Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program Development -- Summer 2021 Loeb Center Interns

The Loeb Center, in collaboration with the President’s office and campus partners, is hiring 2 student-interns for the summer of 2021 to study and explore the intersection of the liberal arts education with innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Under the direction of Stephanie Hockman, the interns will study models of entrepreneurship at other colleges and universities, survey students about innovation, ideology and culture on campus, collaborate with faculty and staff, and formulate a vision. The student-interns will be fundamental in developing, implementing, and creating a business plan to present to college partners. They will be instrumental in creating a vision for how to integrate innovation, creativity, design thinking and entrepreneurship throughout the Amherst College community.

 

·        Research and document successful innovation and entrepreneurship models across a wide variety of colleges and university

·        Survey students’ sentiments around fear of failure and how to create programs that facilitate learning from failure and a culture of innovation

·        Interview a variety of faculty across academic departments to determine how the liberal arts curriculum and the exposure to different subject areas connects with the entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and connecting seemingly different concepts to formulate a new idea

·        Speak with staff (e.g. The Writing Center, Advancement, Athletic Department, IT). Determine how the innovation and entrepreneurship mindset might be incorporated in their initiatives

·        Create a vision for innovation and entrepreneurship to implement across campus. This vision will be presented to senior leadership for consideration.

·        Create programming that would enhance the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on campus including but not limited to integration of entrepreneurship skills into curriculum, creation of a designated space on campus for collaboration and creativity (e.g. makerspace), and curriculum and coursework to help students take their ideas to implementation

 

·        Excellent research skills and the ability to synthesize data to effectively summarize and communicate defendable ideas; strong verbal and written communication skills

·        Extremely well-organized and detail-oriented

·        Ability to work independently and collaboratively

·        Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal skills, confidence, and assertiveness

·        Comfortable reaching out to students, faculty, staff, college administration, and alumni

·        Desire to transform culture and thinking around traditional ideas

 

·        Work 35 hours per week; tentatively June 7- August 13, 2021

·        Work can be completed

o   Remotely but must have reliable access to internet and be willing to meet on US Eastern Time Zone (8am – 4pm), or

o   On campus working approximately 8am – 4pm (room and board provided)

·        Interns will meet regularly with each other and Stephanie Hockman to coordinate assignments, collaborate on findings, brainstorm ideas and create next steps to meet milestones & deliverables

Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining why you think innovation and entrepreneurship is important to integrate in the Amherst College community. Submissions should be received in Workday (via Job ID JR917) by April 23, 2021.

Selections will be completed by May 10, 2021 Contact Stephanie Hockman (shockman@amherst.edu) with any questions.