Welcome to GWS 660

Organization description: Wisconsin’s Legislative Internship Program offers unique access to the legislative process by working closely with current staff on communications, research, and policy. The program provides an opportunity to build transferrable skills and learn more about the ins and outs of the legislature, along with the ability to earn academic credit if you are participating in any internship courses at your university or college. Political experience is not necessary and we encourage students of all majors to apply whether your interest is in law, communications, public policy, health, or elsewhere. Depending on your political interests, our intern coordinators will attempt to match you with legislators in the Assembly or the Senate. You can provide your preferences in the application.

Job Description: Wisconsin’s Legislative Internship Program offers unique access to the legislative process by working closely with current staff on communications, research, and policy. The program provides an opportunity to build transferrable skills and learn more about the ins and outs of the legislature, along with the ability to earn academic credit if you are participating in any internship courses at your university or college. Political experience is not necessary and we encourage students of all majors to apply whether your interest is in law, communications, public policy, health, or elsewhere. Depending on your political interests, our intern coordinators will attempt to match you with legislators in the Assembly or the Senate. You can provide your preferences in the application.

Supervisor: Nada Elmikashfi

Application Instructions: Apply using the following link: https://form.jotform.com/LHRO/internship-application

Note on pay/modality: unpaid and hybrid

Organization description: Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Representative Pocan is committed to using his life experience to fight for policies that promote economic and social justice and support the families of south central Wisconsin.

Job description: Interns will have the opportunity to contribute to the office in various ways. The first involves direct constituent contact via casework intake and opinion tracking. The district office has three dedicated casework staff. Their job is to act as a bridge between constituents and federal agencies. Being responsible for intake, you would be the first contact between the constituents and our office. You will learn more about the role of different federal agencies and the federal policies that most affect WI communities.

Interns are also responsible for congratulatory letters to exceptional members of the community. Every month Congressman Pocan and his staff look for remarkable people who are promoting values like inclusivity, cooperation, and selflessness. This program helps our office stay connected to the communities we represent and allows you to get to know our district.

Another main task for interns is creating our office newsletters. We have several internal newsletters. The newsletter’s main purpose is to inform the staff of important news happening in the district and the State legislature. The newsletter helps you practice policy analysis and understand the implications of proposed laws. In addition to all of this, interns have the opportunity to develop independent projects, attend a weekly intern meeting, and receive regular feedback from supervisors.

Supervisor: Alec Schwehm, Alec.Schwehm@mail.house.gov

Application Instructions: Apply using this application form.

Note on modality/pay: This internship work happens in the office.

Organization description: The Women’s Council promotes initiatives to empower women, serves as a clearinghouse for information on programs and resources, conducts research on the status of women, and engages in unique partnerships to address barriers and inequalities affecting Wisconsin women. The Women’s Council is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Governor and Legislative leaders.

Job description: The Council is transforming our historical Status of Women in Wisconsin report from a static PDF to an interactive online tool (similar to the Healthy Vermonters model). Our goal is to make it easier for people to compare and understand the realities of women’s lives across Wisconsin. The Council is interested in mapping indicators that reflect the well-being of Wisconsin women by county and state legislative districts to highlight where women and girls are flourishing and where inequities persist. The intern will be instrumental in collecting and organizing the data and creating the web visualizations. The intern will learn how to organize and visualize data.

Indicators on the well-being of women the Council is interested in exploring are:

• Demographics
• Education
• Economic Security
• Health and Safety
• Housing
• Civic Participation
• Leadership
• Childcare

On pause for spring 2026!  No internship available. 

Organization description: The Wisconsin Women’s Network (WWN) is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of women and girls in Wisconsin through communication, education, advocacy, and connections. Since 1979, the WWN has worked to strengthen the voices of women and to provide the necessary resources, training and skills to be successful in their personal and professional endeavors. Our goal is to forward and champion the often underrepresented truth: that all issues are women’s issues. We seek to address and support every aspect of women’s lives through all ages, life stages, and backgrounds. We embody this work through our primary programs: the Policy Institute, Mentorship Program, Feminism on Tap networking series, Artful Women art exhibition, and the annual Women’s Equality Day event where we honor local women leaders.

Job description: A WWN intern would have the opportunity to take on a variety of projects and responsibilities depending on their interests. The intern will support WWN’s programs and operations through tasks such as event preparation, communications support, research projects, and general administrative work. Responsibilities will be tailored to the intern’s interests and WWN’s needs. Examples of responsibilities may include assisting with program coordination for the Policy Institute and Mentorship Program, supporting event planning and outreach, drafting communications and social media content, grant research and preliminary grant writing, and helping maintain organizational systems and data. The intern will learn: a broad range of skills such as program coordination, communication, research, and nonprofit operations.

Supervisor: Emily Hyde Cawley, Executive Director; emily@wiwomensnetwork.org

Application instructions: Send your resumé and a cover letter to info@wiwomensnetwork.org (No specific due date)

Note on pay/modality: Unpaid.The internship will be hybrid. Most responsibilities can be completed remotely, though certain projects (such as supporting the Policy Institute and/or Mentorship Program) include in-person events in Madison that the intern would be encouraged to attend as needed and when available

Organization description: The Office of the Gender and Women’s Studies Librarian (GWSL) provides bibliographic and curriculum support, inter-institutional cooperation, information sharing, and advocacy related to the fields of women’s, gender, and LGBTQ+ studies and to gender-focused scholarship in the traditional disciplines. What does this mean? We do all the work that librarians do (purchasing and lending books, providing research assistance, teaching people how to access and use library resources, etc.), and we also provide services and resources that are unique to our office. These include publishing a review journal, creating and providing digital open-access resources, and partnering with organizations with a focus on providing information to (cis and trans) women and girls around the country and the world.

This intern will be assisting professional staff with an ongoing project to sort, organize, and archive files from the nearly 50-year history of this office. They will digitize documents and ephemera and learn about digital accessibility best practices. We are also looking to provide the intern with additional opportunities for professional and/or leadership development, depending on their individual skills and interests. This will be determined in consultation with the intern hired.

Job description: This intern’s primary responsibility will be assisting with an archiving project. In addition, the intern will be trained in the day-to-day tasks of the office, including but not limited to greeting patrons and assisting them with the book collections, making buttons, and providing administrative support to professional staff, including work to support the annual spring conference this office co-convenes with the WGSC.

Supervisor: Kelsey Foster, kmfoster2@wisc.edu

Application instructions: Students should send a resume and a statement of interest explaining why they would like to work in the Office of the GWSL to kmfoster2@wisc.edu. (A formal cover letter is welcome but not required.) Materials must be received by 12 PM on Tuesday, December 9. Qualified applicants will be contacted by the end of that week to set up a virtual interview.

Note on modality/pay: The intern will primarily work in-person in the Office of the GWSL in Memorial Library, with some virtual meetings/paid position.

Organization description: Today, Ms. remains the most trusted, popular source for feminist news and information in print and online. Its time-honored traditions—an emphasis on in-depth investigative reporting and feminist political analysis—have never been more relevant, bringing a new generation of writers and readers together to create the feminism of the future. Through its innovative Ms. Classroom program, the magazine enjoys a large and growing audience on college campuses. Its cross-generational appeal, global reach and deep connections to grassroots activists in the U.S. and globally, make Ms. a critical information and ideas resource and a place where feminists engage with each other and the world for action and social change.

Job description: Ms. has a developed internship program. Read more about internships here.

Supervisor: Roxy Szal, Managing Digital Editor, rszal@msmagazine.com

Application instructions: Detailed instructions are on the Ms. internship page.

Note on modality/pay: Remote unless able to work in L.A.

Organization description: Maydm provides girls and youth of color in grades 6 -12 with the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM. We envision a world where all students know that a career in STEM is possible for them; a world where all students can pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, professors, and more.

Job description: The intern would work directly with our educational programs and internship staff to plan for our summer programs: STEM summer classes for youth grades 6-12, and summer STEM internships for 11-12 grade students. There are a couple of project areas where an intern could choose to work. The main goals for this internship position are to help us to better evaluate our educational and youth internship programs, assist in preparing for our summer programs, and help to gather information which will be used to align our work with our community. They are listed below, with the more pressing areas listed at the top.

Evaluation and Data: Help organize recent data from participant registration, youth internship applications, and survey responses. Help with data visualization for increased ability to draw meaningful conclusions.

Research and apply best practices for survey data collection to upcoming 2026 summer surveys for youth internship and educational programs

Assist with building programs evaluation framework, based off of examples from existing STEM education and youth workforce development evaluations Youth internship support and planning for summer 2026 cohort Help with intern interview, selection, and placement process

Assist with internship events in the spring: family orientation, company “match” day, Maydm Week Help plan topics and activities for “Maydm Fridays”, which are soft-skills and community building days for the high school interns. Help to increase inclusion and representation into these plans.

Community Survey Build and conduct a community survey of needs and wants from our program stakeholders (parents and families, students, schools and teachers, community centers and other youth serving partners, organizations who host our summer interns) Our intent is to improve our programs and increase our impact by more closely considering input from stakeholders in regards to the topics we include in lessons, the class structure and support, transportation and access, and many other important areas.

Educational programs support Support teaching educational programs (in school, afterschool, spring break), typically one or two days per week for a few hours Help to develop STEM and engineering curriculum for summer educational programs (Web development, model rockets and aerospace, project-based engineering and entrepreneurship) Increase representation and career connections into summer education programs curriculum

There is an opportunity for continued work during the summer as an educational programs instructor.

Supervisor:Rebecca Hildebrandt, rebecca.hildebrandt@maydm.org

Application instructions: Send resume and cover letter to Ben Pate at ben.pate@maydm.org

Note on modality/pay: Paid position. Hybrid, but with in-person emphasis. Our office is a relatively short bus ride from campus, and we will have a desk work space available for the intern to use. While there will be work which could be done remotely, it will be most effective to try and work in our office, or at the locations for programs, as much as possible.

Organization description: At Girls on the Run (GOTR) South Central Wisconsin, teaching essential life skills is the cornerstone of our research-based programs. Trained volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. GOTR coordinates after school empowerment programming to ~2,200 kids annually at 120 sites throughout South Central Wisconsin. Girls participate in weekly running sessions paired with programming focused on building social, emotional and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits. At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together, which provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and sets a confident mindset into motion. GOTR has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others.

Job description: The programming intern supports the operational and evaluative work that will make our Spring 2026 Girls on the Run season possible. Responsibilities may include:

-Assisting with program site outreach, recruitment, and communications

-Supporting volunteer coach recruitment, onboarding, and engagement

-Organizing and maintaining program materials and data systems

-Helping with program evaluation projects, including survey creation, data collection, and analysis

-Contributing to special event planning and communications (such as the 5K or coach celebrations)

We also have an on-going project with the United Way focused on measuring participant outcomes related to social connectedness, emotional regulation, and program accessibility. We would welcome the intern’s insights and leadership on several components of the project including: survey design, data analysis, and presenting results. Depending on our needs, the intern might also take on a leadership roles that aligns with their interests and learning goals.

Through this internship, students can expect to gain firsthand experience in nonprofit program management, volunteer coordination, evaluation methods, and community outreach. They will also develop a deeper understanding of how gender equity and empowerment are advanced through youth development programs like Girls on the Run.

Supervisor: Christine Benedict; christine.benedict@girlsontherun.org

Application information: Students should submit a resume and cover letter to Christine Benedict at christine.benedict@girlsontherun.org prior to Friday, January 5, 2026.

Note on modality/pay: Hybrid/paid.

Organization description: The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center provides education, outreach, advocacy, and resources for UW-Madison student communities and their allies to improve campus climate and their daily intersectional experiences.

Job description: The job of student intern at the GSCC involves a variety of types of work. Student interns help plan, host, and assess events, advertise on social media, advise the office on what students want and are experiencing on campus, and run ongoing programs like discussion groups. Student interns also help manage the office space and greet and meet with students. We require interns to commit to developing and working from a socially just, intersectional perspective.

Student interns have the opportunity to work on independent projects on a variety of interest areas and/or topics. This can look like a recurring discussion group, an educational initiative, a one-time large event. Student interns will be supported by their supervisor and other student interns to bring their vision to life, whatever it may be!

Student interns will attend a Spring Training, which will cover broad intern responsibilities and duties. Throughout the semester, we often provide educational opportunities at staff meetings on things like accessible event planning, crisis management, and other various topics. Additionally, we pass along information about professional development opportunities and sometimes stream webinars in the GSCC space for students to attend. Student interns can inquire with their supervisor about attending other professional development opportunities such as conferences, seminars, or classes.

Supervisor: GSCC Staff

Application Information: Students can submit a resume and application to lgbtq@studentaffairs.wisc.edu by December 12th for a Spring 2026 appointment.

The application questions/information can be found at go.wisc.edu/gscchire. No cover letter necessary. Students will be invited to join a virtual 30-minute interview with the supervising professional staff. Start date will be January 14, 2026.

Note on modality/pay: paid

Organization description: Legal Action of Wisconsin is the state’s largest non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to Wisconsin clients at the most vulnerable times in their lives. For more than 50 years, we’ve changed and improved lives by making sure the civil legal system works for everyone. The Eviction Defense Project provides free eviction defense representation to low-income tenants facing eviction in Milwaukee County. We represent tenants in court to prevent eviction and help seal old eviction records.

Job description: During the internship, a student would work with Legal Action staff to assist client’s facing eviction as well as conduct research as to policy issues and help prepare materials to help tenants know their rights and responsibilities related to renting, dealing with serious housing conditions issues, sealing eviction records, and preventing eviction. Legal Action has extensive on-line training materials for volunteers to learn more Evictions, Housing Conditions Issues, Tenant Rights and Responsibilities, and other legal issues impacting low-income individuals and families. There will be on-line webinars during the semester as well as training videos.

Supervisor: Jill Kastner – jxk@legalaction.org; (414) 274-3080

Application instructions:  Send your resumé and a cover letter (this can be framed in an email) to Jill Kastner at jxk@legalaction.org.

Note on modality/pay: Unpaid. Flexible work site options based on the needs of the student.

Organization description: Midwest Mujeres (Midwest Women) is a mentorship collective for multicultural women entrepreneurs. We educate multicultral women on storytelling, networking, mentoring, and marketing. We empower women to build their businesses to close the wage gap for all women. Our members gain exclusive coaching calls and mentoring to help them reach their dreams. In our community cohorts, we work with organizations to empower Latinas to free their voice in community event planning and invite them to participate in our annual event, “Yo Quiero Dinero!” We create a culture of belonging for everyone who wants to celebrate equity, unity, and empowerment for women.

Job description: The intern will support Midwest Mujeres’ community engagement efforts by helping develop a structured intake and check-in process for our members. They will assist with collecting member information, organizing communications, and coordinating a monthly peer-support group for Latina and Black women when our Voices & Dreams Academy is not in session. This role focuses on relationship-building and applying feminist principles of care and community leadership in a real-world nonprofit setting.

The intern will learn how to create inclusive spaces, practice trauma-informed listening, and gain experience in program coordination, qualitative data collection, and community-centered evaluation.he intern will have the opportunity to design and lead an independent project related to member engagement and feminist community-building. For example, they could create a short toolkit or mini-curriculum for monthly member check-ins, collect stories or reflections from members to share internally, or develop a feedback process that centers belonging and care. This independent project would contribute to our ongoing effort to sustain connection between our larger programs and provide meaningful leadership experience rooted in feminist practice.

They will also have opportunities to design their own project (such as developing a member check-in toolkit or reflection guide), and we will provide marketing and communications support to help them share their work with our community. The intern will also be invited to attend our public storytelling and networking events, offering exposure to diverse women leaders and local nonprofit professionals.

The intern will be welcomed into the culture of Midwest Mujeres through our monthly Cyber Cafecitos, where staff, members, and collaborators gather virtually to share updates, celebrate wins, and support one another. They will also be invited to attend regular staff and planning meetings, gaining insight into the behind-the-scenes structure of a Latina-led nonprofit. These gatherings provide opportunities for networking with community leaders, local entrepreneurs, and women professionals involved in our programs. The intern will experience firsthand our collaborative, story-centered, and intergenerational approach to leadership and community building.

Supervisor: Araceli Esparza, info@midwestmujeres.com

Application instructions: Students interested in interning with Midwest Mujeres (www.midwestmujeres.com) should email info@midwestmujeres.com with a brief introduction, their resume, and a short cover letter describing their interest in feminist community work and what they hope to learn. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but we encourage students to apply by December 15, 2025, for priority consideration. Selected students will be invited to a short Zoom conversation with Araceli Esparza, Executive Director, to discuss potential projects and fit.

Note on pay/modality: Hybrid.

Organization description: The Disability Rights and Services Program is part of the City’s Department of Civil Rights, Equity and Social Justice Division.  Everyone has access needs.  The social model of disability recognizes that the built world and systemic ableism present barriers to access, not a person’s mind or body.  We recognize that ableism exists individually, institutionally, and structurally. To approach disability as a special issue or a silo diminishes the experiences and intersections of this culturally rich and diverse community.  Therefore, addressing ableism must go beyond legal compliance and involve collaborating with those most impacted to root out ableist practices in all City planning, programs, services, and facilities.  We believe all residents deserve the opportunity to live, work, travel, play, and thrive.

To live our mission, we embrace inclusion and belonging and actively work to foster disability-affirming spaces, advance opportunities, and celebrate the diversity of our Disabled residents.

Job description: Interns can expect to work on and shadow a variety of ongoing projects including policy, training, community engagement, and shadowing meetings with the Disability Rights and Services Specialist. Inters attend Equity and Social Justice Division meetings to learn more about the work the City of Madison does to promote equity. Interns are also encouraged to work on a “passion project” of their choosing and present it to the Disability Rights Commission or relevant City staff. The Disability Rights and Services Specialist actively shares resources and connects interns with community leaders aligned with their areas of interest.

Supervisor: Rebecca Hoyt, RHoyt@cityofmadison.com, 608-266-6511

Application instructions: Students can email RHoyt@cityofmadison.com with a short statement about their goals and why they are interested in the internship.

Note on pay/modality: paid; Based on student needs and preferences. Most interns work remote and come to the office for in-person meetings and events. Some interns work entirely remotely. In-person office space is available if preferred.

Organization description: Defending Black Girlhood equips parents, teachers, social workers, community advocates and organizations with tools to defend Black girlhoods in their homes, schools and communities!

Job description: Interns can expect to learn how to apply a culturally grounded lens to advocacy, understand the systems that impact Black girls, and develop skills in program design, communication, and community-centered leadership.

Application instructions: Send a resume and cover letter to Lilada@TheBlackCenter.org

Note on pay/modality: Unpaid and hybrid.

Waiting to hear from Center for Patient Partnerships! Check back!

Waiting to hear back from UW Health Gender Health Services Clinic. 

This group is meeting on December 17 to finalize the internship details. Interested applicants can reach out to Stephanie now for an introduction and more details.

Organization description: PPAWI is the advocacy branch of PPWI, focused on voter engagement, promoting bodily autonomy through public policies, and educating the public about how state and federal laws impact reproductive and sexual healthcare. The Public Affairs Department also campaigns for endorsed candidates, lobbies at the state capitol, and tables at various community events.

Job description: This intern will help us deepen our reach into rural communities across Wisconsin. They’ll attend Rural Health Initiative meetings, complete training webinars that explain Planned Parenthood and PPWI services, research community organizations, and build an outreach database. They may also work with our student ambassadors and help schedule meetings with key community contacts.

The intern will receive foundational onboarding through a series of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) webinar trainings that provide an in-depth overview of our mission, services, history, and operations. These webinars include modules on reproductive healthcare, patient access, rural health challenges, and PPWI’s statewide service footprint.

Participation in PPWI Rural Health Initiative project meetings include: access to PPFA and PPWI educational webinars; optional attendance at internal seminars, stakeholder meetings, and community partner sessions; opportunities to collaborate directly with PPWI’s Education Department, including our Student Ambassador Program, and exposure to statewide outreach strategy, health equity work, and community engagement planning.

Supervisor: Erin Noon

Application instructions: Send a resume and cover letter to Erin Noon at erin.noon@ppwi.org

Note on pay/modality: hybrid

Organization description: PPAWI is the advocacy branch of PPWI, focused on voter engagement, promoting bodily autonomy through public policies, and educating the public about how state and federal laws impact reproductive and sexual healthcare. The Public Affairs Department also campaigns for endorsed candidates, lobbies at the state capitol, and tables at various community events.

Job description: In the PA department, our interns do a combination of campaign assistance (during election seasons) and community events. Our intern in Madison would help with tabling at events, recruiting volunteers, and planning events. During the warmer weather, they would also attend outdoor events and represent PPAWI.

Supervisor: Sydney O’Hare, Dane County Public Affairs Organizer, sydney.ohare@ppwi.org

Application instructions: Send a resume and cover letter to sydney.ohare@ppwi.org

Note on pay/modality: hybrid.

Organization description: End Domestic Abuse WI envisions communities fully engaged to provide safety and to give a voice to all affected by domestic abuse, while creating the social change necessary to address its root causes. We honor the wisdom and strength of domestic abuse survivors across the lifespan. Our mission is achievable through survivor-centered work that includes strategic partnerships and collaboration. As advocates for social justice, we embrace the voices of diverse communities.

Job description: An intern would primarily help with the staff attorneys. Examples of responsibilities would include assisting in preparing and presenting trainings on legal issues related to domestic abuse, drafting Legal Tips of the Month, and assisting with legal technical assistance questions. There may also be an opportunity to work with our policy team.

Supervisor: Kari Niesen-LaScala, karil@endabusewi.org

Application instructions: Send a resume and cover letter Kari Niesen-LaScala at karil@endabusewi.org.

Note on pay/modality: Unpaid and remote.

Organization description: Waking Women Healing Institute (WWHI) is a 501c3 non-profit organization led by Indigenous women and survivors, dedicated to providing culturally-based healing and support services to Indigenous survivors of violence and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Persons (MMIW/P).

Job description: Interns provide direct community outreach and engagement support: researching and organizing materials for social media campaigns, help launch our volunteer program, direct community education and outreach. They have an opportunity to apprentice directly under the WWHI team in areas of their choosing: MMIP Healing & Response Teams, Youth Prevention, Peer support for survivors and MMIP families, building community spaces of education and healing that are culturally founded and land based. These are hybrid opportunities- mostly remote with in person as they are able. Interns will be invited to any conferences, webinars, and trainings that WWHI staff may attend during this time period.

Supervisor: Kristin Welch. Send an email of interest to Kristin Welch: kwelch@wakingwomenhealingint.org. Kristin will provide a link to upload a resume. 

Note on pay/modality: hybrid