RISE Internship: Environmental Outreach Intern at Pima County Department of Environmental Quality
Position Title: Community Outreach Intern
Reports to: Karen Wilhelmsen, PDEQ
Hours/Week: Flexible depending on credits/hours needed. Within days/hours Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, some weekends possible for special events.
Internship Date Range: January to May 2026
Location: 33 N. Stone Ave., Tucson AZ 85701
About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program
The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and provides undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships related to resilient environments and societies. RISE internships give students workplace setting experience with an opportunity to grow their core skills and prepare them for careers after graduation.
About Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ):
PDEQ is a regulatory agency serving Pima County by protecting public health and the environment. PDEQ operates programs that monitor air and water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, and promotes waste minimization and pollution prevention. PDEQ also provides public outreach and education, processes environmental permits, and responds to public complaints with investigation and enforcement.
Internship summary: Interns in the outreach program will assist PDEQ with developing and/or enhancing public health outreach and education programs and/or materials.
Internship description: Interns will work with PDEQ staff on projects to reach targeted community audiences. Projects will create greater awareness about environmental and air quality issues and resources and encourage individuals to take action. Specific projects will be determined in consideration of interns’ background and interests, and PDEQ’s grant-funded requirements. Projects may include creating interactive activities, developing engaging and informative videos, conducting research on effective outreach programs, developing a school program that encourages parent vehicle idle reduction, or other similar undertakings. Interns may also accompany PDEQ staff and assist at community outreach events.
Compensation:
The intern will be hired and paid by the University of Arizona. The pay rate is $19/hour.
Credit Requirements:
The intern will be hired as a U of A student employee.
- For internships during the academic year: applicants must be active U of A students enrolled in at least 6 credits.
- For summer internships: applicants must either
- Be enrolled in at least 3 credits during the summer
OR
- Be enrolled in at least 6 credits the Spring semester before and at least 6 credits in the Fall semester after
Allowable Work Hours:
- During the semester, student employees are limited to 25 hours/week (20 hours/week for international students) across ALL U of A positions.
- During the summer, student employees are limited to 35 hours/week across ALL U of A positions.
International Students:
International students should consult with International Student Services (ISS) if work authorization is needed before securing an internship. ISS advising information can be found here.
How to Apply:
Email Karen.Wilhelmsen@pima.gov with the following information:
- A resumé with a) your full name, b) email address, c) major (and minor if applicable) with expected graduation date
- Description or list of coursework taken or planned to take related to environmental science or education
- A statement of why you would like intern at PDEQ
Applications must be submitted no later than December 19, 2025.