The Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) offers undergraduate and graduate student internships and Work-Study opportunities for Spring 2021 semester.

Candidates will ideally have an academic focus related to U.S.-Latin American relations, experience with related issues or with the human rights framework. Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese is a plus and fluency would allow for the student to interact more directly with Latin American partners and visitors. However, this is not a requirement.

We will accept submissions until January 31, 2021.

CUSLAR Student Interns have a range of responsibilities, including:

• Planning conferences, cultural events, teach-ins or guest lectures on university campuses and/or in community settings in the U.S. Northeast.
• Research and production of documents for CUSLAR’s blogs and print newsletter, as well as press releases and analysis of current events. (Web and design experience are a plus.)

In addition, interns may be assigned to one or more of the following tasks, based on their skills and experience:

• Administration of CUSLAR’s Spanish classes and “Hola, Amigos!” family Spanish classes, offered fall and spring on the Cornell University campus.
• Communications: Graphic design, web design or development of social networks.
• Spanish-English or Portuguese-English document translation for use by CUSLAR and our partner organizations.
• Digital archiving of CUSLAR’s past publications and audiovisual collection.
• Correspondence with governmental and nongovernmental institutions in the United States and Latin America regarding potential collaborations and exchanges.
• Special topics to be discussed.

CUSLAR does not provide direct compensation for student interns. However, many interns receive support in the following ways:

1. Unpaid and for credit through the student’s educational institution,
2. Paid via Federal Work Study, grants or other arrangements through the student’s educational institution.

Internships are 4-8 hours a week during a given semester. Priority is given to applicants who can commit to a full school year or calendar year.

To apply:

An application for a CUSLAR internship should include:

• A one-page statement explaining the applicant’s interest in a CUSLAR Internship, including coursework, experience and/or interests related to U.S.-Latin American relations and CUSLAR’s mission, and level of language proficiency;
• Two samples of original work in English or Spanish on U.S.-Latin American relations or related topics: essays, articles or other media;
• Contact information – name, title, institution, phone and email – for two references who could address the applicant’s experience and motivation for the internship.

Applicants may contact Tim Shenk, CUSLAR Coordinator, at cuslar@cornell.edu with inquiries. They are encouraged to communicate with CUSLAR while assembling their applications.

About CUSLAR:

CUSLAR is an Ithaca and Cornell University based group, founded in 1965, which seeks to promote a greater understanding of Latin America and the Caribbean. The members of CUSLAR are a diverse group of people united in our concern about the role of the U.S. in the social, political, and economic affairs of the region. Within this context we support the right of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean to self-determination, and support their efforts to free themselves from a legacy of colonialism, exploitation and oppression. CUSLAR works for peace, justice and greater mutual understanding in U.S.-Latin American relations through education, solidarity and support of human rights.

CUSLAR is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University-affiliated not-for-profit. The CUSLAR Student Group is a registered student organization at Cornell. CUSLAR is housed on Cornell’s central campus at 316 Anabel Taylor Hall.

Updated December 2020.