Serving, Learning, Leading: Inside the AmeriCorps Internship Program at the Korbel School

For Aidan Smith (MA International Development, 2025) and his fellow AmeriCorps interns at the Korbel School, the classroom is just the beginning. From supporting veterans to building connections with refugee communities, they’re gaining something no textbook can offer: the experience of leading with empathy, urgency, and vision. 

The AmeriCorps internship program at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs places students into meaningful, funded roles across public and nonprofit organizations, where they complete approximately 450 hours of real-world work that complements their academic training. For Aidan, it was exactly the kind of opportunity he hoped Korbel would provide.  

“What I was most excited for when I came here was to attend community events or to serve,” he said. “I think it's been a really good balance of doing community work while also building professional experience.” Through AmeriCorps, that vision quickly became reality. 

This year's cohort of six graduate students is serving with the American Red Cross, the African Community Center, and Food Bank of the Rockies. Their roles range from helping newly arrived refugees navigate systems to supporting veterans and their families. In return, students receive a living allowance, an education award to apply toward tuition or student loans, and course credit toward their degree. 

But the return goes far deeper than financial or academic. For those involved, it's a chance to apply their training to urgent community needs and grow into the kind of public leaders they came to Korbel to become. 

Placed with the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, Aidan supports outreach and programming for veterans and military families across Aurora and neighboring areas. In his first few months, he conducted a detailed community needs assessment, an experience that helped him build both his research and communication skills. From there, he began forging connections with local nonprofits to develop responsive, community-driven support programs. One such collaboration, with the Heartlight Center, has led to the creation of workshops dedicated to supporting veterans and military families with grief support counseling. 

"When I started AmeriCorps, I probably wouldn't have felt confident about that kind of outreach," he reflected. "But over time, I picked up knowledge from team meetings and just got more comfortable in those spaces."

Beyond the programs he's helping build, Aidan stays deeply involved in hands-on volunteer efforts, whether it's tidying up a veteran's yard, joining social events at VA centers, or organizing recreational activities like bocce ball or mocktail socials. "That's definitely been rewarding. Every time I go to one of those events, the person we're helping is super grateful. It's great to see the direct impact."

Abigail "Abby" Russell, a Korbel alumna and regional program manager at the American Red Cross, witnesses firsthand the energy and impact Korbel students like Aidan bring to the AmeriCorps program. She supervises Aidan and the other interns, consistently impressed by their professionalism and readiness. "Anyone that comes from Korbel — expert-level report-making," she joked, marveling at how quickly the interns dive into meaningful work. But for Abby, the passion Korbel students bring isn't just about skills. It's a shared commitment to humanitarian values. "The passion they bring is on another level. It's something I haven't seen in a long time." 

But their passion doesn’t stop in the field. As part of the program, AmeriCorps students choose between two required courses, one of which is the Social Impact and Sustainability Lab, a hands-on class that channels their internship experience into the classroom taught by adjunct professor Janney Carpenter. Designed more like a consulting practicum than a traditional class, the course places students on project teams supporting real-world nonprofits, building skills in strategy, research, and impact design. Carpenter emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach. "You don't design good solutions in a conference room,” she said. “You get out there and talk to people.” That hands-on approach equips students with tools to think strategically, act iteratively, and navigate complexity, skills that transfer across sectors. 

Though AmeriCorps is a national program, students like Aidan emphasize how unique the Korbel partnership feels. "I think AmeriCorps recognizes the potential of Korbel students. Everyone I've worked with is capable, committed, and genuinely wants to make an impact," he said. "It's hard to break into places like the Red Cross. These internships can get hundreds of applicants. I honestly don't think I would've gotten this position without Korbel and AmeriCorps."

For students like Aidan, the AmeriCorps Internship Program is more than a line on a resume. It's the beginning of their career in leadership and public service. For Aidan and his peers, it's also a rare chance to test themselves, serve with intention, and learn what kind of leaders they want to become. 

To further support this pathway into public service, the Korbel School is proud to offer a new scholarship exclusively for AmeriCorps alumni applying to Korbel graduate programs. This initiative recognizes the experience and values AmeriCorps members bring and helps make a Korbel education even more accessible. Learn more about the scholarship and how to apply here.