Welcome to our site! Our programs are centered around the areas of community-engaged learning, democratic engagement, leadership education, preK-12 student success and place-based initiatives. Build authentic community and expand your educational experience at the University of Washington. Browse our opportunities below to find something that works for you.
Internship GEN ST 350 Course
Earn credit for the learning associated with an internship experience.
Riverways Rural & Tribal Programs
Develop leadership skills and community awareness through working in literacy arts, STEM and college access projects in rural and tribal communities throughout Washington State.
Husky Leadership Certificate
Capstone experience combining reflection, mentorship and creation of a leadership e-portfolio.
Undergraduate Community Based Internships
UCBI is a paid internship program that places undergraduates in nonprofit and public sector organizations. Students interested in public service get the chance to explore, contribute, and grow as they work in, with, and for local communities.
CELE News & Events
news
The Civics Generation | University of Washington Magazine
How do you inspire a new generation into public service? The Evans School and CELE Center are connecting students with seasoned leaders and local opportunities to do just that.
Read the full article below.
Learn moreFrom mentorship to MBA // Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Alumnus Izaiha Ellis, ’20, connected with the interdisciplinary way of thinking in the Honors Program and mentored high school students through the CELE Center’s Dream Project.
Read more about his journey below.
Learn moreLaunching Community Connect UW (CCUW)
New Online Platform Provides UW Community New Ways to Engage
The Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center is proud to support a new online system called Community Connect UW (CCUW) for the Seattle Campus. This system is accessible to UW Community members and partner organizations across all three UW campuses as a part of the tri-campus building capacity for community engagement project. If you want to learn more about how CCUW might support your work at the UW, please reach out to Kathryn Pursch Cornforth at celecenter@uw.edu.
UW recognized across all campuses with Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification
The UW has earned a prestigious Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification, highlighting our faculty, students and staff’s incredible connections with our local and global communities.
In Seattle, the UW Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center is at the heart of this achievement, inspiring students across disciplines to cultivate the skills and mindsets necessary for a thriving civic society.
Please read the full article on UW News, which features Riverways Education Partnerships, linked below.
Learn moreevents
Spring CELEbration 2026
Spring CELEbration is a forum for UW students to showcase their community-engaged work, leadership, and activism.
Want to present your work at Spring CELEbration? Please see our Participant Information page.
Want to attend Spring CELEbration as a guest? RSVP to attend Spring CELEbration!
recruitment
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Stories
Not sure how to get involved? Here are some stories from students and partners from across all our programs.