
Closing Date:
Workstudy Position:
No
Temporary (Fixed Term)
Sponsorship Available:
No
Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a state wide campus, with faculty based on University campuses, at Research and Extension Centers and in every Arkansas county. It consists of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and is home to more than 1400 employees. The Division was established in 1959 and is headed by the Vice-President for Agriculture. The Division headquarters is located in Little Rock with the rest of the University of Arkansas System Administration. As an employer, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click theApply link/button.
If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process and require reasonable accommodations, please contact the Division's Office of Program & Employment Compliance at compliance@uada.edu
For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820.
CES | Assoc. Prof. - Leadership * Community, Professional, & Economic Development
Department's Website:
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Education_in_Agriculture/internships/experiential-scholars.aspx
The Experiential Scholars Program (ESP) is a nine-week summer paid internship program at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UADA) intended for college juniors and seniors to work in one of three focus areas: 1) water/soil conservation, 2) food nutrition, health, and safety, or 3) community/economic development.
Visit website for additional information.
Each scholar will be assigned a focus area mentor. Mentors will train, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and will work with interns to develop a special project such as a field demonstration, organizing a public meeting, or other related task as part of the internship.
• Seeks information from mentors and colleagues regarding the history, purpose, and mission of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
• Job shadows and assists mentor or designee in their day-to-day activities as a means of simulating what Extension education is all about in terms of technical programming, building trust through relationships, serving a partner, serving clientele, facilitating meetings, conducting field demonstrations, farm visits, planning, evaluation etc.
• Participates in leadership training via Zoom where students interact with each other, share their experiences, and learn leadership skills as applied in Extension.
• Conducts an independent project in focus area. (Interns will work with mentor to select an Extension project that the scholar will conduct, evaluate, and complete an impact report. Mentors will provide guidelines as to the appropriate scale of a project that can be completed in nine weeks and that targets a need in the county or state. Some examples include field demonstrations, conducting research, organizing and conducting a public meeting, workshop, or training, etc.)
• Maintains a log, or journal, outlining internship experiences to complete the required Record of Internship. Completes and submits Record of Internship at the conclusion of the internship.
Compensation:
• Interns will work up to 40 hours per week for a maximum of nine weeks in the summer at an hourly rate of $12.50.
• Hourly paid employees who are considered temporary or part-time are not benefit eligible and are on a REARS payment schedule. For example - Interns starting on May 18, 2026, will be paid hourly and will receive their first paycheck on the payroll payment date of June 13, 2026.
• Travel will be reimbursed at the current rate of .52 per mile.
• Housing is not provided. However, the primary location for internships is central Arkansas. If needed, housing options may be available. Please contact Kayla Machen at 501-671-2218, Kmachen@uada.edu to discuss.
Holiday Pay
• Temporary employees may be eligible for prorated holiday pay if they average at least 20 hours per week over the four weeks prior to the holiday. Eligibility also requires the employee to be in "pay status" for at least 15 minutes on their last scheduled workday before and first scheduled workday after the holiday.
• The calculation for holiday pay is based on the average number of hours worked in the four weeks immediately preceding the holiday. To calculate the paid holiday hours, the average weekly hours are divided by five. This number is then rounded to the nearest quarter hour. For example, if an employee averages 20.75 hours per week over the four-week period, they would be paid for 4.25 hours for the holiday (20.75 / 5 = 4.15, rounded to 4.25).
A nine-week summer internship program supported by USDA-NIFA Award 2023-68018-40315
Additional Information:
Application Instructions
We recommend that you carefully develop your personal essay. All documents should be provided as PDF files with your first and last name included in the file name.
Application Deadline
Applications are due at midnight on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Decisions will be made by Monday, March 2, 2026.
Department's Website:
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Education_in_Agriculture/internships.aspx
Salary Information:
$12.50 hourly
Required Documents to Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Letters of Recommendation, Other (see special instructions for details), Resume
Optional Documents:
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Education_in_Agriculture/internships/experiential-scholars.aspx
Recruitment Contact Information:
Lisa Davis, ldavis@uada.edu
(501) 519-5472
All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS
Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may conduct pre-employment background checks on certain positions for applicants being considered for employment.The background checks may include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check.Required checks are identified in the position listing.A criminal background check or arrest pending adjudication information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absences of a relationship to the requirements of the position.Background check information will be used in a consistent, non-discriminatory manner consistent with the state and federal law.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
No

The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is the state’s premier research agency for agriculture, food and natural resources. We are the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, one of the 20 institutions in the University of Arkansas System.
Agricultural producers and processors look to the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station for research-proven technology. Through site-specific research under local conditions, we help Arkansans in the food and fiber sector adopt new practices that are appropriate for their circumstances. We also conduct extensive research on environmental and quality of life issues and count Arkansas families and communities among our stakeholders.
Our mission is to conduct research and achieve scientific discoveries that benefit Arkansas citizens, expand agricultural sustainability and profitability, promote environmental stewardship, strengthen local and state economies and ensure safe and nutritious food supply.