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The Marvin H. McKinney Scholars Program

Are you a sophomore or junior at a North Carolina historically Black college or university (HBCU) looking for a paid summer internship?

Do you have an interest in child development or a related discipline?

Do you want:

  • hands-on professional research experience;
  • exposure to leadership, structure, operations, and decision making;
  • opportunities to build professional relationships with renowned experts in the field;
  • opportunities to participate in professional activities such as conferences, poster presentations, and publications; and
  • greater understanding of professional opportunities and possible career pathways?

If so, you are a great fit for the McKinney Scholars Program!

Our Institute

The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is one of the nation's oldest and largest multidisciplinary centers devoted to the study of children and families. About 275 researchers, implementation and technical assistance specialists, staff, and students work on more than 60 projects related to developmental disabilities; early care and education; physical, social, and emotional health; and racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. Our work crosses many disciplines from education and psychology to social work and public health. We strive to transform children's lives through innovation in research, practice, and policy.

Our Internship Program

The McKinney Scholars Program is coordinated by Penelope Chirolde. The program is open to students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program at a North Carolina HBCU. Students must have completed at least two years of classes and must be in good academic standing.

The summer internship program, which is a 10-week paid internship program, provides students an opportunity to participate in meaningful, project-based work in pursuit of their professional interests and in preparation for their careers. McKinney Scholars will gain familiarity with how FPG contributes to positive outcomes for young children and their families through research and evaluation, implementation, technical assistance, and policy engagement. In particular, they will further their understanding of the importance of research, practice, and policy, as well as the interconnections and pathways between each of these areas of work.

Within the summer internship program, each McKinney Scholar will have an FPG mentor who will ensure that students are supported in their work, exposed to maximal learning opportunities, and integrated into the FPG community. Scholars will create a comprehensive work plan; actively engage in one or more projects related to child health, child development, and/or child and family outcomes; participate in regular project, division, and community meetings; produce a culminating product (such as a poster or paper); and complete performance and program evaluations.

The 2022 McKinney Scholarship will be primarily conducted remotely; however, Scholars will be required to participate in onsite activities (on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus) during the first and last weeks of the internship (May 24-26 and July 25-28).

Duration: May 23rd-July 29th, 2022

Stipend: $3,000

Applications for the 2022 cohort are closed. Check back here in January 2023 for information on how to apply for the 2023 cohort.

The McKinney Scholars Program administrative team held an informational webinar providing more detailed information about the program as well as perspectives from two McKinney Scholars Program alumni. If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording below.

More information