The Iowa United Nations Association is proud to offer students at colleges and universities throughout Iowa the opportunity to join their advocacy efforts in support of the United Nations work on human rights, global health, sustainable development, gender equity, and climate action. The Iowa UNA will offer up to 20 students the opportunity to serve as College Ambassadors. Selected students will each receive $500 as a stipend. During this 8-month program, ambassadors will work with the Debra DeLaet, Executive Director of the Iowa UNA, and other volunteer leaders to amplify our advocacy messages on their home campuses and through their social media networks.

Iowa UNA College Ambassadors will:

• Participate in an online orientation workshop in May 2021 to prepare for their work as College Ambassadors
• Participate in UNA-USA’s Week of Action by calling or meeting virtually with members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation in June 2021
• Work with representatives from the Young Persons Committee and the Communications Committee to create and disseminate social media communications in support of UN initiatives
• Serve as the lead person for organizing a program on their home campus for either UN Day in October 2021 or Human Rights Day in December 2021
• Engage in monthly meetings with the Executive Director and other College Ambassadors throughout the period of the program
• Submit a report at the end of the program documenting and reflecting on their work

The selected students will have significant opportunities to develop marketable professional skills, especially in the area of communications and advocacy. Through their development of a UN Day or Human Rights Day program and through their monthly meetings with the Executive Director, Iowa UNA College Ambassadors also will develop skills related to event planning that connect to substantive learning about important global issues.

Stipend: Iowa UNA College Ambassadors will receive a stipend of $500. The stipend will be distributed in three phases based on successful completion of required activities: 1.  $150 at the end of June 2021 after participation in orientation and the Week of Action; 2. $150 at the end of September 2021 for attendance at monthly meetings and participation in social media campaigns from June through September; and 3. $200 at the end of December 2021 for successful completion of UN Day or Human Rights Day event, ongoing participation in monthly meetings and social media campaigns, and the submission of the report at the end of the program.

Application Process

Interested students should submit the following materials:

• cover letter
• resume
• 2-3 page essay discussing the following items:
• why you are interested in serving as an Iowa UNA College Ambassador
• the skills you can bring to the program
• the goals you hope to achieve through your participation
• the area of the United Nations work that you are most interested in working on

Deadline for applications:  April 9, 2021

Please submit your application materials as either Word documents or PDFs to Debra DeLaet, Executive Director of the Iowa UNA at debra@unaiowa.org