HR / Wellness Program Intern - Summer 2026

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Internship

Working at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens offers you the opportunity to work for one of the most beautiful places in Nashville. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, Cheekwood now serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with period rooms and art galleries. At Cheekwood, you'll have the opportunity to explore a wide range of roles tailored to your skills and interests. Whether you're passionate about horticulture, art curation, historical preservation, or one of our many other career opportunities, you would have the chance to thrive and make a meaningful impact here. Working in such a place that cherishes its rich history, vibrant art scene, and serene gardens offers a unique blend of fulfillment and inspiration. You'll find yourself in a supportive environment where every day brings new opportunities for personal and professional growth, amidst the backdrop of picturesque setting.

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic HR/Wellness Program Intern to join our team. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in human resources, focusing specifically on employee wellness, communications, analytics, and event management. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the growth and execution of our internal wellness initiatives, all while handling non-confidential tasks. This role is ideal for a student or recent graduate interested in HR, health promotion, public health, or organizational/corporate wellness.

Essential Duties

• Assist in overseeing and promoting existing employee wellness programs, challenges, and initiatives (e.g., fitness challenges, healthy eating campaigns, mental health awareness activities).
• Coordinate and help run wellness events (e.g., scheduling speakers, reserving spaces, managing RSVPs, setting up/tearing down).
• Research and recommend new, engaging, and cost-effective wellness activities and resources to enhance the current program offering.

Communication and Content Creation

• Assist with internal communications related to the wellness program, including email announcements, intranet articles, and digital flyers.
• Create engaging content (e.g., articles, tips, quick guides) focused on various aspects of health and wellbeing (physical, mental, financial, social) for internal distribution.
• Manage the internal wellness communication channels to ensure timely and clear delivery of information.

Data Collection and Program Analytics

• Assist in collecting and aggregating non-confidential participation data from wellness events and challenges (e.g., number of participants, survey responses on event satisfaction).
• Help prepare reports and dashboards using gathered data to measure program reach and engagement.
• Assist in creating simple post-event surveys and compiling the feedback to improve future initiatives.

General HR & Administrative Support

• Research and compile best practices in organizational/corporate wellness and HR trends.
• Assist the HR team with non-confidential administrative tasks related to program tracking and vendor/resource organization.
• Maintain and organize program materials, documentation, and digital resources for benefits and recruiting.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Human Resources, Health Promotion, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Workspace.
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• A creative and proactive approach to problem-solving.
• A strong interest in employee wellbeing and corporate culture.
• Ability to handle all assigned tasks with professionalism and discretion regarding internal processes.

What the Intern Will Gain

• Hands-on experience running and sustaining an organizational/corporate wellness program.
• Skills in internal communications, marketing, and event planning.
• Experience with basic data collection and analytics to measure program success.
• Exposure to the functional structure of a Human Resources department.

Hours/Time Commitment

15 hours/week for 12 weeks (June 1 - August 21, 2026)

Education

Junior or Senior at the undergraduate level, or recent graduate from an accredited university.

Part-time Benefits

• Membership & Discounts: As an employee, you receive a Cheekwood membership, which entitles you to unlimited admission during regular Garden hours and a limited number of free tickets to special events. Members also receive discounts, classes, ticketed events, and purchases at the Gift Shop. Your Cheekwood membership also includes reciprocal admission for named members to more than 300 gardens through the American Horticultural Society.
• Reciprocal Admission: As an employee of Cheekwood you have free general admission access to various local cultural, historical, and art institutions as part of the employee admission program.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest with their resume, and a list of 2 references, at least one academic. Start dates may vary based upon department needs and schedule.