MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine’s Center for Social Impact secured a $5,000 Penn State Sustainability Grant to launch its Sustainability Engagement Internship program for the 2026-27 academic year.
Developed by the Center for Social Impact in partnership with the Chancellor’s Commission for Sustainability, the internship will transform Brandywine’s campus garden into a living laboratory where students develop leadership through sustainability, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
“The internship will expand sustainability programming, strengthen collaboration, increase student participation, and better connect the garden with food access and other basic-needs initiatives,” said Kenneth Murphy, assistant director of the Center for Social Impact.
“It will also provide a scalable model for student-led sustainability engagement that advances student success and Penn State’s land-grant mission.”
The student intern selected for the position will lead campus garden operations, volunteer engagement, sustainability education and collaborative initiatives that connect the campus garden with the Center’s food pantry and other campus partners.
“I am excited about the opportunity to have a sustainability intern support our garden and the Center’s sustainability related programming. The intern will assist with our weekly harvest days, sustainability related events and composting initiatives, and provide leadership and support to our volunteers,” said Emily Dozor, the campus garden manager.
“This grant means we can offer a student meaningful hands-on experience while also expanding the work we are able to do in the garden and with our community. I am grateful for the support and excited to see the positive impact this position will have on our garden, volunteers and intern.”
The Center for Social Impact received the grant by developing and submitting an application through Sustainable Penn State’s Sustainability Fund Grant Program. The proposal demonstrated how the internship would connect experiential learning, student leadership, environmental stewardship and community impact.