place students in state and local fellowships on California committees and in state offices in Sacramento and in the offices of various elected officials locally.

http://sig.stanford.edu/ 

Sunset

Sunset magazine, with headquarters in Menlo Park, California, enjoys a circulation of nearly 1.5 million readers.  The magazine is dedicated to teaching its readers how to make the most of life in the American West, and focuses on dining, gardening, home decorating and vacationing.  Sunset does not have a formal internship program, but does keep student resumes on file in case an internship opportunity develops.

http://www.sunset.com (click on Careers link at the bottom of the page)