LEARNING TO LEAD
Applied Leadership Fellows are student employees of the Barger Leadership Institute whose learning objectives are growth in professional identity, professional skill, and leadership learning, and impact on building the BLI community and the success of our programs and events.
ALFs serve as liaisons between the BLI's professional staff and its student members by providing program assistance within various functional teams — marketing and communications, events, grants and funding, community outreach, and program operations. The integration of Applied Leadership Fellows into operational aspects of BLI allows the Institute to maintain a close connection with our members and provide a dedicated space for our student staff to develop leadership skills within a professional setting.
As an Applied Leadership Fellow, you will have the opportunity to:
- Actively develop and lead activities and opportunities that strengthen the BLI community
- Work in collaborative teams to build skills in communication, project planning, self-awareness, and inclusion
- Receive individualized coaching from professional staff on workplace skills and professional development through goal-setting and timely feedback
- Develop a sense of self-confidence and agency, so you are comfortable taking risks and embracing opportunities to thrive
- Develop valuable professional skills and experiences essential for impactful leadership at Michigan and beyond
ALFs will work (and learn) on one of the following teams:
- EVENTS: Coordinate and facilitate multiple student-facing events each semester. Including event ideation, logistical planning, budgeting, registration management, facilitating, and reporting for each event.
- MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS: Create and distribute the BLI Weekly Newsletter, manage the BLI’s social media presence, update the BLI website and Student Voices blog, and assist in the design of print and digital promotional materials for BLI student-facing events and opportunities.
- COMMUNITY OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT & ENGAGEMENT: Present informational workshops on BLI opportunities, tabling, and other promotional activities at various campus-wide events and University classes to engage with and recruit new BLI members and strengthen campus partner relationships. Advise prospective and current members on BLI membership benefits and opportunities.
- GRANTS & FUNDING: Provide assistance and guidance through the BLI funding application process; responsible for tracking all new and existing funding applications in the online application system.
Learn More
- Time requirement: 5–10 hours per week
- Eligibility: Must have completed any BLI LEARN experience
- Application for Fall 2023: Opens March 27 and closes April 2
- Compensation: $16/hour
- The BLI Applied Leadership Fellowship qualifies as a Blue Experience of the Michigan Leadership Certificate.
Questions?
- Contact Beth Cain-Toth.
Applied Leadership Fellows
The ALF Experience
“The Community Engagement and Outreach team offers a number of opportunities to engage with the University of Michigan community as well as Ann Arbor writ large. Some of my projects have focused on reaching out to faculty and student orgs, tabling at all kinds of events, and running BLI info sessions for admitted students who are thinking about coming to Michigan. It’s a great role for a social person who is comfortable putting themselves out there, speaking publicly, etc. This work has grown my network and my interpersonal skills, and my time in the BLI has given me so many professional opportunities and allowed me to pursue self-guided work.”
Ethan Hopper, Applied Leadership Fellow
“Grant writing is an essential skill, especially in the public sector! As the funding applied leadership fellow, you develop practical skills such as proofreading, grant design and compilation, public speaking, and analytical reasoning. I had the opportunity to read dozens of grant proposals, and from that experience I became much more aware about the strengths and weaknesses in my writing. This proved invaluable when it came time to apply for graduate schools and internships.”
Chris Pumford, Applied Leadership Fellow
