Intern, Ithaka S+R (American Talent Initiative)

The Role

Ithaka S+R is a non-profit research and consulting service that helps the academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, technological, and demographic change. As a co-managing partner of the American Talent Initiative (ATI)—a collaborative of more than 135 selective colleges and universities—Ithaka S+R supports member institutions in their efforts to attract, enroll, and graduate more lower-income students. The S+R team does this by raising awareness about the incredible talent in lower-income communities, elevating colleges and universities with an established track record of serving lower-income students, and supporting these institutions in setting and meeting measurable goals to increase lower-income student enrollment over time. The team also conducts research designed to highlight best practices across the collaborative and beyond. The intern will report to Carmen Araoz, program manager for ATI at Ithaka S+R. 

Working with the ATI project team, the intern will design original research and contribute to the writing of blog posts, case studies, and other written deliverables or presentations aimed at informing ATI members and the higher education community, improving the lives of students, and serving key stakeholders across the higher education sector. The intern will have the opportunity to learn from our team of researchers and domain experts while contributing to the field by leading impactful work. 

This internship will last 12 weeks, beginning on June 2, 2025. To be considered for this opportunity, please ensure your application is submitted by the deadline of January 31, 2025.

Responsibilities

Interns will participate in a unique learning experience that includes the following core activities: 

• Address critical challenges in higher education
• Develop a broader knowledge of Ithaka S+R’s work through exposure to and active participation in discussions beyond the scope of the intern’s specific project
• Collaborate with researchers and analysts to produce specific deliverables
• Present work accomplished during the internship showcasing deliverables achieved and skills learned

Specific project components, tasks required to complete them, and expected project deliverables will be defined in collaboration with the intern’s supervisor and additional team members. Potential project topics may include research on overarching themes such as national trends in bachelor’s degree attainment, as well as specific topics across the student lifecycle such as 1) effective and innovative recruitment and admissions practices, 2) factors contributing to student belonging, persistence, and graduation, and 3) financial aid and institutional finances. Components of the work may include: 

• Contributing to project development (e.g., project scoping, background research, development of mixed methods research instruments).
• Participating in data collection (e.g., literature reviews, desk research, conducting interviews and focus groups).
• Performing data analysis.
• Contributing to project outputs, including reports, memos, blog posts, fact sheets, and slide decks.

Experience and Skills

Any combination of professional experience, volunteer work, coursework, or other transferable skills may be applied toward these qualifications. Strong candidates will possess several of the following qualifications:

• Pursuing a master’s degree or Ph.D in a field that requires superior writing, communication, research, and critical thinking skills. 
• Policy analysis and/or experience working with quantitative or mixed research methods (preferred but not required).
• Strong interest in Ithaka S+R’s mission to solve challenges facing higher education. 
• Comfort working in a fluid, highly collaborative, remote team environment.
• Ambitious self-starter enthusiastic about learning new skills.
• Highly effective communicator, eager to collaboratively set goals and seek feedback.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks while ensuring attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts and research data into compelling, accessible, and engaging work products, including long- and short-form written outputs as well as presentation materials.

Work Authorization and Sponsorship

ITHAKA is not currently considering candidates who require any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States.

Compensation & Benefits

At ITHAKA we believe in openness and equity. Part of living those values is our commitment to clarity about salary, so candidates know what to expect. The pay for this position is $20.00 per hour.