Experiential Learning and Internships
Fostering a collaborative community of faculty, students, alumni, and practitioners.
Experiential Programs
Summer Funded Internships: Since 2009, the Wilson Center has funded 196 full-time summer internships at more than 90 unique and innovative nonprofits and social enterprises in the New York metro area. Each intern is paid a $5,320 stipend for the summer, resulting in more than $900,000 in disbursed funding over the last ten years. Hosts include Billion Oyster Project, Center for Employment Opportunities, Hudson River Park and Latino U College Access. Several of our former funded interns have maintained relationships with their host organizations, who have consequently hired them in full-time positions post-graduation. Learn more about our funded internship opportunities.
Student Run Fund Appropriations Committee: 10 student leaders allocate funds for up to 10 internship opportunities each year - by reviewing and selecting intern hosts and positions. These student leaders represent an undergraduate student and a graduate student from each Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, School of Education and Seidenberg School of Computer Sciences and Information Systems.
Student Research Assistants: The Center hires student research assistants and student aides each year. Among them they have obtained various prestigious awards, including but not limited to Pace Top 100 Scholars, the Henry Birnbaum Award and the Award for Outstanding Leadership in Social Innovation.
Student Sponsorship is offered for all co-sponsored events and conferences.
Social Ventures
More than 10 unique student social ventures have been launched with the support of the Wilson Center since 2005, and continues to support the Pace Pitch Contest annually, identifying and bringing a respected Social Venture representative to the judging panel each year.
Career Panels
Each year, the Wilson Center co-sponsors a series of career panels in collaboration with our faculty partners across several departments. Wherever possible we feature Pace alumni working in the government and/or nonprofit sector; who can provide our current students with insights for potential career paths and an opportunity to network with practitioners in the field.
A Conversation On...
In collaboration with faculty from a number of departments, this speaker series facilitates and hosts leaders from social enterprises and nonprofits to guest lecture in the Pace classroom. Recent speakers include representatives from First Access Markets, Society for Rural Improvement (SRI), Latino U, and Impact America. Discussion topics have ranged from evaluating performance in microfinance to impact investing and person-to-person lending. Through our long-standing partnership with US Department of State, the Wilson Center has hosted a number of visiting delegations for educational programs on social entrepreneurship. In summer 2016 the Center was invited to participate in the US Department of State Community Solutions Program.
Student Associations
The Wilson Center is proud to partner on events and activities with MPA Student Association (MPASA).
SE in Residence
Each year, the Wilson Center hosts a Social Enterprise in Residence; our recent Social Enterprise in Residence was Latino U College Access. This program connects an innovative social enterprise with the Pace Community, giving the resident organization the opportunity to fully participate in the academic community, and offering our students and faculty a living case study, or a learning laboratory in which to study social enterprise-in-action. Past year residents include Impact America, DonorsChoose, Greyston Foundation and Bakery and Stoked Mentoring.