Public Lands Internship Program
About us
Dr. Scot Raab, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in CEFNS is the NAU lead for PLIP. Dr. Raab can be reached at scot.raab@nau.edu or 928-523-9059.
Dr. Todd Chaudhry is the NPS Research Coordinator for the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit and an Adjunct Professor in the NAU School of Forestry. He serves as the Federal lead for PLIP and can be reached at todd_chaudhry@nps.gov or 720-556-9678.
Welcome to the Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP)
The Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP) is a partnership between Northern Arizona University (NAU) and various land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS). The goal is to provide interns a meaningful experience where they acquire leadership and educational skills. Student interns will have the opportunity to grow in environments that complement their educational goals and ultimately prepare them for careers in land management, natural and cultural resources, and the sciences.
PLIP was initiated in the Spring of 2020, securing an initial cooperative agreement of $38,944 from NPS and placing a Fire Effects Monitor Intern at Grand Canyon National Park in May of 2021. PLIP strives to create an outstanding network of educational and land management partners serving northern Arizona.
Vision
The Northern Arizona University (NAU) Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP) aims to place 10 or more interns and practicum students from the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS) as well as other partner colleges at NAU each year. Our agency programs will benefit from high-caliber interns, many of whom we also hope continue to work with land management agencies.
PLIP staff are housed in CEFNS and are ready to engage with students and future land management experts. As the network of agencies expands, we will share a vision of cooperative engagement, and provide an efficient organization to share resources and administer shared programs benefiting land management agencies, the university, and the surrounding region.
Funding
PLIP is primarily funded through federal agreements and grants. Looking forward, funding may also be provided through state and local governments, foundations, non-profits, or philanthropic gifts that aim in meeting the program vision.
Partner agencies
The PLIP currently has an affiliate partnership with the NPS and funded internships with Grand Canyon National Park. Moving forward, we hope to expand to other NPS units, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Tribal Partnerships, and other conservancies, natural and cultural resource agencies, or academic institutions.