Overview
About the internship
Would you like to be paid to work with the Cornell Farmworker Program while conducting research and educational outreach to address the needs of farmworkers in New York State?
The Cornell Farmworker Program (CFP) offers summer internships for Cornell students who want to support the program’s mission of addressing the needs of farmworkers and their families. Interns receive extensive training in research methodologies, cultural competency, and approaches for developing resources and activities responsive to farmworker-identified priorities. Interns are integrated into the CFP’s ongoing collaborations with farmworkers, and can expect to contribute in meaningful ways to the CFP’s research and outreach efforts. Throughout the summer internship and fall one-credit course (DSoc 3060), students examine farmworker knowledge; their contributions to society; and health, education, legal and labor challenges faced by immigrant workers. Interns also develop materials and approaches that address these pressing concerns.
Projects and responsibilities
Interns work as a team to support ongoing CFP projects. Summer activities take place both on campus in Warren Hall, and on farms and other sites throughout New York State. CFP interns also participate in a one-credit fall course titled "Farmworkers: Contemporary Issues and Their Implications," where they reflect on their experiences and finalize materials and projects developed during the internship.
Internship research topics may include:
- Conducting research to assess farmworker needs
- Providing on-farm workshops on topics such as: Accessing legal assistance, improving workplace communications, and Planning for Emergencies
- Surveying farmworkers
- Examining farmworker perspectives on labor issues
- Canvassing immigration concerns and developing relevant extension materials
Day-to-day work of interns will likely include:
- Participating in trainings with the CFP Director for cultural competency, research methods, and more
- Visiting farms and farmworker events (usually in small groups of 2-3 interns)
- Transcribing and translating interviews and focus group notes or recordings
- Analyzing interview and focus group data
- Developing materials for research and outreach publications and presentations
Application instructions
- Set up a meeting with Mary Jo Dudley, Director of the Cornell Farmworker Program (farmworkers@cornell.edu), to discuss the internship opportunities and your areas of interest. Please include possible meeting dates and times upon initial request.
- Following first meeting, submit the following materials:
- Your resume (including name, local and home address, telephone number, and email address)
- A cover letter outlining a) the area of interest (both topic and geographic interest) and b) skills and strengths you will bring to the internship program, and c) proposed learning goals
- Three letters of recommendation using the CFP recommendation form.
- A hard copy of your official transcript.
Application materials are typically due in March for the summer internship. Stay tuned for submission deadlines as the next cycle approaches. Submit your application package via email to farmworkers@cornell.edu or via mail to:
Attn: Mary Jo Dudley
Director, Cornell Farmworker Program
Department of Global Development
275 Warren Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
