Internship Opportunities
Most if not all of the local internships listed on this page have the potential to earn academic credit. You need not be a WGS minor to apply, but please e-mail the Director of WGS if you are accepted as an intern so that we can keep referral statistics. Students even in apparently distant majors (e.g., Finance; CCPA) will find opportunities here, and they are not limited to women.
For academic credit you will need to set up a class using the WGST internship number (4309) or a course number for an internship in your major or other minor, if relevant. You will also need a faculty sponsor. For further information, contact the WGS office at womnstud@smu.edu.
Hopeful Solutions is seeking interns. Hopeful Solutions empowers homeless, single mothers who are overcoming the challenges of substance abuse with the resources they need to reduce the chance of relapse and increase the opportunity of self-sufficient living with their children. Interns will work directly with clients, helping them learn life-skills—how to follow up on a phone call, how to manage time, following up on the work of social workers, and so on. There may also be some need to help with maintaining data, but overall this is a great mentoring opportunity.
New Friends New Life is a faith-based organization located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area dedicated to helping women leave sexually oriented businesses. We assist women in overcoming backgrounds of abuse, addiction, poverty, and limited opportunities by providing access to education, job training, interim financial assistance and spiritual support. Internships are available in programs for women and children by contacting Lalla Shackelford, Program and Operations Director at lshackelford@newfriendsnewlife.org. Interns need not participate in a religious faith, but should be aware that we are a faith-based organization and that they will need to be supportive of that orientation.
Attitudes and Attire. Promotes personal growth and self-sufficiency for women overcoming adversity by helping them enter or return to the workplace. (One Women's & Gender Studies minor worked as an intern for this non-profit and had a great experience.) Contact: Cristal Ooi, Volunteer Coordinator (cristal@attitudesandattire.org).
Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center. Offers a variety of internship opportunities, and provides the necessary training. Examples: client counseling (graduate students only); crisis intervention; participating in educational programs in local schools; assisting in research about sexual violence; victim advocacy; administrative work. Established in part by an SMU alumna. Download descriptions and contact information Download descriptions and contact information.
The Turning Point. A rape crisis center. They offer three types of internships: 1) crisis intervention (hospital calls, hotline coverage, etc.); 2) work in the program's education department (includes participating in teen awareness programs in public schools); and 3) administrative tasks. Training provided where relevant. Contact: Haleh Cochran (hcochran@theturningpoint.org).
Aberg Center for Literacy: work with adult learners who seek to improve their English skills and earn a GED. Though most clients are women, this is not strictly a gender-related opportunity, and so probably is not the best choice for an internship in WGS. It is, however, a very good volunteer opportunity. Download volunteer description Download volunteer description.
Employers and non-profit agencies:
If you are looking for an intern (paid or unpaid) for which a student minoring in Women's and Gender Studies might be a good candidate, please contact the Director at jcryan@smu.edu.