Explore Social Impact Careers

Career Track Infographics

Participating in civic impact initiatives allows you to influence the fabric of communities through civic engagement or provide vital social services to those in need. This includes careers in public and private education, experiential learning, social work, mentoring/counseling, youth development, and administration of organizations that provide these types of services. Professionals in these broad interdisciplinary fields are involved with developing, enacting, interpreting, or applying laws and policies at the local, state/regional, national or international levels. They may work for governmental agencies, departments, or elected officials; in not-for-profit or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); or within business and industry, from small firms to major international corporations.

Download the Career Track at a Glance: Civic Impact Infographic

Environmental impact careers are exceedingly diverse, encompassing everything from office to field to classroom work, conducting research in a lab, designing air, water, or other pollution control equipment, organizing a community to action, advocating in a courtroom, managing a plant, or teaching in a classroom. A common thread of dedication to environmental preservation and improvement unites many people who pursue these careers, although some find the work exciting and challenging.

Download the Career Track at a Glance: Environmental Impact Infographic

The human rights and social impact field is comprised of a broad spectrum of governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations that focus on alleviating human suffering and protecting and promoting human rights. The field overlaps with crucial peace and security issues, development, law, humanitarian assistance, and economic and social affairs. Organizations use a variety of disciplines in their approach to social justice, including direct service, advocacy, policy development, and research. Social justice often refers to the overall fairness of society and how it divides its rewards and burdens upon groups of people. Social justice and human rights organizations are perhaps best organized according to the issue(s) they are concerned with. Social impact describes the effect of an activity or organization on individuals and a community. When discussing careers in social impact, we often talk about working for nonprofit organizations, but many businesses have some activities devoted to social influence.

Download the Career Track at a Glance: Humanitarian Efforts & Social Impact Infographic

What exactly does a career in public service entail? How and why do Amherst grads fail or succeed in entering the field? All these questions, and more, on this semester opener.

Loeb Center Hosts Workshop as Part of Social Impact Initiative

“On Thursday, Oct. 13, the Loeb Center hosted a workshop providing students with guidance on how to begin pursuing a socially impactful career. The workshop was part of a broader push toward increasing resources for students interested in public service or nonprofit work.”

Schedule an Appointment

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SOCIAL IMPACT

By leading career exploration and generating opportunities for Amherst students in the social impact sectors, I hope to instill a commitment to public service and community development for students with an interest in the respective fields. My fifteen plus years of theoretical and practical experience in the public sector lays the foundation for student career advising in local, state, and federal government, as well as in 501(c)(3)’s, think tanks, foundations, and grantmaking institutions.

In my spare time, I like to travel, reflect, garden and try to understand global puzzles.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

To schedule an appointment please log in to your Handshakeaccount and follow these steps:

Log in to Handshake and click “Career Center” in the top navigation menu.
To request an appointment, click the blue “Schedule Appointment” button.
Review all categories and appointment types and select the one that best describes the purpose of your request.
Dates and times of available appointments will display. Use the arrows to navigate to and select a time slot that works with your schedule.
On the next screen, you can add a note, including your preferred name and pronouns. This information will only be seen by the advisor you are requesting an appointment with. Lastly, click the green “request” button.

Connect with Students About Their Summer Internships

Inspired by The Better Amherst Initiative and in conjunction with the Loeb Center and IT, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) created an internship database. The database is searchable by year, major, internship name/employer, and industry. It also contains information on the quality of the internship. Check it out here.

Past Events You May Have Been Interested In

Job and Internship Fair – Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Workplaces

September 28, 2022 | 11am-2pm

Both Amherst College and Williams College are dedicated to supporting the professional development and success of our talented and diverse student populations. On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. EST, our career centers will co-host our third-annual Job and Internship Fair for Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Workplaces.

Social Impact Exploration and Avenues

October 13, 2022 | 4-5:30pm

The Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning is hosting an informational workshop for all students interested in social impact careers. Hosted by Micah Owino, program director, government and nonprofits, and Brianne LaBare ‘25, digital content strategist and creator Summer 2022 intern. Together, they will discuss LaBare’s summer internship at the Loeb Center which sought to better service Amherst students and their endeavors into social impact careers by researching, planning, and cultivating resources that will ultimately be distributed through various digital and tangible mediums.