Community Leader Fellowship

Students United's

COMMUNITY LEADER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Minnesota Students Ready to Make Change

The Community Leader Fellowship is an academic-year experience that centers on student empowerment, voice, and changemaking by fostering student growth to help them become leaders who make an impact in their fields of interest. The core experience of the Community Leader Fellowship contains two major strands: student development and an internship placement. The Community Leader Fellowship embodies Students United’s commitment to developing student leaders and centering student voices in spaces where change is made.

Applications open January, 2026

Our 2025-2026 Cohort

Celia Hawton | She/Her
Public Relations Fellow
Minnesota State University – Moorhead

I chose my major because I have always loved the creativity that comes with ads and the strategy behind PR moves. The way I chose my major was by meeting with my advisor and going over the options in the Communications department that aligned best with my interests. I care deeply about social media and the effects it has on people's mental health.

I have done studies about this topic, and it is very important to me with the work that I am going into. My goal is to work at an advertising agency in the Twin Cities. I would love to work on advertising campaigns for multiple brands.

A fun fact about Celia: I love baking/cooking and love trying new foods/recipes!

Syed Hassan | He/Him
Student Advocacy Fellow
St. Cloud State University

I chose Computer Science because it aligns with how I naturally think — in patterns, logic, and structure. Computer Science is a field where I can combine my analytical thinking and creativity to build something impactful that can serve the community.

I care deeply about ensuring students from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to grow — not just academically, but as individuals. I believe every student deserves a fair chance and access to resources that can help them thrive in their lives.

I aspire to build a career as a Data Scientist and, later in life, create a non-profit organization that advocates for development of marginalized communities.

A fun fact about Hassan: I can shoot arrows from a bow while riding a galloping horse.

Hans Arvidson-Hicks | He/Him
Government Relations Fellow
Metro State University

I chose biochem as my major because I hope to go into plant breeding and crop genetics upon graduation. I've loved working with plants in landscaping and greenhouses, and I've also found my favorite classes have been ones like Organic Chemistry and Molecular Biology.

I hope I can be a part of new agricultural practices that can improve the quantity and quality of the food supply for all Americans. Ensuring people can attain undergraduate degrees and feel supported in school, and making sure the state and federal government keep funding agriculture programs, can help ensure more talented graduates work in agriculture-related fields.

For my career goals, I'd really like to work in anything plant and genetics-related. I hope after graduation to find work in plant plant-related industry or attend further schooling.

A fun fact about Hans: I have perfect pitch and have quick memorization when playing the piano.

Renzo Paredes Benites | He/Him
Finance Fellow
Metro State University

I chose Management Information Systems because I am passionate about combining business and technology to solve problems and make better decisions. I was drawn to this field because data-driven decisions can help organizations grow and innovate, while also revealing insights that are not visible at first glance.

I care deeply about the challenges international students face when adapting to a new country. Being far from home, we must overcome cultural, financial, and social barriers while building a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar environment. I believe it is important to raise awareness and create more support systems so international students can succeed and thrive.

My career goal is to start as a data analyst and continue developing my skills to become a data engineer. I am particularly interested in using these tools to support companies’ growth, eventually manage and expand my family business, and finally start my own business.

A fun fact about Renzo: I don’t eat any vegetables—I haven’t eaten a single one for as long as I can remember.

Zugeey Leon | She/Her
Student Leadership Fellow
Minnesota State University – Mankato

Learn More About the Fellowship

The Community Leader Fellowship Program fosters the continued growth of Fellows as both professionals and individual leaders. Fellows will participate in weekly meetings as a cohort to learn about themselves and topics of interest, including advocacy skills, job skills, nonprofit knowledge, social justice concepts, and more. Fellows will receive mentorship and shadow Students United’s various departments to learn specific skills and assist various teams with tasks.

Fellows will simultaneously work part-time as interns either within Students United or with an external partner organization in roles or areas related to their interests, educational focus, and experiences. Applying students should plan to participate in fellowship development and internship placements for the full school year.

In order to be considered for this fellowship, students must meet the following requirements:

Enrolled student at a Minnesota State university for the full 2023-2024 academic year (Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University (Mankato), Minnesota State University (Moorhead), St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, Winona State University)
Interest in nonprofits and organizational management
Career interests related to at least one of the following:
- Finance or Operations
- Public Relations, Communications, or Social Media Management
- Legislative Research or Advocacy
- Minnesota State University Level Advocacy
- Meeting or Event Planning
- Development/Fundraising or Scholarship Outreach
- Student Advocacy or Development
Some experience with Office 365
Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with varied audiences through varied mediums
Interest in bettering your community and the world around you
Desire to grow and learn
Strong organizational skills and ability to self-manage multiple tasks
Curiosity and growth mindset
Ability to meet deadlines
Alignment with Students United's mission, vision, values
Commitment to growth in equity, inclusion, and accessibility values

Our fellows are matched with internships that they are highly qualified for and bring meaningful experiences and professional development they gain throughout their fellowship experience.

By hosting a fellow in your organization, you are getting a passionate, smart, and capable Minnesota State student ready to work with you to create a positive impact in your organization, business, or government agency.

The Student Leadership Program fellows come from across Minnesota and are actively attending one of Minnesota’s seven State Universities during their fellowship. When you host an internship experience for one of our fellows, you are supporting Minnesota State University students and helping to build a community in our state where folks can learn, work, and make change together.

The Community Leader Fellowship is funded through a combination of student fees, private grants, and individual donors to build a program where Minnesota State University students can grow, learn, work, and thrive while supporting the organizations and businesses that call Minnesota home.

We are eager to partner with funders who are passionate about empowering students, encouraging their personal and professional growth, and ensuring they bring their skills, experiences, and life perspectives to their work with Minnesota businesses or organizations, and creating a landscape of social change in our existing workplaces and educational spaces.

Impact of Your Support

Can do this through:
- Sharing the cost of the program in full (maybe as a pie graph with fellow pay, major events, travel and accommodations)
- Sharing what specific amounts can do for the program (ex. $12,000 sponsors 1 fellow for the full academic year; $4,500 sponsors the travel, accommodations, and speakers for the Cohort Kick-off Event for all fellows, $4,500 sponsors the travel, accommodations, and speakers for the Cohort End of Year Event for all fellows, etc.)
- Sharing the specific outcomes and benefits of the program itself

End of January | Rolling applications open for the coming year’s cohort
May 1 | Priority deadline for the incoming cohort fellowship applications
June 30 | Final deadline for the incoming cohort fellowship applications
Week 1 in August | Two-day kick-off and orientation event for the cohort at our office in St. Paul
Weeks 2-3 in August | Job Shadowing with the Students United staff
Bi-weekly Throughout School Year | Leadership development sessions
Bi-weekly Throughout School Year | Cohort check-ins and group learning sessions
May | Two-day year end celebration for the cohort at our office in St. Paul

“I have become more confident in my writing, speaking, and knowledge. It has made me a better me who is able to understand my worth and how crucial we are as students to workplaces.”

Marwah Asif, 2021-2022 Cohort
St. Cloud State University

Our Alumni

2024-2025 Cohort

Sam Bista, Em Hodge, Ren Alarcon, Francesca Goma.
Not pictured: Javielia Morrison-Galimore, Emily Felling.

Students United's