On the RISE: New Health, Climate, and Culture Internship at H3

Thanks to the generous support of the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) program within the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR), the Health Humanities Hub (H3) is pleased to announce a new opportunity for students interested in exploring the human dimensions of climate change in Southern Arizona. Applications are open through Dec. 15th, 2025.

Position Overview: The Health, Climate & Culture Intern will join the H3 team for the Spring 2026 semester, working closely with the H3 Coordinator and collaborating faculty, staff and students from the College of Humanities and the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. The intern will explore how environmental shifts shape health, culture, and community resilience. Students will engage in meaningful project work, collaborate with peers and mentors, and participate in ongoing learning activities that blend research, creativity, and practice.

Modality: While there is a possibility of conducting some work remotely, this position requires weekly in-person meetings and onsite work during the Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm timeframe. This is an intentional part of the experience and will be scheduled to accommodate students’ classes and ongoing commitments.

Key Responsibilities/Areas of Contribution

The RISE Health, Climate & Culture Intern will:

• Develop a strong understanding of issues related to climate change, health, and culture in Southern Arizona
• Identify opportunities for collaboration across campus and within the broader community
• Develop and pilot wellness-oriented programming—such as nature journaling or contemplative activities—that incorporate inquiry, reflection, and creative expression
• Conduct outreach to various audiences (e.g. students, retirees, families, etc.)
• Present ideas in written and verbal formats, and thoughtfully incorporate feedback
• Conduct applied interdisciplinary research to produce practical products, such grant proposals, fact sheets, curricula, how-to guides, or narrative reflections
• Meet regularly with the H3 Coordinator to discuss progress

Benefits: 

• Paid experience ($19/hour) for approximately 15 hours per week
• Credit may be available, depending on the requirements of your major/program
• Work in a space designed for wellness – H3 is located on the top floor of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (1502 E. Mabel St.)
• Develop versatile humanistic and professional skills, including communication, program development, collaborative leadership, and intellectual humility
• Engage in thoughtful and thought-provoking discussions with peers and mentors

Qualifications: 

A strong applicant will:

• Be curious, open-minded, and enthusiastic about interdisciplinary exploration
• Have an interest in or connection to both health and the humanities
• Have interest or experience with climate change, ecology, and/or related topics
• Be eager to practice skills needed for proposal development (e.g. creating a realistic program plan, budgeting, crafting a compelling narrative)
• Be a capable writer and open to feedback and editing
• Be a creative problem-solver
• Possess attention to detail and follow-through
• Be able to present oneself professionally in-person and in online communications
• Reliably meet deadlines and proactively communicate about any obstacles

Experience with the following is helpful, but support to develop these skills can be provided:

• Online research, including finding and evaluating a variety of source materials
• Grant- or other proposal-writing
• Development of graphics or other multi-media
• Presenting to groups, including experience facilitating interactive small group activities
• Developing creative expression or wellness programs
• Synthesizing material from different sources, including meetings and conversations, into a succinct written format

Compensation: The intern will be hired and paid by the University of Arizona. The pay rate is $19/hour.

Credit Requirements: The intern will be hired as a U of A student employee and must be enrolled in at least 6 credits.

Allowable Work Hours: During the semester, student employees are limited to 25 hours/week (20 hours/week for international students) across ALL U of A positions.

International Students: International students should consult with International Student Services (ISS) if work authorization is needed before securing an internship. ISS advising information can be found here.

How to Apply: 

Complete the online application. You will be asked to briefly describe how your background or interests are connected to health, climate, and/or culture and why you are interested in this position specifically. You will also be asked to upload or provide a link to something you have created that shows your talents, skills, interests and/or experience. This could simply be a resumé, or it could be a personal website, portfolio, project, podcast, written reflection, etc.

Questions? Contact H3 Coordinator, Christine Hoekenga at bchoekenga@arizona.edu

Applications may be accepted until the position is filled, but a first review will be conducted on Monday, Dec. 15th. You are encouraged to apply before this date.