A well-established program at Texas Hillel, the Campus Engagement Internship (CEI) program is an incredible opportunity for students to network with other Jewish students, grow professionally, develop leadership skills and work with an outstanding team of peers. The CEI program is a two-semester commitment that students apply to and, if accepted, receive a stipend for their work. Each year, there are around 10 CEIs and a CEI Lead who assists in facilitating weekly meetings and developing the meaningful content the students explore during these meetings.

Every year, CEIs are trained to identify and build relationships with students who might not otherwise get involved at Texas Hillel or in Jewish life on campus. Because CEIs are involved in so many different communities and groups on campus, they are able to reach a broad demographic of Jewish students. Through coffee dates, small get-togethers, and events at Texas Hillel, interns connect with students by understanding their interests and linking them to opportunities that they will find meaningful. A recent CEI alum, Adam Bergman, had this to say about the program: “I have the ability to reach so many students on campus to discuss personal goals, interests, and ways to get connected with Hillel. The CEI program is filled with student leaders with similar mindsets like mine: eager to network, loving what they do, and actively representing the best of what Texas Hillel has to offer.”

CEIs benefit both personally and professionally from the program. Interns build broad social networks with a variety of students, learn to create programs and events with meaningful Jewish content, and enhance Jewish life on campus. Students also develop active listening, leadership, and communication skills through their training and engagement work. With these experiences, many interns go on to become leaders in the Jewish community after college while creating life-long friendships in the process.