Call for Applications
The Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies (CMEIS) invites applications from enthusiastic UNC undergraduate students for our 2025–2026 Career Pathways Initiative Internship Program. This initiative supports a cohort of students pursuing hands-on projects that promote awareness and understanding of topics related to Middle East and Islamic Studies through journalism, media production, translation, public outreach, and cultural preservation. Interns will work under the supervision of CMEIS staff as well as collaborate with community partners, depending on their project track. Each intern will complete up to 20 hours of work during the Fall 2025 semester, with additional professional development opportunities available throughout the year. All interns are expected to present their work publicly in Spring 2026.
This program offers a unique opportunity for students to develop professional skills while making meaningful contributions to public scholarship, media, and community initiatives related to the Middle East and Islamic world. You can learn about our current cohort of interns at this link.
Interested candidates should review the details of the internship tracks below and apply at this link by May 1, 2025.
Available Internship Tracks:
Undergraduate Internship in Journalism and Media
CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Career Pathways Initiative project. The intern will produce articles, blogs, newsletters, or multimedia content to bring awareness to key issues related to Middle East and Islamic studies. The intern will work under the supervision and alongside the coordinator for the NC Consortium for Middle East Studies, Courtney Graves, for a maximum of 20 hours over the 2025 Fall semester; additional professional opportunities will be available through the year. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their project & experience in Spring 2026. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to think deeply about the ethics of English-language journalism on the Middle East in addition to crafting an impactful reporting initiative.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and develop a series of articles, blogs, newsletters, or multimedia content to publish through the mideast.unc.edu website or other media outlet.
- Collaborate with team members and regional experts to ensure accurate and effective information.
- Strictly adhere to journalistic ethics and standards such as truthfulness, accuracy, and accountability.
- Develop a journalistic skill set including editing, interviewing, research, and storytelling.
Skills Developed:
- Project design and management
- Research & investigative Skills
- Ethical journalism
- Cultural literacy
- Team collaboration
Career Connections:
- Journalism
- Project management
- Public Relations
- Nonprofit work
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Interest in the Middle East region or Islamic Studies.
- Strong communication skills; experience in a media production environment (school newspaper, etc) preferred but not required.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Undergraduate Internship in Social Media Campaign Design
CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Career Pathways Initiative project. In collaboration with a partner organization of their choosing, the intern will produce a social media campaign to bring awareness to key issues related to the Middle East and Islamic studies. The intern will work under the supervision and alongside the coordinator for the NC Consortium for Middle East Studies, Courtney Graves, for a maximum of 20 hours over the 2025 Fall semester; additional professional opportunities will be available through the year. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their project & experience in Spring 2026. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to work closely with a local organization and develop an impactful media campaign.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and develop a social media campaign that meets the needs of the partner organization.
- Collaborate with team members and regional experts to ensure accurate and effective information.
- Develop a social media skill set including visual design, storytelling, and content strategy.
Skills Developed:
- Project design and management
- Social media content design & strategy
- Cultural literacy
- Team collaboration
Career Connections: This internship provides valuable experience for students interested in careers in:
- Marketing
- Project management
- Content creation & development
- Public Relations
- Nonprofit work
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Interest in the Middle East region or Islamic Studies.
- Strong communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Undergraduate Internship in Digital Public Humanities (Podcasting) Project.
CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Career Pathways Initiative project. The intern will engage in planning, developing, and implementing digital podcast resources for educator use in the classroom at the high school and beginner undergraduate level. The intern will work under the supervision and alongside CMEIS’s Associate Director, Dr. Micah Hughes, for a maximum of 20 hours over the 2025 Fall semester; additional professional opportunities will be available throughout the year. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their project & experience in Spring 2026. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to enhance their research skills and digital literacy while contributing to meaningful community resources.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and develop podcast episodes for “Sohbet,” a podcast introducing educators and students to key concepts in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
- Project implementation and management.
- Collaborate with team members, faculty, and community experts to ensure accurate and effective information.
- Assist CMEIS with official communication with partners (schools, teachers, etc.) and distribution of materials.
- Develop podcasting skills such as recording, audio editing, and sound-scaping.
Skills Developed:
- Project design and management
- Storytelling through digital tools
- Pedagogical resource development
- Applied humanities research
- Cultural literacy
- Team collaboration
Career Connections: This internship provides valuable experience for students interested in careers in:
- Education (curricular design, etc.)
- Media and Journalism
- Project management
- Community resource development
- Nonprofit work
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Interest in the Middle East region or Islamic Studies (broadly).
- Basic skills in digital resources and file management software (audio experience preferred but not required)
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Undergraduate Internship for Arabic Translation and Interpretation Project
CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Arabic Translation and Interpretation project. The intern will engage in translating and interpreting Arabic on behalf of a community partner organization for a maximum of 20 hours over the 2025 Fall semester; additional professional opportunities will be available throughout the year. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their experience in Spring 2026. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to enhance their language skills and cultural literacy while contributing to meaningful community activities.
Responsibilities:
- Translate and interpret Arabic language for a community partner organization.
- Provide interpretation services for various community events.
- Collaborate with team members to ensure accurate and effective communication.
- Assist in the organization and planning of events requiring interpretation services.
- Participate in meetings and contribute to project development.
Skills Developed:
- Language proficiency
- Cultural literacy
- Translation techniques
- Interpretation skills
- Team collaboration
Career Connections:
- Translation
- Interpretation
- International Relations
- Non-profit sector
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Proficiency in Arabic language.
- Strong interest in Arabic language and cultural studies.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Undergraduate Internship for Middle East and Islamic Cultural Heritage Preservation
CMEIS is seeking a motivated undergraduate intern to join our MEIS Cultural Heritage Preservation project under the supervision of the center’s outreach manager for maximum of 20 hours over the 2025 Fall semester; additional professional opportunities will be available through the year. The intern will work closely with local historical societies and/or museums to document and preserve cultural artifacts. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their experience in Spring 2026. This is an exciting opportunity for students passionate about history, cultural heritage, and preservation to gain hands-on experience in the field.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with local historical societies and museums to develop a project of interest.
- Conduct historical research to document cultural artifacts.
- Apply conservation techniques to preserve artifacts.
- Assist in the documentation and cataloging of cultural heritage items.
- Participate in meetings and contribute to project planning.
Skills Developed:
- Historical research
- Conservation techniques
- Documentation and cataloging
- Collaboration and project management
Career Connections:
- Museum Studies
- Historical Preservation
- Cultural Resource Management
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Strong interest in Middle East history and Islamic cultural heritage.
- Excellent research and organizational skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and commitment to preserving cultural artifacts.
Undergraduate Internship for Public Humanities Outreach
CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Career Pathways Initiative project. The intern in Public Humanities Outreach will developed and implement a public outreach project or event related to Middle East and Islamic Studies. To facilitate the planning for these projects, the recipient will workshop their ideas with the CMEIS Associate Director, Dr. Micah Hughes, alongside the CMEIS staff and other Career Pathways Fellows for a maximum of 20 hours over the Fall 2026 semester; additional professional opportunities will be available throughout the year. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their project & experience in Spring 2026. Public outreach projects could include: website, resources, public archives, historical sites, podcast interviews, and other activities that share humanities research and knowledge with the broader public.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and develop a public-facing humanities project related to Middle East and/or Islamic Studies
- Project implementation and management.
- Collaborate with team members, faculty, and community experts to ensure accurate and effective information.
- Assist CMEIS with official communication with any partners (schools, teachers, etc.) and distribution of materials.
- Develop skills in sharing and crafting information for public consumption.
Skills Developed:
- Project design and management
- Storytelling through digital tools
- Pedagogical resource development
- Applied humanities research
- Cultural literacy
- Team collaboration
Career Connections:
- Education (curricular design, etc.)
- Media and Journalism
- Project management
- Community resource development
- Nonprofit work
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Interest in the Middle East region or Islamic Studies (broadly).
- Basic skills in digital resources and file management software
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
