VCU School of Life Sciences and Sustainability

Digital Media Intern Position Description

The VCU School of Life Sciences and Sustainability (SLSS) seeks a motivated and creative undergraduate student to serve as a Social Media Intern. This role supports SLSS’s communications efforts by creating engaging, accurate, and visually compelling content that highlights the school’s people, programs, and impact.

With a primary audience of prospective and current students, alumni, and the broader VCU community, SLSS’s digital content showcases student and faculty spotlights, research and academic achievements, experiential learning opportunities, events, and alumni pathways. This role offers hands-on experience in higher education communications and storytelling while helping shape SLSS’s digital presence.

The ideal candidate is a creative, organized, and reliable self-starter with strong communication skills and an interest in social media, marketing, or storytelling. Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, photography, or short-form video is preferred but not required.

Position details

• Spring semester 2026 (and potentially Summer, with flexible hours)
  
  
• Approximately 8–10 hours per week for students seeking academic credit
  
  
• Paid hourly and/or for-credit internship
  
  
• Location: Trani Life Science Building (1000 W. Cary Street), Monroe Park Campus

Responsibilities and opportunities

The intern will assist in the planning, creation, scheduling, and management of social media content for SLSS. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Creating original social media content for SLSS platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
  
  
• Assisting with content planning and scheduling using Buffer
  
  
• Developing content that highlights:
  
  
  • Student and faculty spotlights
    
    
  • Research and academic achievements
    
    
  • Upcoming events and deadlines
    
    
  • Experiential learning and study abroad opportunities
    
    
  • Alumni pathways and outcomes
    
    
• Supporting basic graphic design and photo editing using Canva and Adobe Creative Suite
  
  
• Contributing to improving the overall quality of photography and visual storytelling
  
  
• Assisting, as needed, with short news stories or features for the SLSS website
  
  
• Collaborating with SLSS faculty and staff on communications-related projects

Preferred qualifications

• Current undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University
  
  
• Strong written and visual communication skills
  
  
• Interest in social media, communications, marketing, or storytelling
  
  
• Highly organized and able to manage time and meet deadlines
  
  
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively
  
  
• Experience with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite preferred
  
  
• Interest or experience in photography and short-form video (e.g., Instagram Reels) is a plus

 

What we offer

• Hands-on experience in higher education communications and digital storytelling
  
  
• Opportunities to build a professional portfolio of social media and visual content
  
  
• Experience working with faculty and staff across a large academic unit
  
  
• Mentorship and skill development in content creation, branding, and strategic communications

Application Materials

• Cover letter
  
  
• Resume

Please submit materials via email to Joseph Ellis, ellisjt2@vcu.edu