Position Summary:
The Community Resilience Intern will support Clemson University’s partnerships with the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG), the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR), and local governments across the state. Interns will use geospatial analysis, community data, and stakeholder engagement to help low-capacity communities strengthen resilience against flooding, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and long-term development challenges. This internship blends technical GIS work with applied community problem-solving and direct service.
Key Responsibilities:
-Develop GIS-based map products and dashboards to support resilience planning at the community and regional level.
-Analyze infrastructure, environmental, and demographic data to identify risks and resilience opportunities.
-Support Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) updates and other state/local planning processes.
-Translate complex geospatial data into accessible graphics and materials for use by community partners.
-Collaborate with Clemson faculty, CEDC project teams, Councils of Governments, and state agencies to deliver actionable resilience insights.
-Contribute to real-world projects that directly impact underserved and low-capacity communities.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the internship, students will:
-Gain hands-on experience applying GIS and data analysis to resilience planning.
-Strengthen skills in data visualization, community engagement, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
-Understand the practical challenges of resilience planning in low-capacity communities.
-Learn how universities, COGs, and state agencies collaborate to build long-term community resilience.
-Contribute to Clemson’s mission of service, experiential learning, and translational research.
Preferred Qualifications:
-Current Clemson student (undergraduate or graduate) with coursework in GIS, geography, civil/environmental engineering, planning, or related field.
-Experience with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, or related geospatial tools.
-Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with an interest in working at the intersection of data and community service.
-Commitment to sustainability, equity, and resilience in community development.
Eligibility requirements: UPIC interns must be enrolled, matriculating, full-time (12+ credit hours for part time interns) Clemson University undergraduate students in good academic standing and non-academic alert status (minimum cumulative Clemson GPA of 2.0) and in good status with the UPIC program. Once selected, in order to participate in the UPIC Program, student interns must enroll in the required INT course ($200 course fee) and complete hiring paperwork with the UPIC office.
Interns cannot begin working until the hiring process is complete.
