Community Leader Fellowship

Students United's

Community Leader Fellowship

Minnesota Students Ready to Make Change

CLF Program

The Community Leader Fellowship is an academic-year experience that centers student empowerment, voice, and changemaking by fostering student growth to help them become leaders who make an impact in their fields of interest. The core experience of the Student Leadership Program is a fellowship that contains two major strands: student development and an internship placement. The Student Leadership Program embodies Students United’s commitment to developing student leaders and centering student voice in spaces where change is made.

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The Student Leadership Program fosters the continued growth of Fellows as both professionals and individual leaders. Fellows will participate in weekly meetings as a cohort to learn about themselves and topics of interest, including advocacy skills, job skills, nonprofit knowledge, social justice concepts, and more. Fellows will receive mentorship and shadow Students United’s various departments to learn specific skills and assist various teams with tasks.

Fellows will simultaneously work part-time as interns either within Students United or with an external partner organization in roles or areas related to their interests, educational focus, and experiences. Applying students should plan to participate in fellowship development and internship placements for the full school year.

In order to be considered for this fellowship, students must meet the following requirements:

Enrolled student at a Minnesota State university for the full 2023-2024 academic year (Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University (Mankato), Minnesota State University (Moorhead), St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, Winona State University)
Interest in nonprofits and organizational management
Career interests related to at least one of the following:

Finance or Operations
Public Relations, Communications, or Social Media Management
Legislative Research or Advocacy
Minnesota State University Level Advocacy
Meeting or Event Planning
Development/Fundraising or Scholarship Outreach
Student Advocacy or Development

Some experience with Office 365
Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with varied audiences through varied mediums
Interest in bettering your community and the world around you
Desire to grow and learn
Strong organizational skills and ability to self-manage multiple tasks
Curiosity and growth mindset

Ability to meet deadlines
Alignment with Students United's mission, vision, values
Commitment to growth in equity, inclusion, and accessibility values

Our fellows are matched with internships that they are highly qualified for and bring meaningful experiences and professional development they gain throughout their fellowship experience.

By hosting a fellow in your organization, you are getting a passionate, smart, and capable Minnesota State student ready to work with you to create a positive impact in your organization, business, or government agency.

The Student Leadership Program fellows come from across Minnesota and are actively attending one of Minnesota’s seven State Universities during their fellowship. When you host an internship experience for one of our fellows, you are supporting Minnesota State University students and helping to build a community in our state where folks can learn, work, and make change together.

The Community Leader Fellowship is funded through a combination of student fees, private grants, and individual donors to build a program where Minnesota State University students can grow, learn, work, and thrive while supporting the organizations and businesses that call Minnesota home.

We are eager to partner with funders who are passionate about empowering students, encouraging their personal and professional growth, and ensuring they bring their skills, experiences, and life perspectives to their work with Minnesota businesses or organizations, and creating a landscape of social change in our existing workplaces and educational spaces.

Impact of Your Support

Can do this through:
- Sharing the cost of the program in full (maybe as a pie graph with fellow pay, major events, travel and accommodations)
- Sharing what specific amounts can do for the program (ex. $12,000 sponsors 1 fellow for the full academic year; $4,500 sponsors the travel, accommodations, and speakers for the Cohort Kick-off Event for all fellows, $4,500 sponsors the travel, accommodations, and speakers for the Cohort End of Year Event for all fellows, etc.)
- Sharing the specific outcomes and benefits of the program itself

End of January | Rolling applications open for the coming year’s cohort
May 1 | Priority deadline for the incoming cohort fellowship applications
June 30 | Final deadline for the incoming cohort fellowship applications
Week 1 in August | Two-day kick-off and orientation event for the cohort at our office in St. Paul
Weeks 2-3 in August | Job Shadowing with the Students United staff
Bi-weekly Throughout School Year | Leadership development sessions
Bi-weekly Throughout School Year | Cohort check-ins and group learning sessions
May | Two-day year end celebration for the cohort at our office in St. Paul

Click Here to Apply

“I have become more confident in my writing, speaking, and knowledge. It has made me a better me who is able to understand my worth and how crucial we are as students to workplaces.”

Marwah Asif, St. Cloud State University

Meet the Fellows

Samriddhi Bista

She/Her

Saint Cloud State University
Operations & Equity

Career Interest: I would like to set up self sustaining organizations for women and children with a primary focus on the Global South.

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: The people! Their visions and aspirations, from which I can learn a lot from. Also, working in a non-profit setting in USA and learning about all the nuances of it.
Fun Fact: I love to travel! So much to learn from it.

Francesca Goma

She/Her

Minnesota State University, Mankato
Student Advocacy

Career Interest: To have my own company.

I want to be an independent entrepreneur.

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: I am excited to be part of this co-hort so I can help Student United and their goals for helping student in Minnesota.

Fun Fact: One fun fact about me is that I almost became a K-Pop star!

Emily Hodge

She/Her

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Government Relations

Career Interest: In my career I hope to learn and give more visibility to underrepresented communities while pursuing my Bachelors of Social Work (BSSW). Once I graduate, I intend to get a Master of Social Work (MSW) and continue making an impact in small or large ways!

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: The vast array of people I will meet through CLF and all the learning opportunities that come with the position!

Fun Fact: I am apart of MavMachine at MSU where I do Colorguard!

Yvonne Ratemo

She/Her

Metropolitan State University
Legislative and System Advocacy Specialist

Career Interest: I would like to gain experience in the computer forensics and cybersecurity field. a dream job would be probably either an information security analyst or a computer forensics analyst

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: Gaining insights from the different perspectives and backgrounds. this environment will be able to help me foster my creativity, problem-solving and personal growth.

Fun Fact: I love the outdoors a lot. long drives are my favorite thing to do. I enjoy trying out new hobbies.

Javelia Morrison-Galimore

She/Her

Saint Cloud State University
Projects and Events Management

Career Interest: My career aspirations are rooted in harnessing the transformative power of technology to innovate and secure our digital future. Post-graduation, I envision myself leading interdisciplinary teams to develop cutting-edge solutions that not only propel technological progress but also enhance digital security and empower communities globally.

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: I am excited to collaborate with like-minded student leaders who believe in united action to foster inclusivity, accountability, equity, and diversity within higher education.

Fun Fact: I'm fascinated by numismatics (the study and collection of currencies). I find immense pleasure in exploring the historical, cultural, and artistic dimensions embodied in banknotes and coins from diverse nations, each offering a glimpse into global heritage and craftsmanship.

Emily Felling

She/Her

MSU Moorhead

Career Interest: My dream job is working in advertising and/or public relations as a social media, advertising, promotions coordinator.

What Excites Her About Working with Students United: I am excited to work with other students from other Minnesota Universities and learning skills to enhance my knowledge and skills in advertising and public relations.

Fun Fact: I spent my summer living in Pigeon Forge, TN and worked as a merchandise host in the Sweet Shoppe at Dollywood!

Our Alumni.

2023-2024 Cohort

Students United's