Mercy Corps Launches Internship Partnership with Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Internship program expands to recruit Hispanic and Latinx students in the United States

PORTLAND, OR — The global organization Mercy Corps is launching a partnership with Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to connect Hispanic and Latinx students with paid internship opportunities. Starting this summer, students at HSIs across the United States will be encouraged to apply for a broad range of internships. This partnership furthers Mercy Corps’ commitment to create a diverse talent pipeline.

“We hope that our partnership with Hispanic-Serving Institutions will help young people from different backgrounds see a future for themselves in our organization and in our sector,” says Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy Corps’ Chief Executive Officer. “We must tackle barriers to diversify our team and that starts in the places where we recruit.” 

Mercy Corps has formed partnerships with 12 HSIs with a proven track record of supporting Hispanic and Latinx identifying students and socioeconomically disadvantaged students through graduation. The pilot program builds off Mercy Corps’ partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to connect students of color to careers in the international aid and development sector. 

"At Florida International University, we are preparing our students to solve some of the greatest challenges of our time,” says Ivette Duarte, Career and Talent Development Director for Florida International University. “Mercy Corps’ mission and work directly align with our mission and programs, making this a mutually beneficial partnership that will be felt around the world for years to come."

Students can search and apply for internships for summer, fall and spring semesters on Mercy Corps’ website.

Mercy Corps is a global team of 5,600 humanitarians across over 40 countries working together on the front lines of crisis, disaster, poverty and climate change to create a world where everyone can prosper. Beyond meeting urgent needs, we work alongside communities, local governments, forward-thinking corporations and social entrepreneurs to develop long-term solutions to make lasting change possible. Mercy Corps has a total operating budget of $488M and last year reached nearly 37 million people.