Higher Education in Prison Intern

Mellon Foundation

Higher Education in Prison Intern

Higher Learning Program

The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks a Higher Education in Prison Intern for our Higher Learning team.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Program Associate on the Higher Education in Prison (HEP) portfolio, the HEP Intern will participate in a full-time internship with the Higher Learning program’s HEP team by providing research and analysis support to the Senior Program Officer, Program Officer, Senior Program Associate, and Program Associate who oversee this portfolio. The hybrid internship will be a 10-week position requiring 37.5 hours per week with a start date in June 2025. This internship is an opportunity to expand your research, writing, and data analysis skills and to develop your understanding of grantmaking in the higher education in prison landscape at a critical moment of change and expansion for the field. Please note that all Foundation staff will work remotely during the month of August.

Position Description:

Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Write actionable and well-sourced research memos and reports (qualitative and some quantitative) based on inquiries from the Higher Education in Prison portfolio team and with support from the Program Associates.
• Collect and analyze syllabi from Mellon-funded HEP programs to broaden our understanding of humanities course offerings in HEP program curricula.
• Collect and analyze information from Mellon-funded HEP programs about program and course enrollments, advising, pre-college course offerings, and other grant-funded activities.
• Retrieve and analyze information from Mellon’s Fluxx database and grant records.
• Thoroughly catalogue and document all sources, analyses, and written materials used in the development of research memos.
• Maintain organization of the Research team’s files.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in college as a rising junior/senior or as a graduate student majoring in the humanities or interpretive social sciences (e.g., English, history, American studies, ethnic studies, philosophy, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues relating to U.S. criminal legal system, mass incarceration, or carceral studies, and familiarity with practicalities of engaging incarcerated students.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required, as is an interest in honing the ability to consider content from both strategic and creative perspectives.
• Must be flexible, highly organized, willing to learn new systems/platforms, and able to juggle multiple tasks and competing demands with reliable follow-up and careful attention to detail.
• Must have a high-level of interpersonal skills and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential materials.
• Must be able to be highly productive, working independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to anticipate next steps, to take initiative, to exercise discretion, and to apply sound judgment.
• Experience with data analysis preferred.
• Familiarity with data and project management platforms (Box.com, Monday.com, Fluxx, Power BI) a plus.
• Deep and longstanding connection to communities impacted by mass incarceration.

Mellon Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated salary range for this role is $27.00 - $30.00 per hour. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.

The Mellon Foundation is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.

Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position and a resume by February 15. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.