Arizona State University Collegiate DECA has a distinctive structure for its leadership team. In addition to their seven chapter officers, they also onboard a team of interns. The goal of the program is to mentor emerging leaders within Collegiate DECA and prepare them to join the officer team the following year. It is also a great opportunity for first-year or transfer students to get involved early!
Each Vice President on the ASU officer team onboards one to two interns, depending on their workload. Here was our structure this past year:
- Vice President of Marketing: two interns
- Vice President of Finance: two interns
- Vice President of Outreach: two interns
- Vice President of Professional Development: one intern
This past year marked the second year of the intern program, which has already shown great success. Four of the seven interns we onboarded at the beginning of the year have now been elected as chapter officers—including President—for the upcoming year.
The Intern Program Director position is unlike any other, as it is responsible for organizing the entire intern selection process, conducting check-ins throughout the year, hosting social events for interns and VPs to bond and build relationships, assigning intern projects and supporting them as they apply for future leadership positions.
Scheduling tends to be one of the more challenging aspects of the program. ASU’s clubs and organizations typically begin in the fall, around September. We host our initial meeting in the first week of September and advertise the program during the first two meetings. Applications are open during these two weeks. Applicants can apply and interview for multiple positions, but may only be selected for and serve in one.
Once the Vice Presidents review applications, they select who they would like to interview for their respective intern roles. Interviews are scheduled using Zcal, so the VP and interviewee can easily find a time to meet. For VPs who may be biased toward an applicant due to prior friendships or relationships, the IPD will sit in on the interview to ensure impartiality. This year, the President will also participate in interviews.
Once all selected applicants have been interviewed, the entire officer team meets to finalize intern selections. Vice Presidents prepare for this meeting by ranking their top candidates. Several factors are considered during the selection process: interview performance, resume, application and meeting attendance. At the selection meeting, each VP shares their top choices and explains their reasoning for each selection. The officers review each application and discuss how each candidate could contribute to the team and support their VP’s initiatives.
Once interns have been selected, they are contacted via phone and email by their VP to extend the offer. From there, the onboarding process is led by the VP, who will delegate tasks and provide mentorship and guidance. The IPD conducts monthly check-ins with both interns and VPs to ensure that expectations are being met and that everyone is benefiting from the experience.
This program is something I believe many Collegiate DECA chapters could benefit from. Here are some words from our former interns:
“As a marketing intern, I gained hands-on experience in social media management and built essential technical skills that every marketer should have. Furthermore, the program connected me with a community of driven, like-minded peers and helped me establish a strong professional network. It was a key stepping stone that prepared me for my next leadership role within the organization.” — Alivia Lochhead, former Marketing Intern and incoming ASU CDECA President
“The intern program was a great experience for me. It introduced me to college-level student leadership under mentors who were kind, supportive, and willing to help me grow. My favorite part was the sense of community it gave me. Being new to Collegiate DECA was intimidating, but it was so nice to have other interns by my side who were also learning and going through the same experiences.” — Mariah Champion, former Outreach Intern, incoming Vice President of Outreach
This program is incredibly important to me because it provides me with the opportunity to mentor members and share my passion for DECA. This organization has truly changed my life and set me up for future success. I hope other chapters that implement a program like this also discover how rewarding and impactful it can be.
