LSU Students to Experience Global Career Opportunities With Summer Internships in Central America

BATON ROUGE – In collaboration with LSU’s academic colleges, Olinde Career Center and the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Abroad, the Office of Global Engagement is launching a fully funded eight-week global internship program this summer in Central America.

This interdisciplinary, university wide initiative is the first of its kind at LSU as it strives to equip the leaders of tomorrow with essential global learning skills, a key career proficiency in today’s job market. This summer, rising juniors and seniors from each of LSU’s academic colleges will be nominated to participate. Once selected, AIFS Abroad will match each student with an organization, company or institution that aligns with their interests, experience and career goals. While in Central America, students will engage with the local culture through weekly activities and weekend excursions to gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

“At LSU, we are committed to preparing our students for leadership in an increasingly interconnected world. This global internship program in Central America offers students a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, build professional networks, and develop the global competencies that will set them apart in their careers,” said Dr. Roy Haggerty, LSU Executive Vice President & Provost. “Having a deep personal connection, myself, to Costa Rica and having lived there as a college-aged young person, I know that our students will benefit tremendously from the professional experience and the warmth and hospitality of Costa Ricans.” 

With the strategic involvement of AIFS Abroad on-site coordinators, students will be enrolled in a Global Career Readiness Program, designed to enhance their professional development and global competency. This program integrates a variety of career-building tools and activities, including the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, which helps students identify their unique strengths and apply them in professional settings. By combining practical internship experience with reflective exercises, students will gain valuable insights into their professional growth and strategies to leverage their global career experience.

“Our LSU students are driven to explore. The opportunities they will have to expand their horizons through experiential learning in Central America will provide a life-long benefit,” remarked Dr. Cynthia Peterson, LSU’s Dean of the College of Science. “Participants will emerge from this global internship program as leaders who have a broad perspective – they will be equipped to embrace our world’s emerging opportunities and surmount its entrenched challenges.” Participating students will be in Central America from May 31–July 26, 2025.

For more information about this program, contact Laura Dean at ldean@lsu.edu or visit AIFS Abroad.