Department Summary:

The Mission of the Jay N. Darling Institute at Drake University is to provide educational and scholarly expertise for rural communities so that their citizens have improved access to quality health care and education, nutritious food, unimpaired natural resources, and ongoing economic and cultural opportunities. www.drake.edu/darling 

Job Summary:

The Jay N. Darling Institute at Drake University is seeking a summer intern that will collaborate with community, school, and city stakeholders in Perry, Iowa in order to build a Perry Youth Council. Successful candidates may be permitted to work remotely, but this position will require occasional travel to and work from Perry. While the process to establish a youth council will be defined by the successful candidate, this position will require focus groups that engage the youth of Perry as well as in-community meetings to ensure that the diversity of the community is well-represented. The duration of this project is May 17th, 2026 – August 10th, 2026, with some flexibility around start and end dates. This position will report directly to the Paul and Claudia Schickler Executive Director of the Darling Institute.

Minimum Qualifications:

* The successful candidate will have earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year academic institution within Iowa.

* Will have a proven record of accomplishments advocating for and working with diverse youth populations within Iowa.

* Strong written and verbal communication skills are also required.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Basic understanding of Spanish (conversational / written) preferred.