Experiential Research and Service Opportunities

Through a partnership with the graduate programs of the School of Public Policy and Administration, CCRS employs several graduate research assistants each academic year. Through practical research and service opportunities provided by their assistantship placements, students preparing for careers in public service have the opportunity to enhance their academic program while providing critical support to the programs and projects of CCRS and partner agencies. Students typically work as members of project teams within CCRS under the supervision of faculty and professional staff persons, or are placed within nonprofit or government agencies in the community. Student placements vary each academic year based on available funding and the skill sets/professional interests of current students. Over the last few years our student placements have included:

Internal Research placements:
Blueprint Communities Project
CCRS Training Programs
Civic Engagement Projects
Claymont Renaissance Project
Hazard Insurance Redlining Project
Health Policy Research Group Projects
Kids Count Project
Local TV News Media Project
National Center on Elder Abuse
Nonprofit Resource Library and Hotline
Nonprofit-Government Contracting Project
Philanthropy in Delaware Study
Public Allies Delaware
Wilmington Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Community Placements:
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Christiana Care
Christina Cultural Arts Center
Delaware Care Plan
Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Delaware Criminal Justice Council
Delaware Department of Child Mental Health
Delaware Helpline
Delaware Office of Volunteerism
Delaware State Housing Authority
Food Bank of Delaware
Homeless Planning Council of Delaware
Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League
Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation
Nemours Foundation
New Castle County, Office of the County Executive
Pencader Hundred Community Center
Rodel Foundation
Social Venture Partnership
Stand Up for What’s Right and Just (SURJ)
UD Cooperative Extension, 4-H After School Program Evaluation
United Way of Delaware
YWCA

What our alumni say about their experience:

Working for CCRS during my master's degree "put me over the top" in terms of adding to my prior work experience. So far, this has been extremely helpful to me as I teach undergraduates - my experiences through the CCRS have led to a number of "stories" that I tell my students as I teach. This makes the course material more real to them, improving the effectiveness of my teaching.
Rebecca Nannery, M.A.
Class of 2007

My experiences through CCRS were amazing. My first placement was with the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League where I am still active with programs and committees. I was then placed with the YWCA Delaware where the project I completed as a researcher was instrumental to a larger scale program and policy scan of asset building programs across the State of Delaware. Once my assistantship expired, I was offered a staff position, where I was able to learn new skills and expand on my research.
Shani Gibson, M.P.A.
Class of 2008

At CCRS I was able to apply the data analysis skills I was learning in the classroom including how to use census data. I feel that I began my research career at CCRS. I continued my career focus on housing at CCRS and in the UAPP program, and I am still working on non-profit housing related programs today.
Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero, M.A.
Class of 2007

CCRS has helped me several ways. When I began my career at Delaware Tech, I used my experience with Pencader Hundred Community Center and Delaware ACORN to begin a service learning project that began in the fall 2007. I brought a new program that resulted in 3 years of community involvement of our 1st year students, 175 students contributing over 1500 hours of community work. The benefits of CCRS has helped me as a person, as a professional, and has paid forward through the quality of education I am able to offer my students.
Sandra Brisiel, M.A.
Class of 2009