Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program

Established in 2021, the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program is a comprehensive career education experience for selected WashU second-year undergraduate students whose family income is less than $75,000. The goal of the program is to jump-start career access and future career success. Students enroll in a one-credit course that gives them advanced career education and are matched with a career coach who they meet with routinely throughout the program. The structured course and tailored coaching support students in their search for a summer internship.

Internships serve as an important bridge from college to career. Research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers has demonstrated that internship experiences are avenues to increased skills, expanded networks, and enhanced social capital, and offer pathways to job offers and jobs. The Chancellor’s Career Fellows program aims to assist more students in finding internships aligned with their career goals.

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Program Components
Program Eligibility
How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Participant testimonial that reads: “The structure of the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program motivated me to actively explore opportunities. Assignments, discussions, and coaching sessions gave me a clearer direction in my search. The skills from this course will be valuable well beyond a single internship. Learning how to communicate professionally, prepare for opportunities, and understand workplace expectations are skills that apply to all professional settings. The program provided accountability and structure that encouraged me to actively engage with the resources and created a sense of momentum and to consistently work on my internship search.” Adam Alamsi, class of 2028, Philosophy, Neuroscience & Psychology Summer 2026 research assistant, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
Participant testimonial that reads: “The skills I gained in the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program extend far beyond my summer internship. Knowing how to tailor resumes and cover letters, practice purposeful networking, prepare effectively for interviews, and use career frameworks to guide decision-making will support me through future internship searches, campus leadership applications, and eventually full-time job applications. The value of having these career resources organized into one program was huge. The structure, deadlines, and coaching created a level of accountability that ensured I actually used the resources. Receiving personalized feedback and learning alongside peers made everything feel more manageable.” Sydney Campusano, class of 2028, Sociology Summer 2026 patient care intern, Agape Care Group Hospice
Participant testimonial that reads: “Having career resources packaged together into the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program made them easier to actually use. The structure of the class encouraged me to take action. One of the most helpful aspects of this course was learning how to present myself professionally. The work we did on resumes, cover letters, and professional communication helped me better understand how to clearly communicate my skills and experiences in ways that are meaningful to employers. The skills I learned in this course will help me beyond just securing a summer internship. Knowing how to network, communicate professionally, and present myself well will be important throughout my career.” Yared Belete, class of 2028, majoring in Communication Design, Summer 2026 graphic design intern, Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement

Program Components

  • A one-credit career education course during the spring semester that provides structured guidance, accountability and momentum to successfully search for and apply to summer internship opportunities. Class meetings, assignments, and discussions provide in-depth instruction and feedback on resumes, interview preparation, professional presentation, and more. This year the course will be during spring half A 2027, which runs from January 19 through March 13. Class will meet seven times on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:50PM.
  • Personalized advising with a career coach. Each student is matched with a career coach based on their career interests. Students meet with their coaches several times throughout the program to build their career skills, application portfolio, and internship search strategies.
  • Connection with other Chancellor’s Career Fellows, faculty, staff, and alumni for the purpose of building community, friendships, and support.
  • Financial support for unpaid internships. Students who secure an unpaid qualifying summer pre-professional experience are eligible to receive funding to support their living expenses. (More information below in the FAQ section.)
  • Featured recognition on the Center for Career Engagement’s Student Internship Spotlight series.

The Center for Career Engagement oversees the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program in partnership with the Taylor Family Center for Student Success and Student Financial Aid.

Program Eligibility

  • Current second-year WashU students
  • Full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student
  • Family annual income of $75,000 or less
  • Students must be able to work in the United States
  • Preference given to first-generation students
  • Preference given to students who have not yet participated in a significant internship, pre-professional experience, or other career development program

How to Apply

Eligible students will be contacted via email with an invitation to apply and a link to the application questionnaire.

If you have further questions, please reference the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below or contact Sarah Sims, Assistant Director, Internships & Experiential Learning in the Center for Career Engagement at sarahsims@wustl.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Chancellor’s Career Fellows program does not assign students to internships. Students receive support in identifying, applying to, and interviewing for internships and other summer pre-professional experiences.

No. Students receive support in identifying, applying to, and interviewing for internships and other summer pre-professional experiences, but ultimately it is up to the student to successfully apply to and land an internship.

Yes, CCF gives preference to eligible students who are also first-generation status, but first-generation status is not a requirement for eligibility. If you are not a first-generation student, we still encourage you to apply.

Admission to CCF will be based on your written application. There will be no interview process after submitting your application. Please carefully consider your responses to the short essay questions. Priority will be given to applicants who will benefit from guided career education and/or who have had few or no previous pre-professional experiences.

No. Students must be based in St. Louis in the spring semester to partake in CCF as the program’s class component is in-person on the Danforth Campus.

While it is possible to secure a summer pre-professional experience before, after, or even during study abroad, please be aware that finding an opportunity with such constraints has proven very difficult for past CCF participants. While this doesn’t disqualify you from the program, we strongly recommend that students planning to study abroad in summer 2027 do not participate in CCF.

Yes!  Pre-professional experiences based outside of St. Louis qualify for the program’s experiential learning component.

“Career Education for Chancellor’s Fellows” is a one-credit spring semester course for all Chancellor’s Career Fellows. All fellows must register for one session.

Course description: This course supports students in the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program as they explore their professional interests, navigate their career development process, and identify summer 2026 experiences. Students will engage in career education through applying career development frameworks and completing individual portfolios. Interactive class sessions will see students practice interviewing skills, build networking resources, workshop documents, and engage in small group discussions and activities. Students will gain professional knowledge and confidence by connecting with alumni mentors, various Washington University resources, and employers. Registration is limited to students enrolled in the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program.

No, this program is designed for students who will benefit from guided career education and support. If you already have a summer experience secured, and it is unpaid, we encourage you to instead apply for the Summer Internship Fund (for qualifying experiences).

We recognize that unpaid internships can present a significant barrier to participation for many students, and that students who have paid internships have better career outcomes.  To expand equitable access to internships and other pre-professional experiences, the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program provides funding to support students who have unpaid internships. Students who secure an unpaid qualifying summer pre-professional experience, and who have successfully completed the spring program are eligible to receive a funding award of up to $5,000.

The unpaid experience must be at least 160 hours.

The total funding amounts are determined by several factors including, but not limited to, number of weeks working, hours per week, location, budget and financial need. Financial need status is determined by Student Financial Aid. The funding is intended to support the fellow’s ability to participate.

Ineligible experiences include:

  • Experiences at WashU, WashU Medicine, and WashU alumni-led start-ups are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding, even if they are unpaid.
  • Experiences where students have to pay to participate are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding.
  • Internships where the student is working on political campaigns are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding, even if they are unpaid.

Fellows have found and secured internships at:

  • Abbott
  • Accordion
  • ACLU
  • Alaska Public Defender Agency
  • American Express
  • American Water
  • Anheuser-Busch
  • Appian
  • ArchCity Defenders
  • AT&T
  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital
  • Betty Jean Kearr People’s Health Center
  • Boeing
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Breakthrough
  • BRIDGES
  • Burns and McDonnell
  • Capital One
  • Caterpillar
  • Center for Law and Social Policy
  • Central Water Resources 
  • Chick Cosmetics
  • Christian Hospital
  • Cinema St. Louis
  • City of Clayton
  • Columbus Council on World Affairs
  • Community League of the Heights
  • Community Partnership of the Ozarks
  • Corning, Inc.
  • Diamond Hill
  • Education Design Lab
  • EEOC of Miami
  • Enterprise Holdings
  • Ernst and Young
  • FineArt Group
  • Gateway Quantum Electronics
  • Gepardt Institute
  • Greentree Montessori
  • Hamilton Lane
  • iD Tech
  • Janus Henderson Investors
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Juvenille Courts North Dakota
  • KidSmart
  • KPMG
  • Kupu
  • Less Annoying CRM
  • Maritz Motivation
  • Mastercard
  • Mayor’s Office of Jacksonville
  • Mellon Foundation
  • Mercy Hospital St. Louis
  • Meta Museum
  • Metropolitan Congregations United
  • MIKE Program
  • Missouri Coalition Against Trafficking & Exploitation
  • Missouri State Public Defender
  • Mizuno
  • Monsters Education Foundation
  • Mt. Sinai Hospital
  • NEA Clinic
  • New Balance
  • Office of the Governor of Louisiana
  • OMW Corporation
  • Pack Dance
  • Pfizer
  • Possip
  • PWC
  • Ramirez and Co.
  • Sal Da Terra Studio
  • Sauk County Office
  • St. Louis ArtWorks
  • St. Louis Circuit Attorney 
  • Star Physical Therapy Steiner Studios
  • Stern Williams Tate Hansen The Cigna Group
  • The Stork Foundation
  • Town Square – Go Green Brooklyn
  • Tyson Research Center
  • U.S. Department of State
  • Ujima
  • Union Home Mortgage
  • United Congregations of Metro East
  • Universal Music Group
  • University City Children Center
  • University of Minnesota Department of Neurology
  • Veggies Made Great
  • Vera Institute of Justice
  • Warren & Co Properties
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Wells Fargo
  • Young Futures