The Life in Iowa Internship Program was begun in 2002 by Iowa State University’s Extension Service and introduced students to community-based learning for leadership and service in locations throughout the state. The director for the program was Dr. Nancy Bevin.



The academic program combined classroom study of Midwestern culture and identity along with experiential learning through internship, service, and community research in an Iowa community. Students who participated in the community internship program completed a seminar the semester before their summer internship. The course focused on issues and concerns specifically related to the cultural and natural landscape of Iowa. During the summer, each student worked as a paid intern for ten weeks and volunteered 100 hours in the community. Financial assistance was available through Life in Iowa to help communities and businesses subsidize the summer internships.



ISU Extension stopped offering the summer internship portion of the program in summer 2006. However, two academic courses (LAS 380: Orientation for Life in Iowa and LAS 381: Life in Iowa Seminar: Place and Purpose) will continue to be offered during spring semester with encouragement to participate in experiential summer learning in an Iowa community.