2026 Summer Internship with NSOAI
Ready to be part of the team this summer? The 2026 NSOAI Internship application is now open!
Our office welcomes passionate and talented Penn undergraduate students to work with us in the summer! NSOAI Interns will be responsible for a variety of projects from the planning process through the execution phase during the New Student Orientation (NSO) and Second-Year Orientation (SYO). Some responsibilities include collaborating and building relationships with faculty and University staff, customer service, identifying areas of improvement, researching and recommending solutions, and more. Interns will work as a team to make NSO & SYO happen, while each taking on their own independent projects.
This is an in-person position from June through August with the expectation of working 20-35 hours/week during the months of June & July. Additional daytime, evening, and weekend hours are necessary in August. Interns receive an overtime rate of 1.5 times the regular hourly rate of pay ($24/hr) for all hours worked more than 40 hours per week. Although housing is not provided during the summer months, College House residents receive free early move-in on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
This leadership experience is relevant to many fields and all majors are encouraged to apply. Prime candidates are those who possess a strong desire to learn. There are 3 intern track options: Communications, Event Planning, and Organizational Leadership & Staff Development. Make sure to carefully review the internship benefits, requirements, and responsibilities to see how you can contribute to our team before you apply.
Internship Benefits
- Free early move-in on Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Paid Hourly ($16/hr) + Overtime (1.5x)
- Free lunches throughout the summer
- Free meals during NSO
- PHINS/Penn merch
- Leadership skills & professional experience
General Requirements
- Strong desire to learn
- Ability to work independently and be a self-starter
- Willingness to work long hours during NSO/TSO/SYO
- Current Penn undergraduate student in good academic standing with the University
- Eager to plan and execute New Student Orientation for first-year, international, exchange, FGLI, transfer, and second-year students
- Available to work in-person, on-campus 20-35 hours/week in June & July and available to work 40+ hours/week from mid-August through August 28 (limited flexibility for vacation, classes, etc.)
- Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize several projects
- Ability to exercise discretion in working with confidential or sensitive matters
- Ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals from all levels of the University
- A portfolio of design or creative work is encouraged for applicants to the Communications Track and will be considered as part of the application review process. Please email any additional materials to Alex Yu, dishengy@upenn.edu.
Internship Duties
General Duties
- Assist in the coordination and execution of five+ days and nights of academic, cultural, and social programming for new undergraduate first-year Penn students (including international), transfer students, and exchange students.
- Answer phone calls and email inquiries from new students and their families in a professional, empathetic, high-quality customer service manner.
- Professionally represent the University of Pennsylvania and the Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives.
- Work closely with Associate Director (Troy Majnerick), Assistant Director (Andrea Naughton), and Assistant Director for Communications & Events (Alex Yu).
- Interact with Penn professional staff members and administration.
Track Duties
Our Internship Program is organized into three distinct tracks, each designed to provide hands-on experience in a key functional area of our office. Within each track, there are three internship positions, offering students the opportunity to deepen their skills while collaborating as part of a focused team. Whether your interests lie in Communications, Event Planning, or Organizational Leadership & Staff Development, each track provides meaningful, real-world experience that directly contributes to the success of New Student Orientation (NSO) and other major initiatives.
Explore the detailed descriptions below to learn more about each track, specific projects, and how you can find the role that best fits your interests and strengths.
- Communications
- Have experience or interest in content creation, digital media marketing, and communications? This track gives you the opportunity to turn your creativity into real-world impact. As a Communications Intern, you will help shape how our office communicates with incoming and current students across platforms. You’ll collaborate on messaging strategies, support major campaigns, and create engaging content that strengthens our office’s visibility and connection with students. Your ideas won’t just stay on paper, they’ll be published, shared, and seen across the University community!
- Specific Projects:
- Graphic Design
- Website Management
- Social Media & Email Marketing
- Event Planning
- Interested in bringing events to life, from small-scale to large-scale university-wide programs? As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience in planning and executing events that directly impact the new student experience. You’ll learn the full lifecycle of event coordination, including brainstorming concepts, developing timelines, securing space, coordinating logistics, and supporting on-site execution. Event Planning track plays an active role in making New Student Orientation (NSO) happen from start to finish.
- Specific Projects:
- Project Management
- Budget Administration
- Vendor Relations
- Organizational Leadership & Staff Development
- Eager to meet new students and collaborate with campus partners? This track allows you to apply your leadership, problem-solving skills, and adaptability in a fast-paced, student-centered environment. As an Organizational Leadership & Staff Development Intern, you will play a key role in supporting the staff and processes that make large-scale NSO events successful. You’ll gain experience working directly with PHINS (Peers Helping Integrate New Students) Orientation Leaders and staff members while developing skills in coordination and real-time decision-making. If you enjoy being hands-on, thinking on your feet, and helping others succeed, this track is for you!
- Specific Projects:
- Leadership Development
- PHINS Training & Oversight
- Logistics Management
Social Media