Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:
The University of Chicago Institute of Politics (IOP) is dedicated to fostering civic engagement and public service. The Summer in Chicago Internship is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the Chicago city government, bridging the gap between academia and practical political involvement.

Internship Summary:
Under the supervision of Mark Schauerte and Laresa Lund, this hybrid internship in Chicago spans 8 weeks (ideally in June, July, and/or August). The Summer in Chicago Intern will work full-time (40 hours per week) and will work out of the Institute of Politics (5707 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637) and will likely work 3 days per week in office, two days remote. This intern will also help to lead field trips to various places in the Chicago area.

Responsibilities:
- Planning and executing summer events in Chicago, including coordinating IOP coworking days and field trips to important city locations in Chicago politics
- Creating and managing a summer calendar of events and activities for IOP interns working in and around Chicago
- Reviewing academic year internships from the year before against a rubric; planning ahead for the following academic year by meeting with employers, reviewing metrics, etc.
- Managing outreach and engagement of Chicago based alumni, employer partners, and friends
- Maintaining a database of contact information for students interning in Chicago through the IOP program; coordinating three evaluation processes for all students in the summer cohort
- Keeping literature on the Chicago program up-to-date on the IOP website; maintaining FAQ, inbox, and general communications with the Chicago intern community
- Creating and publishing written and multimedia content about the Chicago program for the IOP website, social media, and the Chicago alumni community; creating and sending weekly newsletters
- Developing, distributing, and analyzing post-summer surveys
- Serving as a resource for student interns in Chicago

Qualifications:
- Interest in politics and public service.
- Ideally, some experience organizing events or other activities (RSO, local/community, political or high school club).
- High level of comfort and tact in working with people of all ages and at all levels, and from many different professional sectors.
- Familiarity with and passion for local Chicago is strongly encouraged.
- Ability to work independently and under tight deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong writing skills.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Familiarity with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Excel.
- Familiarity with Facebook, Twitter, and other online social media platforms.
- Audio/visual and other multimedia skills are preferred but not required.

About the Supervisor:
Mark Schauerte manages the placement of undergraduate and graduate students in internships nationwide and internationally. At the IOP, Mark helps bring speakers to campus to discuss career paths, roles in politics and journalism, and skills for students to position themselves for careers in public service. He previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) for more than four years, working both in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago suburbs. Mark is also an attorney and worked as an award-winning journalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Lawyer Magazine.

Laresa Lund helps manage the IOP’s 300+ academic-year and summer internships, with a primary focus on the Chicago-based academic-year internship portfolio. Her areas of expertise include Chicago-based internships, resume development, cover letter writing, and networking preparation. She is also excited to help rural students, folks interested in conservation work, and those searching for AmeriCorps opportunities.

Start and End Date:
Summer internships will take place during the period of June - September with specific dates to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process. This role works best for someone who can work June, July, and/or August, and has potential for extension.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible.