Call for Applications: Humanities EXCEL Fellowship with Lookout Santa Cruz–Community Engagement Fellow 2025-2026
We encourage work-study and non-work-study students to apply. This internship is only open to undergraduate students with a declared or proposed Humanities major or minor and requires work authorization.
Application Deadline: May 18, 2025
The Humanities Experiential Career Exploration and Learning (EXCEL) Program connects undergraduate Humanities majors and minors with community partners for paid internships. Fellows gain valuable professional experience while exploring potential career paths.
Internship Details
Partner Organization: Lookout Santa Cruz Learn more on their website.
Location: In person at Lookout’s office, 1523 Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz
Duration: Academic Year 2025–26
Hours: 10 hours/week
Pay: $20/hour
Mentorship: You will report to Lookout’s Chief of Staff. The partner supervisor will delegate tasks and review your work, provide coaching, and help you understand what working in this field is like. You will meet to check in at least once per week.
What You’ll Do – Community Engagement Fellow
Lookout Santa Cruz seeks a passionate Community Engagement Fellow to enhance our local news and information services. This role is crucial for maintaining our public events calendar and expanding community engagement initiatives. The Fellow will collaborate with the Community and Commerce team, contribute to our online entertainment guide, support Lookout in the Classroom, and create social media and email marketing content. This position also involves opportunities to assist with in-person events and special projects. We’re looking for a motivated, digital-savvy individual eager to shape the future of local news in Santa Cruz County.
- Digital Content Management & Marketing (55%): Support the day-to-day management and optimization of Lookout’s digital platforms and products, including our events calendar, story map, puzzle center, Spanish-language content, social media channels, email newsletters, and other digital offerings. Collaborate with the business team to market these resources and connect the community with Lookout’s tools and products (training provided).
- Event Support (30%): Facilitate in-person Lookout events, assisting with setup, check-in, cleanup, and on-site promotions. Support the planning and implementation of Lookout’s media sponsorships and promotional partnerships with community organizations and events.
- Collaborating in the Classroom (15%): Support our Lookout in the Classroom programming by attending classroom visits, supporting in-school engagement at local high schools, helping promote and implement the Lookout Journalism Scholarship, and assisting in the development of lesson plans tied to current local news.
- Humanities EXCEL Programming: Attend two cohort meetings each quarter when possible and participate in asynchronous Canvas experiential learning reflection.
Eligibility & Qualifications
- You must be a declared or proposed major or minor in a Humanities Division department and have good academic standing. If proposed, declare by June.
- Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- You have work authorization (required)
- You can work independently and collaboratively (required)
- You have a passion for local news and a willingness to learn, try new things, and give and receive feedback.
- You have strong communication skills, including written and public speaking.
- You have digital and social media experience or a willingness to learn.
- You have experience planning or working with community members in an event setting.
- You have a strong design eye and attention to detail.
- You’re a self-starter who appreciates an in-office work environment. You can work independently, collaboratively, and proactively to identify new ways of reaching digital readers and topics of interest to a local audience.
Bonus points for:
- Published journalism experience, including online or student publications or freelance.
- Interest in or experience with planning or managing in-person events.
- Interest in finding local stories and engaging with readers online, including platforms like TikTok and Threads
How To Apply
- Updated resume
- 1-page cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in this role and Lookout Santa Cruz (explore their website!)
- How your background and skills apply
- What you hope to gain from the experience
- Address your letter to Lookout’s Senior Director of Partnerships & Audience
Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.
Questions? Email Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu
The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, the UCSC Humanities Division, and private donors generously support the Humanities EXCEL Program.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
