The CALS Global Fellows Program supports CALS undergraduate students from any major as students from the Department of Science & Technology Studies (A&S) in pursuit of challenging, professionally-focused summer internships and research placements that enhance and complement their career goals and academic progress, while enriching their undergraduate experience with diverse cultural and international immersion. Through key partnerships, the Global Fellows Program provides a platform for students to make positive and definable contributions to global organizations and communities.

Acceptance to the program is competitive and a limited number of students are selected each year. 

Students who are accepted into the CALS Global Fellows Program will be required to complete 3 parts to the program:

• An in-person Spring 2024 pre-engagement workshop focusing on health and safety, cultural awareness and logistics; 
• a continuous 7–8-week internship or research placement in an international setting,
• and a 1-credit post-engagement course in the first 7 weeks of the Fall 2024 semester (ALS/GDEV 3105).

Information Session:

• Listen to the Recording HERE: 

Placement Opportunities

Placements: 6 (in-person)

Host organization: Global Livingston Institute

Terms and Dates: June 1 - August 1, 2024

The Global Livingston Institute aims to rethink international community development practices by working together with local leaders and community-based organizations to solve today’s biggest issues. When we Listen and Think before we Act, we are able to use the insights we gather through dialogue and relationship-building to inform our strategies and create the greatest possible impact. Ensuring the continued buy-in of communities and sustainability are paramount to successful community development, so we have partnered with two grassroots organizations in Rwanda who embody these best practices to offer a culturally immersive, project-based internship experience. 

This program features a week-long orientation in Rwanda and Uganda co-facilitated by Cornell faculty members Christine Leuenberger (Science and Technology Studies) and Stefan Einson (Global Development) where students will be introduced to the culture, history and politics of the region, before being immersed in a 6-week internship placement at either Africa Rising Cycling Center or Partners for Conservation. 

Student interns at Africa Rising Cycling Center will work on youth empowerment and capacity building alongside the Rwandan National Cycling Team athletes and coaches. ARCC is training the next generation of elite cyclists “soft skills”, including digital literacy, social media, building a personal brand, professional communication, and English language immersion. ARCC interns will gather information from youth athletes and help GLI create a program to build these skills. 

Student interns at Partners for Conservation will support burgeoning entrepreneurs and business associations, including farmers, tailors, and textile artists, to grow their businesses, increase their workforce development programs, and create opportunities within their communities. Many of the communities we partner with are Historically Marginalized Peoples (HMPs) and have been directly affected by displacement from the tourism industry.

 All students will live in Musanze, Rwanda at the Africa Rising Cycling Center and will be supported by a full-time staff member from the Global Livingston Institute. The internship experience will be supplemented by weekend excursions such as national park visits, events in the capital city, and other fun activities across the region.