Bowdoin Public Service Summer Fellowships

Fellow with the Maine Department of Education

Internship Opportunity: Seal of Biliteracy Campaign Development 

Organization: Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) 

Position: Intern – Seal of Biliteracy Campaign 

Overview: The Maine Department of Education is seeking a motivated and culturally aware individual to assist in creating a dynamic, inclusive campaign to promote the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes and honors students who have achieved proficiency in two or more languages, celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity in Maine schools. 

This internship is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about multilingualism, cross-cultural collaboration, and education equity. Interns will gain invaluable experience developing statewide initiatives while understanding the operations and structures of a state agency. 

Responsibilities: The intern will play a vital role in the development and implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy campaign. Specific duties include: 

Campaign Strategy and Development: 

• Research best practices in promoting the Seal of Biliteracy in other states. 
• Collaborate with Maine DOE staff to design marketing materials for students, families, and districts (e.g., brochures, posters, digital content). 
• Develop messaging that emphasizes the importance of bilingualism/multilingualism for academic, professional, and personal growth. 

Work on a strategic plan for Community Outreach and Engagement: 

• Work directly with schools, educators, and community organizations to raise awareness of the Seal of Biliteracy. 
• Engage with diverse communities to promote the value of the program and encourage participation. 
• Assist in planning events, webinars, and workshops for educators, students, and families. 

Policy and Process Understanding: 

• Learn about the structures and operations within a state agency, including interdepartmental collaboration, policy implementation, and program administration. 
• Assist in developing guidelines and resources for districts implementing the Seal of Biliteracy program. 
• Participate in Maine DOE meetings and gain insight into how state-level education initiatives are executed. 

Qualifications: 

• Strong interest in promoting multilingualism, cultural diversity, and equity in education. 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with attention to detail. 
• Experience or interest in marketing, outreach, or educational advocacy. 
• Basic proficiency in a second language is strongly preferred. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. 
• Familiarity with social media platforms and content creation tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe, or equivalent). 
• Enthusiasm for learning about the structures and processes within a state agency. 

Benefits: 

• Gain hands-on experience in developing a statewide campaign. 
• Build a strong understanding of state agency operations, including education policy, program implementation, and stakeholder engagement. 
• Collaborate with experienced professionals and community leaders. 
• Strengthen your resume and portfolio with tangible deliverables.  

Contribute to advancing linguistic and cultural diversity in Maine’s education system.  

Commitment: Flexible hours: with remote and in-person opportunities based in Maine. 

Join us in fostering a culture of multilingualism and creating opportunities for Maine students to celebrate and honor their linguistic and cultural heritage! 

Anticipated performance period: June - August (approximately 10-12 weeks)

Estimated hours: Approximately 300 hours (average 30 hours/week)

Supervisors: Ross Anthony, Buildings and Energy Efficiency Analyst

Work structure: The internship will be primarily completed through virtual work. Opportunities for in-person work may be arranged depending on available resources and intern circumstances.

Description: The position will involve supporting research and policy development for the GEO related to building and energy efficiency initiatives. The focus of this internship is to support the administration and reporting of Maine’s federally funded programs supporting buildings and energy efficiency programs. This support will involve several different activities, including research and report writing, energy policy, stakeholder engagement, and communications. The intern will work under the direction of the supervisor to research, compile, summarize, and interpret relevant policies. Successful completion of the internship will result in final deliverables as described below.

Example activities:

Example deliverables:

Supervisor role:

Anticipated performance period: June - August (approximately 10-12 weeks)
Estimated hours: Approximately 300 hours (average 30 hours/week)
Supervisor: Vanessa Diaz Gaumond, Youth Programs Coordinator 
Work structure: The internship will be fully on-site with some in state travel to outreach events as needed. 

Description: This position will involve work related to communications, policy, and general office support for the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS). The role includes dynamic responsibilities that reflect the fast-paced nature of working within the SOS office. The intern will support the work of the SOS main office staff which includes the Senior Policy Director, Deputy of Communications, Deputy of Community Relations, Youth Programs Coordinator, Executive Assistant to the Secretary, and Secretary Associates. The intern will have the opportunity to focus on areas of interest and projects will be assigned based on identified skill sets, areas of desired growth and learning, and present office needs. This opportunity provides exposure not only to the work of an elected official, but also a variety of careers that support the mission of the Department. 

Example activities:

• Administrative office support
• Creating communications and press materials including social media posts
• Creating outreach materials 
• Attending meeting with The Secretary and other staff
• Attending public facing outreach events with The Secretary and other staff

Supervisor role:

• The supervisor plays a key role in the success of the internship.
• The supervisor will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the intern, providing mentorship through regular one-on-one meetings and discussion of content with the intern, and reviewing and providing feedback on the deliverables produced by the intern.
• The supervisor will also be responsible for providing opportunities for professional development in coordination with the intern, such as facilitating introductions to relevant professional contacts and providing opportunities for the intern to participate in relevant office activities where appropriate.

About the Office of the Secretary of State
The Department of the Secretary of State touches the lives of virtually every Maine resident. From safeguarding the original Maine State Constitution and preserving millions of precious historic documents, to conducting state elections and testing motor vehicle operators, the broad array of Department functions is unusual and interesting.

In Maine, the Secretary of State oversees one cohesive Department made up of three distinct bureaus: the Maine State Archives, the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions (CEC), and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). As a Constitutional Officer, the Secretary is elected biennially through joint ballot of the Maine State Legislature and is charged with carrying out the Department's diverse responsibilities and unique mission.

Harpswell is a spectacular waterfront community.  Geographically, it consists of a long peninsula (Harpswell Neck), three large islands (Great Island, Orr’s Island and Bailey Island) and a number of off-shore islands.  The Town has over two hundred miles of coastline including a number of coves and bays, which have historically supported commercial fishing. 

The Town has a Town Meeting form of government with a three-member Select Board and an appointed Town Administrator.  The Town Meeting is the legislative body that adopts municipal ordinances and the budget. The Town has a number of very active committees with highly knowledgeable volunteers. 

The Town has many critical and exciting initiatives underway.  It is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan.  It is exploring creating a central fire station to coordinate the three volunteer fire departments.  It is actively working to address climate change and sea level rise and its impacts. And the Town does all of this with a small staff, committed volunteers and at times, with outside consultants. The Fellow will have the opportunity for hands-on involvement with some of these issues.

The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Town Administrator.  The Fellow will be involved with key staff members including the Town Planner and the Recreation Director.  The Fellow will have the opportunity to experience how dedicated volunteers can play an integral role in municipal government (and in all organizations).

The choice of projects will be determined based on the current needs of the Town.  The Town will also consider suggestions from the Fellow if their interests align with Town objectives. The Fellow will have the flexibility to choose multiple projects of interest.  Possible projects include:

• Interacting with various Department heads to update sections of the Town’s website, including adding visual interest, as well as recommending ideas for better utilization of social media communications and possibly creating “A Welcome to Harpswell” brochure.
• Evaluating Town properties, many of which are shorefront, and making suggestions for improvements including signage
• Assisting Town departments, particularly Planning and Code Enforcement, with utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Assisting the Town with implementation of hybrid meetings and protocols as needed
• Working with the Climate Resiliency Committee to develop more community engagement and awareness, possibly developing an interactive online resource program that residents can use to obtain information and assistance in addressing climate change
• Exploring approaches for preserving access to coastal waters

Fellow with the Town of Brunswick

Fellows with the Town of Brunswick will be exposed to a wide variety of experiences with the Town Clerk’s Office, Economic and Community Development, Planning and Codes, Engineering, and Public Works Departments.  This fellowship provides a career development opportunity to gain quality experience working in local government, while making a direct impact in the community. This position typically participates in multi-departmental projects.

The Fellow should be a self-motivated and organized individual with the ability to learn and support multiple departments through participation in strategic and operational planning efforts. Should be able to perform administrative work involving research, compilation, and analyzing information pertaining to emerging issues and projects as assigned.

There are various project involvement opportunities available depending on the career interests of the Fellow. For summer 2025, this may include:

Brunswick Town Clerk’s office 

• An election will be held in mid-June, and the Fellow may assist with preparation tasks or complete election-related duties, including entering voter participation data.
• Review of the Business License Ordinance and Shellfishing Licensing Ordinance. The Fellow can contribute to this project by researching how other communities handle these ordinances and drafting proposed language changes.
• Creating promotional materials to be distributed to various businesses, including Airbnb, in order to promote the community.

Brunswick Economic Development Office

• General learning about and support for economic development projects, likely to include housing, transportation, and business assistance.

Fellow with the Town of Topsham 

Topsham, Maine is a dynamic, welcoming, and business friendly community that borders Merrymeeting Bay and is home to the Topsham Fair, a strong business community, and many historical and conservation areas of interest. This position will introduce a Fellow to Topsham’s Town Meeting/Board of Selectmen/Town Manager form of government and will work directly for the Town Manager’s Office.

The Fellow can expect to become familiar with the following Town of Topsham’s Departments: Administration, Finance, Economic Development, Assessing, Planning, Public Works, Tax, Town Clerk, Fire, Police, Parks & Recreation, and Solid Waste.  The fellow may also attend professional development events, collaborate with local citizens involved with Town committees, and work on a project that will benefit the Town as well as the Fellow.

The choice of projects will be determined prior to the Fellow’s arrival and is based on the current needs of the Town. The Fellow will have the opportunity to choose a project that they would be interested in pursuing. We also consider suggestions from the Fellows if their interests align with Town objectives. At the end of the summer term, the Fellow can expect to present their work to management and the Topsham Select Board. Some past projects include the following:

• Develop a Town Local Business Directory and webpage highlighting local businesses
• Organized and compiled existing condition reports of bike and pedestrian infrastructure to develop a patterns of growth map in Topsham
• Assist with updating Topsham’s administrative code
• Assist with the development of an improved format to the Town’s annual report.
• Develop an improved method for disseminating information to the public including introducing a strategy and implementation for social media communication.
• Produce a report on the competitiveness of Topsham’s public safety salaries
• Develop the framework for a capital improvement plan.