Affiliate Affairs Internship: 2027 spring term

American Public Health Association
Washington, DC
HybridCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Aimed at undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in public health advocacy who can manage administrative and campaign-related tasks in a collaborative, in-person or hybrid setting.

Best fit for

  • Students with a background in public health or related fields and interest in campaign planning and community outreach
    — “learn about various public health issues, planning and implementing a national campaign”
  • Individuals with experience in graphic design, social media, or web content creation who are eager to contribute to public health campaigns
    — “experience with social media, web content and graphic design”

Things to consider

  • Unpaid role requires a strong commitment to public health and willingness to work at least 21 hours per week
    — “we ask that the intern work at least 21 hours per week during business hours”
  • Must be able to work in the US and comply with the vaccination mandate policy
    — “candidates must be able to work in the US during the internship”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with event planning, data analysis, or community outreach in your resume and cover letter
    — “planning and execution of in-person and virtual events for Affiliates”
  • Include a writing sample that demonstrates clarity and ability to communicate with a lay audience
    — “Experience writing for a lay audience is a plus”
  • Showcase any prior involvement with public health campaigns or social media management in your application
    — “draft social media posts for use on Twitter and other platforms”
  • Demonstrate your ability to collaborate across departments and work with diverse stakeholders
    — “collaborate with other departments and APHA leaders”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • support state organizations
  • plan national events
  • create tools for NPHW
Typical background
public healthcommunicationsevent planning

Skills & requirements

Required

Public HealthDatabase ManagementEvent Planning

Preferred

Social MediaGraphic Design

Stack & domain

TeamworkCommunicationPlanningWritingPublic Health

About the role

Original posting from American Public Health Association via Greenhouse

SUMMARY

The Affiliate Affairs department serves as the liaison to APHA’s 52 state and regional public health associations (“Affiliates”) and supports APHA’s National Public Health Week campaign. Interning in this department means you’ll be part of the team supporting state organizations that bring the leadership and advocacy work of APHA at the local level. You’ll work to support APHA’s Annual Meeting (including working with us in Minneapolis this fall), manage databases and support these organizations in building public health infrastructure and capacity, working to improve health for all.

NPHW is APHA’s annual public health awareness campaign, held the first full week of April. In this internship, you’ll help to create tools for people to host NPHW in their own communities, including on campus. You’ll also help us plan national events and activities. It’s one of the most exciting and fun parts of working at APHA, and every department contributes.

The Affiliate Affairs and NPHW internship provides students with many opportunities to learn about various public health issues, planning and implementing a national campaign and public health practice on the national, state and local level. The internship encourages collaborative work with other departments. All APHA interns also work on the Association’s Get Ready campaign, working on group projects each semester.

This is an US-based internship, and candidates must be able to work in the US during the internship. APHA internships are unpaid and located in Washington, D.C.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Affiliate Affairs

Interns may contribute to the planning and execution of in-person and virtual events for Affiliates, including Affiliate Day and other Annual Meeting activities. Interns can also plan on being responsible for analyzing Affiliate data and reporting it out for staff and members; drafting communications and trainings for Affiliate leaders; maintaining administrative functions such as Affiliate databases and online platforms; and other duties as assigned.

National Public Health Week

Interns may conduct research or draft NPHW tools and resources, brochures and marketing materials; coordinate outreach to NPHW’s national, state, local and educational partners; update NPHW.org; draft newsletters and other materials for APHA members; help plan events locally and virtually leading up to and throughout NPHW; draft social media posts for use on Twitter and other platforms; perform simple graphic design to promote NPHW and its events; staff a NPHW booth at the Annual Meeting; collaborate with other departments and APHA leaders; and other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

APHA’s Affiliate Affairs department offers one internship per semester to a qualified student. We are looking for creative, quick thinkers who can meet deadlines and who love working with a team and talking with our members and partners. Experience writing for a lay audience is a plus, as is experience with social media, web content and graphic design. Opportunities for internships are available year-round and last for a three- to four-month period. To assure that the intern maximizes their experience, we ask that the intern work at least 21 hours per week during business hours. Start and end times are negotiable.

Applicants who meet the requirements and are interested in being considered for an internship position should upload the following information.

Cover letter;

Resume;

a writing sample, 1-2 pages each (published, from a website or from schoolwork); and

Unofficial transcript; and

List of two references (from two individuals who know you well enough to discuss your qualifications, e.g., an employer or professor).

This is an US-based internship, and candidates must be able to work in the US during the internship.  APHA internships are unpaid and located in Washington, D.C.  Hybrid or remote options are available.

Vaccination Policy: Interns must adhere to APHA COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Policy.

Deadline date:  November 6, 2026 @5 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)

EEO/AA/VETS/DISABILITY.  APHA is strongly and actively committed to diversity in its workplace.

Source: American Public Health Association careers (Greenhouse)

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