Ready to act locally to tackle our greatest global challenges?
Take your interest in nonprofit management, public policy, human services, or local government to the next level by becoming a City Research Scholar. Scholars receive $5,000 to complete ten full-time weeks of intern and research activities during the summer. Successful applicants will be matched, according to their interests and previous experience, with partners, who will then have the opportunity to vet final candidates through interviews. This opportunity is open to all William & Mary undergraduates.
Applications for summer 2026 are now closed. Applications for summer 2027 will open Dec. 1, 2026. Please contact Dr. Monica Griffin ([[mdgrif]]) with questions regarding City Research Scholars internships.
The Charles Center is excited to partner with the following organizations in summer 2026:
Internship information
The Arc of Greater Williamsburg
The Arc of Greater Williamsburg's mission is to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through community activities and advocacy.
Internship Description
The Arc is seeking a researcher to review vocational training and workforce programs through outreach with The Arc of the US, Arc chapters with such programs, and other organizations with programs serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to formulate and inform our own program descriptions, handbooks, and information packets.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Excellent writing and communication skills
Learn more about the Arc of Greater Williamsburg here.
City of Williamsburg
During the 2020 State of City address, Mayor Douglas Pons unveiled a new vision statement for City of Williamsburg, charting the City's course for the future: "One Williamsburg that is courageously leading, innovating a modern city, prioritizing safety and wellness, engaging with our partners, while connecting with the world."
To advance the City's vision, every two years the Williamsburg City Council identifies and adopts new strategic objectives for City government. The biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes (GIOs) provide an expression of City priorities, as specific and measurable as possible, covering a two-year period. The City of Williamsburg is offering the following two opportunities for summer 2026:
Workforce Housing Expansion Plan
Initiative: Investigate the expansion of the City’s workforce housing program to include the development of low-density, low-impact housing on the City’s surplus properties.
Internship Opportunity: Review City properties considered surplus and identify best candidates for residential development with low-density and low-impact housing. Research applicable zoning and planning restrictions to prepare a development plan that includes defining low-density and low-impact housing. Present a final Workforce Housing Program Expansion recommendation and development strategy that includes timelines and steps for approval to the City Manager and departmental staff.
Historic Architecture Preservation Assistance Program
Initiative: Continue to preserve downtown neighborhoods and community character by considering the impact of a Preservation Assistance Program for those with income-based restrictions or first-time homebuyer status to make historic properties more accessible by defraying the costs of Architectural Review Board-compliant renovations in historic neighborhoods.
Internship Opportunity: Identify model programs in comparable communities, which may include Alexandria and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Construct a recommended program outline along with a suggested initial budget and long-term financing strategy, which may include local lending partners. Present final recommendations to the City Manager and departmental staff.
Learn more about the City of Williamsburg's goals here.
Lackey Clinic
Lackey Clinic is a faith-based nonprofit providing free and charitable healthcare to uninsured adults in Virginia.
Internship Description
Lackey Medical Clinic is looking to maximize the efficiency of the organization’s computing resources. The clinic is responsible for the management of on-premises computer hardware, cloud services and Business Intelligence (BI) applications that require continuous maintenance to ensure they are optimized in accordance with industry best practices. The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and impact of using new technologies to improve access, quality of care and health outcomes of our patients. Possible research topics could include Improved Patient Analytics Dashboards, AI-based security assessment tools, researching potential grants for funding, internal web server migration and many others.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Ability to research and analyze technology products and understand their potential application
Experience in economic cost/benefit analysis
Basic knowledge in SQL, Python, PHP, HTML or Microsoft PowerPages preferred
Illiteracy or low literacy can limit a person’s opportunities in life. Even seemingly simple tasks like helping a child with homework or reading a medicine bottle can remain out of reach if you can’t read or speak English. But through free and low-cost tutoring programs, as well as job support, health literacy lessons and much more, Literacy for Life is opening new doors for members of our community.
Literacy for Life empowers adults by building foundational skills for success in life and work. Volunteer tutors provide free, individualized instruction in reading, writing, math, and English language skills. Literacy for Life also offers tutoring and classes in health literacy, financial literacy, digital literacy, high school completion, work readiness, and citizenship. Our vision is that every adult in our community has access to the skills and resources they need to live thriving and self-sustaining lives.
Internship description
The City Research Scholars intern has flexibility to pursue a research project that aligns with their interests while furthering the mission of Literacy for Life. Past projects included interviewing learners to determine factors that contributed to their success, and research into local resources for ex-offenders. Possible projects may be related to assessing program needs and creating instructional videos; examining program data to identify areas for improvement; or developing marketing and social media strategy.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests:
Ability to work independently and with supervision
Ability to communicate with diverse adult populations
The Village is an organization formed to promote unity and education while building a bridge between local schools and parents, to help them get connected with the tools available to aid each child in reaching their full potential. Our goal is to create the blueprint to build villages wherever they are needed.
We will work with Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) schools to address the achievement gap and the disproportionate percentages of expulsion and suspension of minority youth which leads to the pipeline to prison. We also seek to educate the community on voting at all levels and promote social justice by inviting everyone to be part of the process.
Internship description
The intern has the opportunity to work closely with The Village Initiative, a Black-led, grassroots organization focused on equity and racial justice in the Williamsburg-James City County School Division. The student will participate in ongoing research support for a documentary film on the displacement of Black communities in Williamsburg.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Interest in Black history and preserving/reviving lost or neglected Black histories
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is committed to helping neighbors struggling with the hardships of food and nutrition insecurity by providing services and education to partner agencies and to our community through accurate information and quality food products, while reducing waste and caring for the environment.
Internship description
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank (VPF) has an internship opportunity focused on education, data collection and analysis, and community-centered communications.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Previous experience in data collection, analysis, and/or process improvement
Strong interest in health equity, nutrition, and/or cultural relevancy
Learn more about Virginia Peninsula Foodbank here.
Virginia Racial Healing Institute
Virginia Racial Healing Institute is “a healing place!" We are a safe and welcoming space to engage in dialogue, classes, and pilgrimages to foster racial healing and reconciliation at the birthplace of America. We are helping to heal our communities and nation, one person at time.
Internship Description
More information coming soon!
Learn more about the Virginia Racial Healing Institute here.
Williamsburg Farmers Market
The Williamsburg Farmers Market's mission is to sustain, foster, and operate a weekly farmers market in Merchants Square for growers and producers to sell fresh seasonal food and farm products direct to consumers in the Williamsburg, Virginia, area.
Internship description
Williamsburg Farmers Market seeks to understand better the farmers market's impact on the surrounding community and to share that information with stakeholders, sponsors, partners, vendors, and market shoppers. Research will revolve around data quality, integration, and visualization. This likely will include techniques for combining data from multiple sources with different formats and structures and handling data inconsistencies across disparate sources. Another aspect will be using that data to create new visualization methods for datasets to facilitate insights that we can use to improve food access, increase vendor variety, increase sales, or improve market programs.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Experience working with Python, R, Excel, SQL, or Power BI
Knowledge of visualization applications
Knowledge of data gathering, cleaning, and transforming techniques
Learn more about Williamsburg Farmers Market here.
About the City Research Scholar Program
As City Research Scholars, William & Mary students participate in distinctive applied learning opportunities that hone their research skills while furthering the missions of local organizations. Through creative partnerships, we seek to create distinctive experiences that put classroom learning into practice in ways that better our world.
City Research Scholars internships are designed to be substantive and transformative. Host institutions provide mentored research experiences that align with their needs and strategic objectives. Students are expected to apply and practice what they learn by contributing to the creation of an original project (e.g., report, digital initiative, etc.) that reflects the latest methods and best practices in the field.
Internships may include applied learning opportunities in the areas of program development, data collection and analysis, community engagement, or nonprofit management and leadership, etc.
Priority will be given to students who have not yet completed a Charles Center Summer Research Internship.
Eligibility
Applicant must be:
a student in good academic standing.
a continuing undergraduate student (i.e., not a graduating senior).
eligible to work in the United States on or before May 1 of the internship year.
available to complete ten full weeks of intern and research activities in the summer.
Requirements
Internships will have a research component with specifics to be arranged with the internship supervisor.
Your application for the City Research Scholars internship includes:
City Research Scholars Internship Application form (online)
You will be asked to enter the names of two references :
One reference must be a faculty member who has taught you in class.
A second reference may be a former supervisor, acquaintance, etc. who can speak to your ability to be successful in the internship.
Cover Letter, addressed to the Charles Center, explaining the following:
why you are interested in the City Research Scholars internship
the skill sets, academic preparation, and special interests or experiences you possess that qualify you for the internships you selected
knowing that your cover letter may be sent to multiple partnering organizations, explain why you consider yourself a good fit for your chosen internships
your personal qualities that make you suitable for this opportunity
how this internship relates to your career and academic goals
what you hope to gain from this experience
Writing Sample, ranging from 3 to 5 double-spaced pages (not including bibliography, footnotes, or appendix) demonstrating:
A capacity to craft a coherent and compelling argument using primary and/or secondary sources
An engagement with social issues, policy, law, community, or similar topics
Attention to language, grammar, syntax, and overall construction
Resume
Banner (unofficial) transcript
To access your unofficialtranscript, log in to Banner atbanweb.wm.edu, navigate to the “Student” tab, select "Student Records" and then “Student Profile.” On the left-hand menu of your student profile, click “Unofficial William & Mary Academic Transcript.” Select “Undergraduate” and “Web Self-Service” on the drop-down boxes. This will take you to your unofficialtranscript; right click anywhere, select “Print,” and select the destination as “Save as PDF.”
Supplemental work (optional)
Demonstrates research ability not displayed in the writing sample
Examples include: art portfolio, digital project, community project
Applications for summer 2026 are now closed. Applications for summer 2027 will open Dec. 1, 2026. Please contact Dr. Monica Griffin ([[mdgrif]]) with questions regarding City Research Scholars internships.
Previous Interns:
Intern Information
2025
Saylor Barnes - Literacy for Life Junior | Sociology
Elizabeth Bocock - Lackey Clinic Sophomore | Data Science, Economics
Jaenya Cooper - Virginia Racial Healing Institute Sophomore | Anthropology
Emma Fuhs - The Arc of Greater Williamsburg Junior | History
Terrence McDuffie - The Village Initiative Sophomore | Africana Studies, Sociology
Jake Ponte - City of Williamsburg Junior | Government
Rachel Rademacher - City of Williamsburg Junior | History, Government
Megan Timmes - Williamsburg Farmers Market Sophomore | Data Science
Julia Womersley-Jackman - City of Williamsburg Junior | Classical Studies
2024
Rebecca Altman - City of Williamsburg Junior | Goverment, Urban Studies
Lily Boone - Virginia Racial Healing Institute Junior | Psychology
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The Arc of Greater Williamsburg
City of Williamsburg
During the 2020 State of City address, Mayor Douglas Pons unveiled a new vision statement for City of Williamsburg, charting the City's course for the future: "One Williamsburg that is courageously leading, innovating a modern city, prioritizing safety and wellness, engaging with our partners, while connecting with the world."
Lackey Clinic
Literacy for Life
Illiteracy or low literacy can limit a person’s opportunities in life. Even seemingly simple tasks like helping a child with homework or reading a medicine bottle can remain out of reach if you can’t read or speak English. But through free and low-cost tutoring programs, as well as job support, health literacy lessons and much more, Literacy for Life is opening new doors for members of our community.
The Village Initiative for Equity in Education
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
Virginia Racial Healing Institute
Williamsburg Farmers Market
The Williamsburg Farmers Market's mission is to sustain, foster, and operate a weekly farmers market in Merchants Square for growers and producers to sell fresh seasonal food and farm products direct to consumers in the Williamsburg, Virginia, area.
