Summer Internship Program-Many Positions across MI

Hiring Organization: MSU Extension
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: Various Places over Michigan
Application Due Date: April 15, 2025

Internship Descriptions - Summer 2026

Michigan State University Extension will offer paid 2026 summer internship opportunities for high achieving undergraduates. The intent of this program is to expose students to Extension career opportunities, to develop student’s career-based portfolio skills and to support the work of Extension Educators and Specialists. Selected individuals will have the opportunity to work with multiple Extension Educators and Specialists in multiple topic areas during the summer experience. Summer 2026 opportunities exist in multiple Michigan geographic areas.

#, Title, & Handshake Job # Intern Coordinator Location & City

1. 4-H Animal Science Internship

Job #10498399 David Lindsay 517-353-1748 lindsa75@msu.edu CYI East Lansing, MI/ Campus

2. MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center

(UPREC) Regenerative Agriculture Internship (2

positions)

Job #10498529 James DeDecker 989-225-3221 dedecke5@msu.edu AABI/CFEI Chatham, MI UPREC

3. Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation

(DPFLI) Internship (DPFLI) PawPaw and Persimmon

Research Project Internship

Job #10498543 Naim Edwards 313-494-4787 edwar649@msu.edu CFEI Detroit, MI DPFLI

4. Reporting and Evaluation Internship

Job #10501479 Dawn Earnesty 517-353-2308 wilcoxd4@msu.edu Director’s Office East Lansing, MI/ Campus and remote

5. Agritourism and Sustainable Agriculture Internship

Job #10501655 Derek Plotkowski 248-347-3860x202 plotkow5@msu.edu AABI/CFEI Novi , MI (Tollgate Farm and Education Center)

6. Tribal Governance Internship

Job #10501777 Emily Proctor 517-420-4137 proctor8@msu.edu CFEI Harbor Springs, MI and remote

7. AgVenture for Youth and Adults Internship

Job #10501831 Christina Curell 231-287-8617 curellc@msu.edu AABI/CYI Mason County Extension office, Scottville, MI

8. Southwest Michigan Field Crops Extension Internship

– Kellogg Biological Station (KBS)

Job # 10547865 Christine Charles 973-255-6097 charl122@msu.edu AABI Hickory Corners, MI KBS

Expectations and Eligibility

Interns will be matched with an Extension Educator and Specialist team that will utilize the student’s academic preparations to further develop essential career skills. During the internship experience, students work full-time on a substantive faculty-guided project, demonstrations, workshops and participate in professional development activities, including attending seminars and completing periodic writing assignments. Due to the intensive nature of this program, it is expected that students will not enroll in summer coursework or accept other employment during the work week. Taking (1) online course up to 4 credits during the summer would be acceptable. Students may opt to enroll for academic credit in ANR 493 (3 credits) or an appropriate XXX 493 or XXX 293; the student is responsible for any tuition and enrollment fees. Regardless of academic enrollment, all interns will complete the same academic intern reporting including time sheets, weekly reports, mid-internship report and evaluation, final evaluation, and final internship poster. Applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Is a current MSU or NC A&T undergraduate student thru August 2026,

• Preferably is returning for one or more semesters of undergraduate study after Summer 2026 (i.e., not graduating before December 2026),

• Is eligible for employment in the USA; international students must obtain an appropriate visa,

• Cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale),

• Able to commit to full-time employment during the 12-week summer program,

• Have access to reliable transportation, and

• Will be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2026.

Compensation, Housing, Travel, and Other Relevant Information

Students participating in the MSUE internship program are paid $15.00 per hour and typically work 40 hours per week for up to 12 weeks. Participants are employees of MSU and are responsible for applicable taxes. $1,000 will also be provided for operating expenses and business travel; many internship hosts have additional funds available to support programmatic travel. Students are responsible for their own housing unless specified otherwise. In some cases, housing at no-cost is available at MSU Research and Extension Centers. For those travelling from out of state or looking at other internship opportunities, there may be support to cover housing costs. It is expected that applicants will have a housing option in proximity of their area of choice. Multiple Michigan geographic regions are available. The start/end dates of the internship are flexible depending on the need of the Extension professional and the schedule of the student. In general, internships will start approximatley May 11, 2026, and end July 31, 2026.

Application Timeline

The application process is open until a suitable candidate has been selected. All positions will close on April 15, 2026, regardless of status. Review begins immediately after application. Please apply early.

Application

Handshake - cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript – Job # in the table above.

Questions

If you have questions about the internship process or timeline, please contact Dr. Luke Reese, reesel@msu.edu or 517-353-3258 or Josh Gunn, gunnjosh@msu.edu or 517-355-2361. If you have questions about a specific internship, please view the listing on Handshake or contact the internship coordinator listed in the table above.