Help lead the conversation about America at 250 on your campus.
TogetherInWitness is selecting a Fall 2026 cohort of college students to build campus awareness and discussion around Manifest Destiny by Pelumi Olatinpo—a published work of poetry, history, and civic commentary examining American identity, equality, race, immigration, empire, belonging, and responsibility as the United States marks its 250th anniversary.
Thirteen students completed our previous campus internship cohort. Former interns developed original outreach initiatives, connected with peers and faculty, and organized campus discussions around the work. This fall’s cohort will build upon that foundation by introducing Manifest Destiny and its teaching resources to new campus communities.
Each intern will own a campus campaign: build relationships with professors and student leaders, introduce a prepared faculty teaching guide, and organize one substantive book-club-style discussion or campus event.
This is a remote, unpaid internship requiring approximately 5–7 hours per week from September through December 2026. Because the campaign is campus based, interns must also conduct in-person outreach at their own college or university.
Multiple candidates will be selected. Where possible, interns attending the same institution will work together as a campus team.
This is a high-ownership role for students who enjoy taking an objective, developing a plan, testing ideas, and being accountable for results.
TogetherInWitness will provide:
- A complimentary copy of Manifest Destiny
- A faculty teaching guide and presentation materials
- Outreach templates and campaign resources
- Digital promotional materials
- Weekly coaching and accountability
- Three full-cohort sessions: kickoff, midpoint workshop, and final showcase
- Optional office hours for individual support
We will establish clear campaign outcomes, but we will not prescribe every step. Interns are expected to develop ideas appropriate to their own campuses, test those ideas, communicate their progress, and adjust when an approach is not working.
What you will accomplish
By the end of the semester, each intern or campus team will:
- Develop a campus opportunity map identifying relevant professors, courses, academic departments, student organizations, publications, libraries, and campus programs.
- Build a targeted list of at least ten relevant faculty members or academic contacts.
- Complete at least five personalized faculty contacts, including a minimum of three substantive in-person conversations.
- Introduce interested professors to Manifest Destiny, its complimentary review-copy process, and its prepared teaching guide.
- Pursue a concrete faculty next step, such as teaching-guide feedback, a review copy, a classroom discussion, an author visit, or consideration for future course use.
- Establish at least one partnership with a student organization, faculty member, library, academic department, or other campus entity.
- Organize and host one book-club-style discussion, reading, classroom conversation, or public campus event involving peers and at least one faculty or staff participant.
- Maintain a concise weekly activity tracker and share useful findings with the national intern cohort.
- Present a final campaign report covering outreach, participation, outcomes, challenges, and recommendations.
What you will gain
- Direct experience in civic engagement, publishing outreach, campaign development, faculty relations, marketing, event planning, and public discussion
- A portfolio-ready campus campaign plan, event brief, professional outreach samples, and final impact report
- Direct access to an independent publisher and published author
- Experience facilitating dialogue about complex social and historical questions
- A nationwide network of student organizers
- A certificate of successful completion
- Eligibility for an individualized recommendation based on the quality and consistency of your work
- Flexible scheduling around your academic commitments
Who should apply
You may be a strong candidate if you:
- Are currently enrolled at a college or university
- Can commit 5–7 hours per week from September through December 2026
- Communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and conversation
- Are comfortable initiating respectful in-person conversations with professors, staff members, student leaders, and peers
- Excel at building rapport with people from different backgrounds and perspectives
- Are organized, reliable, and willing to report progress consistently
- Can take an objective and develop your own plan rather than waiting for a weekly task list
- Are interested in American identity, history, literature, immigration, political commentary, social justice, publishing, communications, marketing, or event production
- Are able to organize a campus event or discussion
- Are willing to read the provided book
All majors are welcome.
Participation in student government, campus media, literary organizations, cultural organizations, debate, civic groups, social-justice organizations, marketing clubs, or event-planning organizations is preferred but not required.
