Professional Practice Internships

The Stevenson Center places Fellows in both urban and rural areas for their
35-hour-per-week, 11-month paid professional practice internships. Most placements are in the state of Illinois, although Fellows have been placed from Alaska to Alabama.

Peace Corps Fellows are required by the Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program to be placed in underserved communities in the continental United States. Applied Community and Economic Development Fellows may be placed more broadly, although the Stevenson Center may prioritize underserved U.S. communities. Placement for grant-supported sites may be determined before Fellows reach campus.

Fellows have devoted their skills and energy to the following community initiatives, among others:

• regional economic development
• planning and infrastructure development
• school-to-work and welfare-to-work programs
• tourism promotion
• grant writing and fundraising
• business retention and expansion
• downtown restoration
• parks and recreation development
• data collection and analysis
• development of community publications

ISU faculty with technical skill and experience provide help to Fellows and communities for specialized projects in the field. These individuals have skills in areas such as data analysis, communications, economic development, planning, small business development, and tourism.