ASHLAND — One of the inaugural fellows in the Janet L. Archer Summer Fellowship Program has turned her summer position into year-round employment at the Nuhop Center for Experiential Learning.
Samantha Plank, an Ashland High School graduate and student at Ashland University, was hired to continue managing social media accounts for Nuhop after executing those responsibilities over the summer. She was one of six participants selected for the program’s first cohort.
“One of Samantha’s primary responsibilities during the summer was managing content for our Facebook and Instagram accounts,” said Terri RuLon, director of office and human resources at Nuhop.
“She brought a fresh perspective to our social media presence and did a wonderful job making our pages feel current, welcoming, and reflective of what was actually happening at Nuhop. We hired her to continue creating social media content for us throughout the year.”
In addition to managing digital content, Plank serves as a point of contact and host for weekend groups visiting the facility. RuLon noted that Plank’s dedication, eagerness to learn, and professionalism made her a strong fit for the role.
Plank said early remarks from her supervisors about staying on started as light banter but became serious as the season progressed.
“Over the summer I had really tuned into how their social media content gets the best engagement, and the content that works really well, versus what doesn’t, and just all the kinds of background logistics of the social media world,” Plank said. “And I felt like I could kind of just continue with that.”
Plank had prior exposure to Nuhop as a middle school student attending outdoor school. Although her new duties are handled remotely, she noted that being on-site over the summer allowed her to understand the organization’s operational logistics and mission.
Plank credited the fellowship with fostering professional development, including time management, scheduling, and interpersonal communication. Biweekly check-ins with fellow participants, program leaders, and visiting professionals offered resume assistance and guidance on navigating workplace challenges.
She described the staff, including Executive Director and CEO Trevor Dunlap and RuLon, as welcoming and approachable regarding questions or new ideas.
The experience exposed Plank to the internal management of a nonprofit agency and offered insight into how her academic major, psychology, intersects with the sector. Surprised to find psychologists on staff at a nonprofit, Plank observed how behavioral science principles inform engagement strategies.
Plank, who also works on campus handling social media for the Office of Christian Ministry, originally planned a career as a child counselor. She is now considering opportunities in school psychology or digital communications, noting that businesses frequently recruit individuals with psychology backgrounds to drive audience engagement.
RuLon highlighted the mutual benefits the fellowship offered the host organization.
“For Nuhop, the fellowship was incredibly beneficial. As a nonprofit, adding staff can be financially challenging, particularly when we have seasonal projects that require a specific skill set,” RuLon said. “It can also be difficult to find a quality candidate who is available for a limited period of time within what a nonprofit budget can support. The fellowship gave us access to a talented young professional who brought skills, energy, and a new perspective to our organization.”
RuLon added, “Perhaps one of the best outcomes of the fellowship is that we found someone we wanted to keep as part of the Nuhop team. Samantha came to us as a summer fellow, but through that experience we were able to see her abilities, work ethic, and potential firsthand.”
Plank encouraged eligible students to apply for future cohorts.
“People who are looking for any kind of internship experience to broaden their horizons, to see what they like and don’t like, work on their professional development skills, and gain lifelong connections and mentors should apply,” she said. “I had a very positive experience from start to end.”
The Janet L. Archer Summer Fellowship Program is a collaborative effort between the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ashland County Community Foundation, and the United Way of Ashland County.
Nonprofit organizations interested in serving as a host site for 2027 must submit applications between Oct. 2 and Oct. 30, 2026. Student fellow applications will be accepted Nov. 16, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. Eligibility is limited to Ashland County residents who are incoming college sophomores, juniors, or seniors.
The Ashland County Community Foundation works to advance philanthropy and improve quality of life across the county by connecting donors with local causes. The foundation has awarded more than $44 million in scholarships, grants, and distributions.