Summer Internships | Department of English

PENN ENGLISH INTERNSHIPS, SUMMER 2026

The Department of English is pleased to announce six internship opportunities during Summer 2026, all of which are reserved for Penn English majors and minors. Four of these offer stipends of $3000 paid by Penn English, while the other two are paid directly by the employers (see below for specific pay structures).

In order to apply, please email the following documents as a single PDF to Dr. Becky Friedman (beckysf@english.upenn.edu) by noon on February 9, 2026:

A brief statement of why you are interested in the chosen position (approximately 300 words)
Your resume or CV
A writing sample (between 5-15 pages)

English majors are preferred for these positions, but English minors will also be considered. Students may apply for any or all of the opportunities, but should send a separate PDF for each. Students should rank their preferences in their email to Dr. Friedman, if applying to more than one internship.

Please note: acceptance of an internship represents a good-faith commitment to the program. Once accepted, the Department of English expects students to honor that commitment and not withdraw due to a later offer.

Stay tuned for possible additional opportunities, which should be announced in the coming weeks. And check out our Previous Internships page to read what undergrads have to say about their summer experiences made possible through Penn English.

PENN ENGLISH-SPONSORED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Full Spectrum Features: INTERN (in-person preferred; Chicago)

This Chicago-based nonprofit organization is committed to driving equity in the independent film industry by producing, exhibiting, and supporting the work of women, BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. Their internship will be 9-weeks long, in-person preferred. The selected intern will help the Executive Directors with research, script coverage, and other administrative tasks; read screenplay submissions and create short summaries for executive and production teams; attend meetings, take notes, and contribute to creative discussions; help organize and maintain development files, and participate in project brainstorming sessions and contribute to the creation of new concepts.

Penn Medicine Listening Lab: SUMMER INTERN (on-site; Philadelphia)

The Penn Medicine Listening Lab is a storytelling initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Through recorded narratives, written reflections, and creative storytelling, the Listening Lab fosters empathy, understanding, and connection within the healthcare community. By highlighting personal experiences, the Lab aims to improve communication, inspire compassionate care, and support wellbeing at Penn Medicine. To learn more, visit: https://pennlisteninglab.org

Responsibilities: The Listening Lab is seeking a summer intern with strong writing and editorial skills to support its mission. The intern may assist in transcribing, editing, and curating patient and provider stories and will oversee a series of listening kiosks installed in Penn Medicine facilities. Additional responsibilities may include assisting with the production of a publication about the listening lab, supporting communications efforts involving storytellers and the public, and assisting with workshops and presentations. Ideal candidates will be English majors with a keen interest in narrative medicine and storytelling in healthcare. The internship will last for 7 weeks, and the intern will be expected to work on a part-time basis for up to 20 hours per week.

Qualifications and Requirements: Strong verbal communication skills and proficiency in writing, with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace; a strong sense of integrity, reliability, confidentiality, and professionalism required; and an ability to handle confidential and sensitive information. Please note that the student should be currently enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania as an English major. This position will involve volunteer onboarding at Penn Medicine, which may entail vaccination requirements.

Trinity Repertory Company: ADMINISTRATIVE INTERN (on-site; Rhode Island)

The State Theater of Rhode Island, a 61-year-old non-profit, professional theater company is offering an 8-10 week on-site internship. The selected intern will rotate throughout the different administrative departments and get a taste for the work of a regional theater. Departments include: Development (fundraising), Administration (HR and finance), Marketing, and Education. The work will include: copy writing, grants and correspondence drafting, conducting research, supporting events, and learning on the job. The experience can be shaped around the interest of the candidate and will include direct access to the Executive Director (a Penn alum.)

Qualifications sought: strong writing and reading comprehension skills, strong organizational skills, communication skills (both written and oral). An interest in theater is a plus!

Skills to be acquired include: grant writing and business correspondence, research for potential donors, event support and collaboration, business model for non-profit theater.

U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico: JUDICIAL INTERN (on-site; New Mexico)

The Intern will support U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Fashing by conducting research as needed; drafting simple orders and minutes; proofreading orders and other documents in preparation for filing; providing case management and court calendaring services; providing administrative assistance; and performing other duties as assigned. The intern will work on both civil and criminal matters.

The internship is intended to provide valuable work experience and prepare students who may be interested in a career in public service and/or the law. The Intern will have an opportunity to observe a wide range of civil and criminal legal proceedings, including trials, motion hearings, preliminary hearings, detention hearings, changes of plea, and settlement conferences. The Intern also will assist the Judge with the RIO Court, which is a reentry court that helps individuals who recently have been released from prison adjust to life outside of prison. The Intern will work closely with the Judge’s two law clerks as well as other law clerks and interns, and other court employees as appropriate.

This is a part-time position (20 hours per week) with a term of approximately 8 weeks. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2026; exact date is negotiable. The location is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The work schedule also is negotiable although the expectation is that all work will be performed between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on weekdays. The court observes all federal holidays.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The successful candidate must possess good judgment and good analytical skills, demonstrate tact, initiative, and the ability to work independently, possess a strong work ethic, and maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, have strong organizational skills, and be detail oriented.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Interns must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
Interns are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct.
Interns are subject to an FBI fingerprint check or investigation and may be subject to periodic updates. An Intern may be selected provisionally pending successful completion of the necessary records checks.
Travel expenses to relocate to Albuquerque for the summer will not be reimbursed.

COMPANY-SPONSORED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Dan Schorr, LLC: TITLE IX & CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS INTERN (remote)

Dan Schorr, LLC conducts Title IX, sexual misconduct, and discrimination investigations, trainings, and hearings for colleges and universities, as well as K-12 schools nationwide. We assist educational institutions to ensure a fair, comprehensive process in response to allegations of misconduct, recognizing the stress these matters may place on complainants, respondents, and organizations.

We are seeking an intern to assist with the work of our investigation team on highly confidential and sensitive matters involving misconduct allegations at a rate of $30/hour.

Responsibilities may include:

Assist with review of initial documents (Notice of Investigation, policies, and other provided documents)
Collaborate with investigators to draft investigative plans
Assist with preparing for investigative interviews and drafting interview guides
Take thorough notes during investigative interviews
Assist with drafting summaries documenting party and witness interviews
Help review gathered evidence (initial case documents, emails, records) and organize case files
Assist investigators with drafting investigative reports

Required Qualifications & Skills

Interest in sexual misconduct, Title IX, Civil Rights, higher education policy, sexual misconduct law, or related fields
Be comfortable with meetings and reports involving detailed narratives about sexual misconduct and discrimination
Ability to maintain strict neutrality, confidentiality, data security, and case integrity
Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills
High attention to detail, organization, and comfort with managing multiple tasks
Ability to handle sensitive, confidential, and emotionally charged material with professionalism, discretion, and respect
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively
Commitment to fairness, equity, and neutrality

Applicants will be required to provide the handles for all publicly-facing social media accounts that they currently use or have used in the past.

Benefits of the internship:

Direct mentorship from expert Title IX and Civil Rights investigators
Exposure to all phases of the investigative process, including party and witness outreach, planning for and observing interviews, documenting interviews, evidence review, exposure to report writing, and decision-making analysis
Insight into investigative best practices, institutional processes, and compliance obligations

Zeta Charter Schools: COLLEGE ENGLISH MAJOR INTERN (hybrid; New York City)

Follow your passion. Are you looking to make a BIG impact? At Zeta, we pursue an unprecedented combination of high academic achievement and social-emotional development for our students. We insist that every student receives a world-class education while fostering a love for learning. We are passionate about changing the landscape of public education in New York City and beyond, and we are uncompromising in our mission. Currently, we operate multiple elementary and middle schools in the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, and Queens. We plan to grow and open 1-2 schools each year because children in every community deserve excellent, equitable education. Join our growing team today, and be a change agent for children.

Our Network office is located at 401 W. 218th St., New York, NY 10034. This role is an 8-week internship with a tentative start date of May 19th. An in-person start to the internship is required for an excellent launch experience. The role will be in person through June 12th and become fully remote starting June 15th through the remainder of the 8-week internship.

Deliver powerful results. To achieve our vision, we are searching for Interns in their Sophomore, Junior, or Senior years with a proven record of strong research and written abilities. This internship has been developed in coordination with the University of Pennsylvania’s English Department; accordingly, interns enrolled in an English major or minor degree program at the University of Pennsylvania, like all candidates, will be given close consideration.

Qualifications:

Excellent organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
Strong time management skills, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Creative and critical thinker with a willingness to step outside of the box to solve problems in a new and innovative way
Familiarity with a variety of online tools, including Google Slides and Google Sheets/Excel, or strong capability and interest to quickly learn
Ability to create data visualizations, or strong capability and interest to quickly learn
Wear multiple hats as a part of a lean scale-up team, supporting the work of others on the team and taking on new projects and tasks as needed

As an Intern at Zeta, you can expect to deepen your research, writing, and communication skills in a practical way. Your primary responsibilities depend on the assigned project(s). See examples of past projects below:

High School Design Research and Special Projects: This project will encompass a thorough review of the most current research on school effectiveness for high school, college, and career. Zeta is planning its high school launch in 2026. We are looking for innovative ideas from across the world on the most effective top-performing schools that we can learn from to create our innovative design. This role will have an essential impact on creating high school resources that will enable Zeta to launch its first high school.

High-quality Curriculum and Academics “in a Box”: At Zeta, we are committed to helping each student meet their full potential and achieve excellent outcomes. To create excellent education across PreK-12 with consistency, Zeta creates high-quality curriculum materials. This project would involve supporting the Chief Academic Officer and Academic Team members across content areas by drafting elements of high-quality curriculum and potentially also proposing innovative ideas for high-quality curriculum based on research.

Join our purpose-driven community. Zeta teammates are lifelong learners who live with child-like joy and a deep sense of purpose. We disrupt the status quo and tackle problems together. Our team stands united by our commitment to a limitless future for every child. Our Zeta team is comprised of top talent with incredible schooling and private sector experience. At Zeta:

We are passionate about our mission of providing world-class education to all students
We bring a mindset of growth, flexibility, and openness to feedback
We are hungry and determined to not only meet our goals, but surpass them
We are humble, willing to put the team’s needs ahead of our own, and committed to
contributing to a collaborative work environment
We have a high bar for excellence and sweat over the details
We are caring and put team over individual at all times
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. The salary for this position is $17.00 per hour
(~$5,440 over the 8-week internship), subject to any relevant taxes and withholdings. Interns can
expect to work Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.
5 p.m.

Apply Now! Equity is at the heart of our mission. We have a deep commitment to pursuing diversity and striving for equity. Zeta is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Work authorization is required (candidate must have permanent authorization to work in the U.S.).

Looking for additional summer internship opportunities through Penn? Check out:

The Summer Humanities Internship Program (SHIP): This program provides undergraduates with a 10-week, funded internship at one of the 17 cultural/historical/archival sites listed on the SHIP website. These include positions in research, public engagement, art curation, program analysis, education, community initiatives, editing, and more! SHIP is open to College students in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd years.

RealArts@Penn internships: These opportunities are curated by the RealArts@Penn team and afford students an indispensable network of mentors, leaders, and friends, cultivating a profound and critical insight into the world of creative business. The application deadline for this summer's openings, listed on the RealArts website, is January 19, 2026.

Cinema and Media Studies Internships: This deprtment offers a selection of summer internship opportunities to Penn students. Junior Cinema & Media Studies Majors and Minors have priority to be selected for these roles. The application deadline is March 8, 2026, and details are available on the CIMS website.