The Public Health Equity Young Scholars Summer Enrichment Program

The Public Health Equity Young Scholars Summer Enrichment Program is a public health careers exploration program for rising 7th-10th graders from historically underrepresented backgrounds, with the long-term goal that they are eventual leaders in publichealth practice, policy and research. The program's goals are to 1) provide students from underrepresented groups an introduction to public health careers, and 2) to facilitate matriculation in a college program public health major by students from underrepresented groups. Students learn from UMass Amherst School of Public Health & Health Sciences faculty and graduate students about a range of public health topics, participate in hands-on research activities, discover career choices, and develop leadership skills.

Undergraduate interns will: 

  • assist in preparing for modules presenting the foundations of public health including Environmental Health,Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Policy, and Nutrition
  • Assist with facilitating experiential learning activities such as PhotoVoice, documenting assets and challenges in their local communities,  bodymapping, and digital storytelling. 
  • Mentor students as they identify a public health challenge in their community and prepare a presentation with possible solutions.
Details

 

This is an in-person internship in Amherst and Springfield. The youth program runs July 6-17, 9am-4pm, at UMass Springfield. Undergraduate interns will assist in person during the program, and approximately 20 hrs/wk the week before and after with preparations and wrap-up. Active involvement is required June 24-July 24, with 1-2 orientation meetings required before June 24. Own reliable transportation to Springfield required. Experience working with youth helpful but not required.  

Name of research group, project, or lab
Center for Community Health Equity Research, UMass Springfield
Why participate in this opportunity?

Undergraduate interns will: 

  • assist in preparing for modules presenting the foundations of public health including Environmental Health,Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Policy, and Nutrition
  • Assist with facilitating experiential learning activities such as PhotoVoice, documenting assets and challenges in their local communities,  bodymapping, and digital storytelling. 
  • Mentor students as they identify a public health challenge in their community and prepare a presentation with possible solutions.

Interns will gain experience working with youth engagement and youth development. Interns will serve as role models for students from underrepresented groups to illustrate possibilities for college attendance and future careers.

Logistics Information:
Field(s) of Study
Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Community Health Education
Environmental Health Sciences
Health Policy & Management
Kinesiology
Nutrition
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Student ranks applicable
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

Successful interns will be detail-oriented, outgoing, confident, able to relate to members of diverse communities, comfortable facilitating large and small groups. 

Time commitment
15+ h/wk
Position Types and Compensation
Paid - General
Number of openings
4
Techniques learned

Interns will gain experience with public health fields including Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Policy, and Nutrition, youth development, mentorship, arts-based research methods including PhotoVoice, bodymapping, and digital storytelling. 

Project start
June 24
Contact Information:
Mentor
sjshaw@umass.edu
Director, Center for Community Health Equity Research
Name of project director or principal investigator
Susan Shaw
Email address of project director or principal investigator
sjshaw@umass.edu
4 sp. | 0 appl.
Time commitment
15+ h/wk
Field(s) of Study
Nutrition (+6)
Biostatistics and EpidemiologyCommunity Health EducationEnvironmental Health SciencesHealth Policy & ManagementKinesiologyNutritionSpeech, Language, and Hearing Sciences