About CPIC

The Center for Public Interest Careers (CPIC) engages and supports Harvard undergraduates and recent graduates in expanding awareness of and exploring public interest careers. Working closely with university, alumni/ae, and community partners, CPIC develops public interest fellowships, internships, networks, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

CPIC offers the following fellowship and internship programs for students:

CPIC Fellowship and Internship Program (offers placements at a wide-range of non-profit and public interest organizations in five cities)
CPIC-Heckscher Fund for Service Internship (FSI) Program (offers placements and housing in New York at non-profit organizations that serve children)
Harvard Clubs Summer Community Service Fellowship (Harvard Clubs across the country provide funding to students who are doing service in Clubs’ local community)
Arthur Liman Public Interest Law Fellowship (provides funding for students working in public interest law positions during the summer)
Public Service Work-Study Grant (provides work-study funding for students working at non-profit organizations across the country)
Steamboat Scholar Program (offers one third-year Harvard College student a $12,000 grant to spend the summer working at Facing History and Ourselves in Boston)

Each year, these programs provide opportunities for more than 100 students to gain experience working at non-profit and public interest organizations. These programs allow students to explore careers in the arts, public interest law, journalism, the environment, medical research, education, and housing and urban development.

CPIC was founded in 2001 by Nick Beilenson ’58 as a collaborative effort between the Harvard Alumni Association, the Office of Career Services, and Phillips Brooks House, which houses many of the public service activities on campus. CPIC staff and Harvard alumni/ae work together to provide events, seminars, and other professional development opportunities for students. CPIC is also a member of The Alumni Network, a consortium of college programs around the country that serve the public interest.

For more information about CPIC, please click on the links to the right.