Overview

VOICE UP ASSISTANT DIRECTOR INTERNSHIP Applied Purpose Science Research Lab Exploring Purpose at the Intersection of Research Governance, Ethical Stewardship, and Leadership Voice Up's early-stage model has engaged students and emerging professionals from more than 80 universities and learning environments worldwide, contributing nearly 3,000 hours of logged purpose-driven work. The Applied Purpose Science Research Lab helps people discover their purpose and make sure that discovery happens in safe, supportive ways. The Assistant Director Internship invites students and emerging leaders to help us answer an important question: How can we make sure that helping people find their purpose is done ethically and protects their dignity? Instead of just reading about theories, Assistant Directors work directly on real challenges making sure our programs protect people, support ethical practices, and help organizations grow in the right way. This internship is designed as a leadership development pathway people who show strong alignment with our values and do excellent work can move into leadership positions at Voice Up. This program runs on: The Fuller Method of reflective mentoring and purpose discovery The B Curriculum for clarity, self-discovery, and meaning-making Voice Up's Five Core Principles The Lab's Six Non-Negotiable Principles Applied, real-world research governance and ethical stewardship challenges Students leave not only with skills but with clarity of purpose, leadership capacity, and a blueprint for stewarding developmental integrity over time. LEARNING GOALS Students completing this internship will: 1. Understand the Lab as Purpose-Oriented Research Center Learn how the Applied Purpose Science Research Lab protects people's dignity, makes sure our programs are ethical, and helps the organization stay true to its mission. Understand why we take time to make careful decisions and don't rush things when people's futures are at stake. 2. Connect Research Work to Your Personal Values Discover how your own life story, beliefs about what's right, and sense of purpose connect to the Lab's mission of protecting people from being pushed into the wrong career paths or having their work go unrecognized. 3. Develop Critical Leadership Skills Build skills in ethical thinking, bringing research findings together, participating in organizational decisions, managing knowledge, learning from multiple programs, and leading in ways that put people's dignity first. 4. Create Purpose-Based Research & Leadership Projects Design practical projects like ethical review systems, tools to check if our programs are working right, training materials for facilitators, ways to learn from different programs, or guidelines for partnering with other organizations. 5. Build a Path to Leadership Roles at Voice Up Get direct mentorship and experience with every part of the Applied Purpose Science work, with opportunities to move into permanent positions like Lab Director, Research Coordinator, Ethics Officer, Council Member, or other Voice Up leadership roles. 8-12 WEEK INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE The internship is structured in progressive phases that build mastery while honoring developmental timing: WEEKS 1-2: Getting Started with Purpose Science & Lab Work Read the Lab's founding documents to understand our mission and values Learn the Six Core Principles we never compromise on and how they guide our work Understand The Naming Gap why people struggle to put their purpose into words Sit in on leadership meetings to see how decisions get made WEEKS 3-4: Research Coordination & Learning from Our Programs Help our Research & Learning team bring together findings from different programs Track how people are growing and developing through our programs Learn to spot when our recognition systems aren't working the way they should Start building systems to organize and share what we're learning WEEKS 5-6: Making Sure We Do the Right Thing Watch for problems like pu