City of Langley

Start Date: June 23, 2026 (or as agreed to with student)
End Date: August 21, 2026 (or as agreed to with student)
Total number of hours: 150 hours
Internship Modality: hybrid or in-person; 1-2 days/week at Redmond city hall.

Primary Responsibility:

• Tree Ordinance Replanting Enforcement:
  • Create spreadsheet of all applicants
  • Send out reminders
• Critical Areas Mitigation process:
  • Spreadsheet for tracking and monitoring
• Design Review Standards update:
  • Engaging public in survey
  • Photography (in-person)
• Multifamily Infill Code illustrations:
  • Work with SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator to update code illustrations in accordance with code updates

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Excel proficiency
• Technical writing experience
• Site Design experience
• SketchUp and/or Adobe Illustrator

Please send a cover letter and resume to: 

Meredith Penny, Director of Community Planning, planning@langleywa.org

Habitat for Humanity, Whatcom County
Policy Research & Executive Assistant Internship

Full Job Description

Primary Responsibilities:

Administrative and Executive Support

●    Assist the Executive Director with basic administrative and organizational tasks
●    Support scheduling, calendar coordination, and meeting preparation
●    Help maintain and organize contact databases and internal records
 

Policy Tracking and Research (Training Provided)

●    Track housing policy items and land use actions under consideration by the City of Bellingham
●    Monitor state and local legislative sessions for laws and bills related to housing and affordability
●    Conduct introductory policy research on affordable housing topics, as directed
●    Assist with summarizing policy updates and research findings in short written briefs or memos

Learning and General Support

●    Participate in special projects and organizational initiatives as assigned
●    Gain exposure to nonprofit leadership, housing advocacy, and interdepartmental coordination
●    Receive guidance and feedback to support academic and professional learning goals

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: 

●    Interest in affordable housing, housing policy, nonprofit leadership, or public service
●    Strong organizational skills and willingness to learn new systems
●    Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Drive
●    Clear written and verbal communication skills
●    High level of professionalism
●    Coursework or interest in urban planning, public policy, sociology, political science, or a related field 
●    Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion
●    The ability to follow up and follow through with directions and tasks 
●    Able to multitask 

Full Job Description

Project Contacts:

Virginia MacDonald, Construction Project Manager, virginia.macdonald@hfhwhatcom.org  
Dr. Tammi Laninga, laningt@wwu.edu for earning credits

City of Redmond

Start Date: June 23, 2026 (or as agreed to with student)
End Date: August 21, 2026 (or as agreed to with student)
Total number of hours: 80-150 hours per intern (approximately 8-16 hours per week)
Number of interns requested: 1-2
Internship Modality: hybrid or in-person; 1-2 days/week at Redmond city hall.

Primary Responsibility:

• Research best practices for master planning of a commercially-focus mixed-use area
• Research and provide examples and key lessons learned from commercial mixed-use districts like the UMU locally and nationally
• Review relevant comprehensive plan policies and development regulations
• Develop goals and objectives for master planning, consulting with staff from multiple departments
• Develop scope of work for master planning exercise
• Present work to department or City leadership
• Present work to the Redmond Planning Commission, time permitting

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Research and report writing skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Optional proficiency with GIS
• Familiarity with comprehensive planning and master planning
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas, both orally and in writing.
• Communicate effectively with different audiences, including City staff, appointed and elected officials, and the public.

Please send a cover letter and resume to: 

Beckye Frey, Principal Planner, bfrey@redmond.gov

Ongoing Opportunities

• UEPP Diversity and Student Outreach Committee (quarterly opportunity) (in-person)

• La Villa de Las Americas (Birchwood Cultural District) (could be team) (in-person)

• WWU Office of Student Life/Basic Needs – Creative Housing Solutions for College Students (could be a team) (remote & in-person)

Diversity and Student Outreach Community (Senior Project)

Primary Responsibilities:

The Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (UEPP) Department is committed to supporting and enhancing accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in the department. DSOC undertakes activities and actions that retain and recruit a diverse community. Students may earn 1-2 senior project credits or independent study credits as a student member of the committee each quarter. 

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: 

• Junior/Senior in UEPP

• commitment to ADEI

• willingness to bring ideas and be engaged with activities and events that support current students and recruit new students to the department

For more information, check out the draft UEPP Diversity Plan

Project contact: Tammi Laninga laningt@wwu.edu

La Villa de Las Americas (Birchwood Cultural District) Senior Project – could be a team project

Primary Responsibilities:

Bellingham is home to a large and vibrant Latine community that is underrepresented in both policies and the built environment. Melida Baca-Lopez, a community activist with a vision of change, has proposed the idea of a cultural district. Her concept incorporates Spanish Colonial architecture, spaces for Latine business owners, and community spaces and events celebrating Bellingham’s Latin American presence. Since 2023, UEPP students and Dr. Laninga have worked with Melida to conduct research and identify community support and partners to help carry the idea forward. 

Students would continue to support Melida to help with development of a non-profit, connect with partners, and help draft a proposal to share with the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, the Mayor’s Neighborhood Council, and city staff.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: 

• Junior/Senior in UEPP

• Spanish-speaking

• completed UEPP 475

• Interest in community organizing

For more information, check out this report.

Project Contact: Tammi Laninga, laningt@wwu.edu

Housing for College Students (Independent study or Senior project)

Primary Responsibilities:

During the October 2024 Whatcom Housing Week, representatives from WWU, Whatcom Community College (WCC) and Bellingham Technical College (BTC) hosted a panel to explore “Creatively Housing College Students in Whatcom County.” The outcome from the session is a list of brainstormed ideas looking for more research. This project would research ideas from the session.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: 

• pre-major or major in UEPP

• Junior or Senior in UEPP

• interest in affordable housing

• interest in collaborating with students/staff from WWU, WCC and BTC

Link to Brainstormed Ideas: Creatively Housing College Students in Whatcom County

Project Contacts: 

Jon Stubblefield – WWU Student Success Initiative stubblj@wwu.edu 
Gina Ebbeling – WWU Student Life – Office of Basic Needs ebbelig@wwu.edu