Get Involved

Shape future civic leaders

Coro develops civic leaders by immersing them in rigorous, experiential, community-based leadership training. Coro Fellows are empowered to work effectively across sectors, catalyze systems, and accelerate positive change.

There are many ways for the St. Louis area community to get involved with the Coro Fellows Program.

Join the Advisory Board

Shape current and future Coro Fellows’ experience by joining the Advisory Board. Leverage your unique position within the St. Louis ecosystem to connect Fellows with your professional networks, support program staff, and guide the Coro Fellows Program’s future in St. Louis. Interested in joining? Get in touch with the Coro team by emailing coro@umsl.edu to learn more.

Advisory Board members attend quarterly convenings to support program development, recruiting Fellows, and securing placements.

Work With Fellows

Shape current and future Coro Fellows’ experience by joining the Advisory Board. Leverage your unique position within the St. Louis ecosystem to connect Fellows with your professional networks, support program staff, and guide the Coro Fellows Program’s future in St. Louis. Interested in joining? Get in touch with the Coro team by emailing coro@umsl.edu to learn more.

Advisory Board members attend quarterly convenings to support program development, recruiting Fellows, and securing placements.

  • Field placements are a cornerstone of the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. Each Coro Fellow has five placements throughout the program, which expose them to sectors including business, government, and nonprofit. The host fee contribution is calculated based on the placement type and number of Fellows you host. Through their work at placements, Fellows learn how different organizations work and fit into the political, social, and economic fabric of the St. Louis region.

    While in placement Coro Fellows:

    • Complete a specific, high-impact project (or projects) for the host organization

    • Learn about the culture, structure, and function(s) of a particular organization

    • Gain an understanding of the communication and decision-making processes within the organization

    • Observe how the organization interacts with and relates to the community as a whole 

    • Provide a unique perspective on the organization’s efforts and impact

    Submit a placement request form or get in touch with the Coro team at coro@umsl.edu to learn more.

  • Each year Fellows complete up to five focus weeks about regionally significant topics through a range of pre-determined and self-guided learning experiences in community. Topics vary from year-to-year and have included agriculture, media, tech, and health care among others. Bring Fellows to your organization for a day to… 

    • Tour your facilities

    • Meet key leaders at your organization

    • Learn about the work you do


    Hosting a Focus Week activity is a great way to share more about your organization with tomorrow’s civic leaders. Fill out this form or email the Coro team at coro@umsl.edu to get started!

  • Fellows hone effective inquiry skills and learn more about the region through interviews with local leaders (and alumni across the country) like you. One-hour interviews led by the cohort are conducted at your workplace, in-person at Delmar DivINe, or virtually over Zoom. Get in touch with the Coro team by filling out this form or simply schedule your interview!

Support Recruitment

  • Do you know someone who would be a great Coro Fellow? Or someone who should host a Placement or activity? Connect the Coro team with your network by nominating a Fellow or supporting recruitment of Placement hosts, Focus Week activities, and interviewees. Ask them to get involved by filling out the interest form or emailing the Coro team at coro@umsl.edu!

  • Several events throughout recruitment season require community support to find a cohort ready to work together and challenge each other. While there are key opportunities for Coro alumni, unless otherwise noted, these opportunities are open to anyone from the Coro community including Placement or Focus Week hosts, interviewees, or other supporters!

    • Alumni are invited to organize or join informational events: The Coro at UMSL team hosts alumni panels for prospective applicants to learn more about the program. Share your insights on “a day in the life” of a Coro Fellow and reflect on how Coro has shaped your professional path. Fill out this form to get started!

    • Review applications: Application reviewers  (January - February) help the Coro at UMSL team identify the applicants who are ready for Selection Day. Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on when application reviewers are needed!

    • Be a Selection Day judge: Selection Day (one Saturday in March) is an interactive day when judges interact with and evaluate candidates.

  • Prospective applicants for Coro are often highly motivated individuals who have many options they could choose to pursue following graduation. Help us show them how Coro is the right foundation on which to build their careers and choices. Fill out this form to share more about the value of your Coro experience– whether you’re a program alum, a placement host, or other supporter who wants to share about the impact of Coro!

Questions?
Get in touch with the Coro at UMSL team.

Brochure
Download the one-pager overview of the Coro Fellows Program at UMSL.

Nominate
Nominate someone you think would be a great fit for the Fellows Program in Public Affairs.