Student Employment
Office of Community-Engaged Leadership
There are several student teams connected to the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership that coordinate events and programs for campus and the local community. Taking on a student leader role is a great way to develop your leadership skills, continue learning, build your resume, make a difference, and network with staff and peers. Most student positions are year-long, with applications typically opening each spring semester.
The applications will be linked on this page when they are open.
Alternative Service Experiences (ASE)
Alternative Service Experience offers many opportunities for students to gain leadership skills. ASE programs are planned and led by student Peer Leaders and the Executive Board, with support from the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership. ASE leadership roles are filled through an application process, which will open in early March.
Peer Leaders
ASE Peer Leaders are students who have previously been on an ASE program and want to take the lead on coordinating a program the following year for another group of students. Peer Leaders work in pairs to coordinate logistics of the program and run pre-travel meetings. They are also responsible for many of the details upon arriving at the group’s destination, as well as facilitating nightly reflections.
Student Coordinators
ASE Student Coordinators assist with planning and facilitating special events, marketing ASE programs, and supporting Peer Leaders. This is a paid leadership position. Student Coordinators on average work 5 hours per week at the rate of $9.50 per hour. Student Coordinators often serve as Peer Leaders in addition to the coordinator role, but it is not required to hold both positions.
Recruitment for ASE leadership positions takes place in the spring semester, with applications available online at ase.appstate.edu. Potential leaders must submit an application, interview with the ASE Leadership Team, and commit to attendance at all leadership development and program planning meetings throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. Preference is given to applicants who have been on ASE programs before and are juniors and seniors. International Peer Leaders must have been on an international program before or have been a Peer Leader before.
CEL Community Ambassadors
Community Ambassadors are an integral part of our team and receive mentorship and professional development from CEL staff. Students typically work 8-12 hours each week at a rate of $9.50/hr. Duties can include helping office visitors, updating CEL social media, other customer service-related tasks, and special projects to assist the office. Applications typically open each Spring semester.
Contact Summer Wisdom (wisdomss@appstate.edu) for more information or questions.
As of Spring 2025, all positions are filled.
Community Fellows
Our Community Fellow Leaders (CFLs) partner with local nonprofits and work to address a specific social issue through the lenses of education, service, philanthropy, and advocacy, while mentoring and leading a smaller group in service work and learning opportunities. CFLs will lead and complete service hours at a local nonprofit at least once a month, as well as work with their group to plan education and advocacy events for the App State community. Our current social issue themes are Food Security and Hunger Alleviation, Affordable Housing, Environmental Justice, and Local-to-Global Service.
Community Fellow Leader (CFLs) positions are open when available, but applications will typically open towards the end of Spring semesters. Contact Brent James (jamesba@appstate.edu) for more information or questions about availability.
As of Fall 2025, all positions are filled.
LEAD Fellows
The LEAD Fellows are a group of student leadership educators who support the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership’s mission by facilitating leadership workshops, supporting the appLEADs program, and developing leadership capacity individually in the hopes of helping students develop socially responsible leadership behaviors.
Trailhead
If you have any questions about employment with the Trailhead Experience, please contact Elayna Coleman at colemaner@appstate.edu.
Graduate Intern
The Trailhead Graduate Intern assists with planning logistics for the Trailhead Experience, as well as training and supervising the student leadership team. As part of the core leadership team, the graduate intern works closely with professional staff and the Student Director throughout the summer. Eligible candidates for this position must be actively pursuing a master’s degree, able to work 20 hours per week during the summer (with additional hours needed during the week of Trailhead), and able to work in person on the Boone campus. If you are interested in applying for the Graduate Intern role, please contact Elayna Coleman at colemaner@appstate.edu. View the full Graduate Intern description.
Student Directors
Trailhead Student Directors assist with planning and marketing the Trailhead Experience, training Student Guides, and various aspects of the program over the summer. As part of the core leadership team, the Student Directors work closely with professional staff and the Graduate Intern throughout the spring and summer. Eligible candidates for this position must be actively pursuing an undergraduate degree, able to work 5-10 hours per week during the summer (with additional hours needed during the week of Trailhead), and able to work in person on the Boone campus. View the full Student Director description.
The application for the Trailhead 2026 Student Leadership Team is now closed.
Student Guide
Trailhead Student Guides play an important role in welcoming new students to the App State and Boone community. Through the spring training process, the Trailhead leadership team will match all guides to a co-leader. Together, co-leaders will be responsible for leading dialogue, service activities, and various other leadership-building activities for a small group of 8-9 students. Students selected to serve as Trailhead Guides will attend multiple training meetings in the spring semester, as well as an immersive training weekend immediately before the Trailhead program. View the full Student Guide description.
The application for the Trailhead 2026 Student Leadership Team is now closed.
Spotlight: October 2024 Day of Service
After the catastrophic events of Hurricane Helene, CEL came together with the community, faculty, staff, and students to host a Day of Service dedicated to community recovery in 4 counties with 16 service sites.
Pictured: Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs J.J. Brown acts in a site leader capacity at the Boone United trail to provide trial maintenance and forest clean-up after the hurricane.
Spotlight: AppLEADs Medallion Recipients
The above student names are the recipients of the appLEADs Bronze Medallion. This achievement is a testament to their personal development throughout the spring 2026 semester, as they focused on their own leadership behaviors. 44 students took the time to advance their leadership skills this semester and we wanted to recognize them for their hard work, dedication to their personal leadership journey, and their outstanding commitment to developing themselves!
Pictured: Names of students mentioned at the Black and Gold Leadership Awards Ceremony; awarded a bronze medallion.