Job Description:
Freshman Service Experience (FSE) Coordinator
Summer 2009
FSE Coordinators (four in all) work as a team throughout the summer to design, plan and implement the Freshman Service Experience, a 4-day program for approximately 500 incoming students and 70 upper-class leaders. Their role is to identify and negotiate site placements (schools and nonprofit groups), design the opening session and evening programs, place incoming freshmen in 30-50 nonprofit locations throughout the DC metropolitan area, prepare leaders to work with their groups and sites, and oversee the actual program which will take place from August 17-20, 2009. This is a great leadership opportunity, as well as a way to get to know the DC metropolitan area, its socio-economic issues, distinct neighborhoods, history, and political concerns.
Qualifications & Background
o Demonstration of leadership, initiative, and organization
o Knowledge of DC area nonprofit organizations and/or schools
o Experience in community service or service-learning
o Event or project planning experience
o Ability to work as part of a team
o General computer skills
o Flexibility, troubleshooting, and problem solving skills
o Ability to work with diverse communities and populations
o Previous participation in the Freshman Service Experience program as a participant
or leader is valuable but not required.
Application Process
o Please fill out the online application and complete three essays. We will
invite the top applicants to interview with the Director and previous Coordinators.
o Applicants who are applying while overseas will be eligible but must be
able for a phone interview in February.
o Applications are due by February 2nd and decisions will be made by February
18th.
Compensation and Benefits
o Coordinators are expected to be available to work from June 1st –
August 20, 2009. Hours are flexible for June and July but require about 30
hours weekly and a full-time commitment (40 hours weekly) from July 26 through
August 20 when FSE ends. About 10 additional hours will be needed in late
August or early September to put closure to the event.
o Coordinators are compensated on an hourly basis at $10.25 per hour.
o All meals during the week of FSE are included.
o Being a Coordinator offers professional and skills development opportunities
in databases and computing, event planning, finances, organizing group service
activities, writing, public speaking, group dynamics and facilitation, and
implementing service-learning projects.
o Cultural outings and visits throughout the city and interaction with political
and nonprofit leaders are also major benefits of this experience.
Questions: If you want additional information about the position, please
contact Marcy Fink Campos or Donald Curtis at x7378 or email us at fse@american.edu.
You can also visit our website at www.american.edu/volunteer to learn more
about the Community Service Center and its many programs.
These wonderful individuals are hard at work every day to make sure that you have the best possible FSE! If you have any questions for us or would like to know more about your wonderful team of fearless coordinators, we can be reached at 202.885.7378 or through e-mail at fse@american.edu.
Jenn Dearden is a junior in CAS, majoring in Literature with a possible minor in Anthropology. Her hometown is either Doylestown or Warrington, PA (sometimes she's not sure), which is about an hour outside of Philly. She is very involved in community service, and she was Service Vice President for Alpha Phi Omega this past spring. She participated in FSE as a freshman and was a leader her sophomore year. Jenn is very excited to be involved with FSE yet again, and she can't wait to coordinate service this summer!
Bill DeBaun is a senior in the School of Public Affairs. He is majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Policy, and he also has an Education Studies minor. Bill is heavily involved with the Kennedy Political Union and American University Student Government on-campus. He hails from New Jersey and fervently maintains that the abundance of fellow Garden Staters is a wonderful thing. He has previously interned for Editorial Projects in Education and the American Federation of Teachers. This is his fourth year of involvement with the Freshman Service Experience.
Alli Gold is a junior in the School of Public Affairs majoring
in political science. She is also pursuing minors in Israeli studies and environmental
studies. Originally from the Philadelphia area, she is a member of the University
Honors Program and the SPA Leadership Program, where she served as a TA for
the freshmen class last year. Alli also serves as the Vice President of the
AU Jewish Student Association (JSA) and teaches Hebrew school at a local synagogue.
In the spring, Alli will be studying at Ben Gurion University in Israel.
Katie Kraft is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences
majoring in International Economics with a minor in Russian Language. While
interning for the Government Accountability Project Katie also served as the
Secretary of the United Methodist Association and has been active in Mock
Trial, College Democrats, and Methodist Students for an All-Inclusive Church.
A Minnesota native, Katie has a strong pull towards community service and
social justice and is excited for an amazing FSE!
David Teslicko is a senior double majoring in the School of International Studies and the School of Public Affairs with a minor in Spanish Language. David just returned from an amazing semester at the AU enclave in Brussels, learning about and working in the EU and traveling extensively on the continent. David is from Tampa, FL and has spent his summers in DC working mostly with Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY), a non-profit organization in Southeast DC working with youth. David has also worked with the Hispanic community in Columbia Heights through the Community Service Center's CSLP program.
