Ready, set, go West! Lane Center summer interns embark on new adventures

The Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University is thrilled to welcome another cohort of summer interns passionate about critical issues facing the American West. Nineteen talented students have been selected to work at organizations across the region, gaining practical experience in fields ranging from conservation to museum curation to education and outreach. While the students' jobs will vary based on the needs of their host organizations, all of the opportunities share the common goal of supporting a thriving American West - its land, its people, and its natural resources.

Across eight states, the 2023 cohort will work in paid, full-time positions for up to ten consecutive weeks. The Lane Center proudly subsidizes all 19 opportunities. Part of the Center's educational mission is to give students an introduction to potential careers in the West, while also supporting the important missions of agencies who might otherwise not be able to fund a Stanford student intern. In win-win mentorships, future western leaders are linked with those already doing the work of sustaining and preserving the region's rich culture and ecosystems. Current host organizations include: American Rivers, Blue Forest Conservation, California Trout, Deschutes Land Trust, Glacier National Park Conservancy, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Henry's Fork Foundation, Heyday Books, Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN), National Conference of State Legislatures, the National History Institute, the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Estuary Institute, Santa Lucia Conservancy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Water Trust and Yellowstone National Park.

In addition to the 19 "West" Interns, the Bill Lane Center is also sponsoring seven student internships specifically focused on energy issues. The Shultz Energy Fellowship program is co-sponsored by the Bill Lane Center, the Precourt Institute for Energy, the Haas Center for Public Service and Stanford in Government. Shultz Fellows are both graduate and undergraduate students working summer public service positions in the energy sector. At agencies in California, Colorado, Utah and Hawaii, students gain practical experience with energy issues at local, state and regional levels. 

While some interns began work earlier this month, many more are starting in late June and early July. The 2023 cohort includes a mix of new and returning Bill Lane Center students. Back for her second year, Chloe Romero (a current Shultz Fellow) interned at Henry's Fork Foundation last summer. "West" intern Camden Burk is a current Lane Center student ambassador who has participated in Center research and Sophomore College programs. And Kyla Figueroa's supervisor at Heyday Books, Emmerich Anklam, was a Lane Center intern at Heyday a decade ago in the summer of 2013.

The entire Lane Center family is excited to witness the contributions these students will make during the summer of 2023, with impacts that will undoubtedly be felt not only in the academic community but also in the wider western community. Details about the 2023 cohort of dedicated students and their placements can be found here. And student reflections about the internship experience can be found by visiting the Out West student blog and the Lane Center Instagram channel throughout the summer.

About the Bill Lane Center for the American West:

The Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to advancing scholarly and public understanding of the past, present, and future of western North America. Through research, teaching, and public engagement, the Center addresses critical issues facing the region, including land and water management, environmental justice, indigenous rights, public lands, and rural development.