Internship Summer 2025

Student Success Research Intern

Organizational information:

South Texans Hector and Gloria López believed in the power of higher education. They knew intuitively what the data currently show–that higher education correlates to greater economic mobility, increased employment options, civic engagement, and often better health and wellness. The foundation they created, the Hector and Gloria López Foundation (HGLF), is committed to increasing the number of university graduates with a bachelor's degree, providing the resources to graduate debt-free on a path to a rewarding career and with the leadership skills needed for future success. Learn more at https://www.hglopezfoundation.org/

Overview of the Philanthropy Team

The Philanthropy Team makes grants directly to nonprofits supporting students in Texas attending higher education institutions that are intentional and strategic about student success and economic opportunity for all. Students attend both public and private four-year universities located in HGLF priority regions (west, central, and southern Texas). Funding primarily supports undergraduate scholarships and student success services for a cohort of López Scholars, bearing the name of the founders.

This position will report directly to the Senior Research & Evaluation Officer. In addition, this position will work closely with the Database Manager and the rest of the Philanthropy Team. This internship may also include opportunities to collaborate with other Foundation departments.

Internship Description

We are looking for a current student with an interest in supporting postsecondary success research to advance economic opportunity for underrepresented students in Texas, particularly by synthesizing information on program best practices and research for the Foundation. The intern will have the opportunity to learn and apply best practices in research compilation; disaggregating data; accessing databases and managing datasets; and applying research to practice; as well as some discretion to propose and research topics of interest.

Specific tasks may include:

Compiling research in literature reviews on topics of interest to the foundation (e.g. workforce outcomes and return on investment for graduates; best practices for first-generation student success)
Assisting with analysis and writing briefs (e.g. white papers on developing issues like rural student needs or trends in dual credit enrollment)
Assisting with primary qualitative research (surveys, focus groups)
Requesting and cleaning data from public databases
Assisting with internal research and data requests
Staying informed on news affecting college students today
Drafting talking points for internal or external presentations on subjects of interest
Providing logistical support for 2025 López Scholar Leadership Summit (all staff attend); and
Other necessary tasks as they arise

As the Foundation does not employ any dedicated clerical staff, interns (and permanent staff alike) are expected to do their own clerical work and on occasion help out with team preparations for events.

Dates of Internship:

Summer internship program dates are mid-May through mid-August 2025. Specific start and end dates are flexible. There is a possibility of extension to a part-time internship Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 (applicants with potential interest in extending preferred).

Location: Hybrid remote and in-person at our downtown Austin office, 606 W 11th Street (should be available for occasional in-person meetings; may involve limited in-state travel for scholar events).

Employment Authorization: Open to any students with employment authorization.

Minimum Qualifications:

Current student at a higher education institution.
Able to maintain confidentiality of student data and adhere to FERPA requirements.
Committed to disaggregating data. You believe in improving outcomes for all students.
Detail-oriented. Others have described you as highly organized.
Able to prioritize a range of tasks across multiple projects.
Communicate clearly. You are able to synthesize complex ideas into concise prose.
Embrace feedback and revision. You understand that great writing is iterative.
Understand new concepts quickly. You continually absorb, integrate, or catalog new information and have experience conducting literature reviews and background research.
Love data and respect sources. You are skilled in Excel. Accuracy and citing sources are important to you.
Adaptable to changing circumstances. You like to have a plan, but you are also flexible and comfortable making adjustments when necessary, working collaboratively with team members across projects.
Proficient in Google Office Suite (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.)

Bonus Qualifications (i.e., not required, but potentially useful):

Proficient in reading, writing, and/or speaking Spanish
Experience with Tableau or similar data visualization software
Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey software
Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM software (Customer Relationship Management)
Graduate-level (Master’s or Ph.D. in progress) quantitative research methods experience.

Salary: Intern will be paid in accordance with the Foundation’s normal payroll practices and will be subject to the usual required withholding.

$20-$25/hour (dependent on experience) up to 40 hours per week

Interns are entitled to the Foundation’s paid holidays if a holiday falls on a day they would otherwise have worked, and accrue sick leave based on hours worked. Interns are not entitled to any other employer-sponsored benefits such as paid vacation, health and life insurance, or retirement benefits.

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by noon Monday, March 17, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Note: Your writing sample should show that you can write about complex content in a way that is targeted to readers who do not know about the topic (i.e., simple, clear, concise). If available, a sample such as an executive summary, brief, press release, grant proposal, or memo may be preferable over an academic research paper.

The Hector and Gloria López Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientations, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, veteran status, uniform service member status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color (including multilingual and multicultural individuals), LGBTQ+ persons, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.