Education, Environment, & Community Impact Career Community
Education, Environment, & Community Impact
Careers in education, environment, and community impact share a common goal: improving lives, ecosystems, and social systems through advocacy, teaching, research, and service. Professionals in these areas work in schools, nonprofits, government agencies, research institutions, and community organizations. Whether teaching in classrooms, restoring habitats, or addressing housing and food insecurity, these roles emphasize equity, sustainability, and collaboration.
Exploration Tools
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- Teaching
- Educational program development and evaluation
- Educational administration
- Educational research
- Environmental Policy & Advocacy
- Nonprofit Management
- Community Organizing
Conservation & Natural Resource Management - Youth Development & Social Services
- Public Health Education
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- Teacher
- Environmental Educator
- Program Coordinator (Nonprofit/Youth Services)
- Community Outreach Specialist
- Conservation Technician
- Curriculum Designer
- ESL Instructor
- Student Affairs Advisor
- Public Health Educator
- Environmental Justice Advocate
- Grant Writer
- Volunteer Coordinator
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Handshake is Macalester’s go-to platform for career and internship opportunities. There’s no need to create an account—just log in with your Macalester ID and password. Use Handshake to search and apply for jobs and internships, explore hiring organizations, schedule appointments with career advisors, and more.
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Go Government is designed to be your guide as you explore government opportunities, apply to internships and full-time jobs, and navigate the federal hiring process from start to finish.
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What Can I Do With This Major? is a website featuring 106 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities. Links to professional associations, occupational outlook information, and job search resources are included.
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My Next Move is an interactive tool to match your interests with careers in education, sustainability, and community service. Includes job profiles for community service managers, social workers, environmental scientists, and more.
Job & Internship Search Resources
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Career Exploration hosts dozens of exploratory and skill-building events throughout the school year, including events highlighting careers in the arts. All of our events are posted on Handshake Events and on the college events calendar. We also send an email each Monday during the school year to all students as a reminder of the upcoming week’s events.
Government and Nonprofit Career Fair: Held annually at the University of Minnesota in October, the Government and Nonprofit Career Fair allows candidates to pursue professional opportunities and internships in all levels of government and nonprofit agencies. There are 30 participating Minnesota 4-year colleges and universities and participating regional colleges that attend.
MN Private Colleges’ Job and Internship Fair: Held annually at the Minneapolis Convention Center in February, the MN Private Colleges’ Job and Internship Fair hosts hundreds of organizations and is open to students from all of Minnesota’s private colleges. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with a wide variety of Twin Cities’-area organizations.
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Field-focused organizations lists:
- Education Organizations
- Environmental Organizations
- Economic Development Organizations
- International/Immigration Organizations
- Spanish Language Organizations
Use this list to learn more about education, environment, and community impact organizations in the Twin Cities. If you wish to contact an organization that does not have a specific internship listed on their website or in Handshake, focus your inquiry on projects you could do to help them instead of asking about an internship position. This indirect approach helps them envision how you could contribute.
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Employers in education and nonprofit fields hire year round. Many organizations recruit in late winter through spring. Environmental and conservation roles often follow seasonal hiring patterns. View our Industry Timelines page for more information.
Building connections can be helpful as you learn more about organization and prepare for applications. We encourage you to incorporate informational interviews and networking into your job and internship search. The following resources can help you get started:
Application & Interview Prep
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- Career Exploration Interviewing Resources
- Schedule a mock interview with Macalester’s Career Exploration team through Handshake
- Complete a mock interview with a Career Fellow during drop-in hours (Monday-Thursday 4-6PM in Kagin Commons)
Get Involved
Getting involved in student organizations and college-led initiatives is a great way to build leadership skills, connect with peers, and explore your interests outside the classroom. These experiences can help you grow personally and professionally, strengthen your resume, and open doors to new opportunities on campus and beyond.
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MacExplore is a hands-on program that helps students explore career paths through local and national site visits. Led by faculty and staff, students meet with professionals, connect with alumni, and strengthen their career development skills.
Previous trips have included:
- Twin Cities: Law; Public Health; Arts, Media, & Media/Communications; Urban Planning; Private Sector
- National: Media and Communications: New York City; Social Science Research: Washington, D.C.; Technology (Data Analysis, Software, UX, Design): San Francisco; Banking and Finance: New York City
Through MacExplore, students gain insight into diverse industries, build their professional network, and grow their confidence in real-world settings. Follow Career Exploration on Instagram to stay in-the-know about upcoming trips.
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Professional and industry associations are great ways to build connections, gain career insights, and stay current in your field. They often offer job boards, mentorship, and events that can boost your professional growth. Some associations are listed below, so be sure to explore them!
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Getting involved in any student organization helps you build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while expanding your network.
Gain knowledge specific to the Education, Environment, & Community Impact career community through student organizations such as GeoClub, Green@Mac, MacSHARE, and more.
Check out Macalester’s list of student organizations to learn more.
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Macalester’s Community Engagement Center (CEC) connects students with opportunities to collaborate with Twin Cities communities on real-world issues. The CEC emphasizes community knowledge and creative problem solving through partnerships, service, and civic engagement. Students can find involvement opportunities through the Opportunities page, with pathways spanning creative expression, public service, and social change.
Graduate & Professional School Info
For students interested in education, environmental, or community impact careers, graduate and professional school can provide pathways to specialized roles, research positions, and leadership opportunities.
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- Schedule an appointment with the Writing Center to plan and review your personal statement.
Alumni Spotlights
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- Explore additional alumni stories and videos through MacConnect, Macalester’s alumni networking platform.