Now Hiring for 2022!

World Affairs Seminar Staff Counselors and Nurses are highly valued and the backbone of the WAS seminar experience. They have a strong desire to serve the community and world at large. Throughout the week they create a safe, positive, and fun environment, while facilitating the extensive academic curriculum as a cohesive and well-trained leadership team. WAS Staff Counselors come from a variety of backgrounds including guidance counselors, teachers, librarians, business professionals, college students, and past participants.

World Affairs Seminar 2022

Reimagining Global Health and Wellness: Contagious Ideas

June 18-24, 2022

Our 2022 program is hybrid. We still need a full group of in-person counselors (18-24 counselors) plus several virtual facilitators to help ensure the success of our program.

Counselor 1 (first and second year counselors)
Counselor 2 (third year of experience and more)
Senior Staff: Dean of Students, Academic Assistant, Recreation Leader, Transportation Leader, Talent Leader and Social Media & Communications Director.
Registered Nurse (Registered Nurses preferable with experience in school nursing, pediatrics or emergency services).

Staff Counselors are responsible for attending all training sessions, facilitating simulations and discussion groups, participating in and facilitating all recreational activities, walking to and from all large and small group sessions as well as all recreational activities, leading floor meetings, implementing and enforcing the rules and expectations of participants, assisting participants, staff, affiliated Carroll University staff, parents, and other support organizations throughout the seminar week, assisting in the check-in and check-out of participants, and additional tasks that may be assigned by the Dean of Students or Senior Staff Counselors. All work product such as photos, lesson plans, videos, recordings and other materials created for use as part of your Counselor duties become the property of WAS unless specifically agreed otherwise.

Eager to Focus on a “Delegate-centric” experience.
Open to new ideas
Respectful of others
Loyal to the Principles of the World Affairs Seminar
Present a positive image in attitude, spirit and appearance
Work as a member of a team of dedicated leaders
Interested in world events and making a difference locally and globally
International experience a strong “plus” (but not a requirement)
Able to facilitate a group without supervision
Personally accountable, ethical and truthful
Self-motivated
Creative, energetic and fun to be around
Able and willing to participate in recreational and physical activities
Possess strong analytical and problem solving skills
Well organized
Compassionate and empathetic; willing to listen; patient
Are preparing to begin their 3rd year of college (having just completed their Sophomore year) or have been out of high school for a minimum of two years

Your employment will begin at 12:00 p.m. on June 17, 2022. Please plan your travel to ARRIVE on campus by 11 a.m. to check-in and receive your room assignment. All Staff Counselors are to attend both Seminar training sessions beginning at Noon on Friday June 17 and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 at Carroll University. Your employment will continue through the departure of all Seminar participants by 2:00 p.m. on June 24, 2022. You are expected to be on duty in the residence halls each evening and overnight during that time period.

FRIDAY evening – Please plan your travel to ARRIVE on campus by 11 a.m. to check-in and receive your room assignment. TRAINING SESSIONS: All Staff Counselors are to attend both Seminar training sessions beginning at Noon on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Carroll University.

Transportation to the seminar is not provided by World Affairs Seminar staff. It is the individual counselor’s responsibility to make travel arrangements (flights, buses, personal vehicle, etc.) to and from the seminar. Counselors MAY return to the airports (MKE/ORD) via the scheduled shuttles on the last day of the seminar. Please contact us at contact@worldaffairsseminar.org or (414) 453-4984 with questions or concerns.

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General Application

Click Here to apply online now, step one of three towards completing your application.

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Youth Activities Affidavit

Click Here to download & complete Rotary’s Youth Activities Affidavit, required for all staff and counselors.

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Staff Health Form

COMING SOON

Note: If you are unable to complete the online forms or prefer a PDF form to complete, please contact our staff at contact@worldaffairsseminar.org and we would be happy to provide appropriate accomodations. Thank you!

Seminar Staff

Francis X. Vogel

Executive Director

I’m honored to succeed Tom as Executive Director for World Affairs Seminar (WAS), becoming only the fourth staff leader for our Rotary-initiated organization since 1977. That continuity speaks volumes. WAS’s dedicated Board of Directors, other volunteers and staff have engaged some 30,000 young people over the years, promoting peace through a better understanding of people, cultures and major global issues.

As a seasoned nonprofit professional, I bring 29 years professional experience as a consultant or staff person to the position, including 16-plus years as the staff leader for Milwaukee-area groups. I’ve also served as the Executive Director for EconomicsWisconsin, Polish Heritage Alliance and Wisconsin Clean Cities. I hold Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in History and English. Go Badgers!

My volunteer involvement includes Chairing the Governance Council for my daughters’ former elementary school, La Escuela Fratney. I was also the Chair and Secretary/Treasurer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee – Holton Youth Center’s Board of Managers. and am active in my two Parishes, Saints Peter and Paul and Our Lady of Divine Providence. And I’m a proud member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee since 2017. My wife, Carol Lynn Wandler, and I live in South Milwaukee with our daughters.

Dale Brock. Rick Luedke. Tom Plantenberg. These three past leaders of WAS embodied service above self in their illustrious tenures with WAS. I will always strive to do likewise, looking back on their accomplishments as I look forward to building a bright future together with all of you.

Michael Carriere, PhD

Academic Dean

Dr. Carriere is an Associate Professor and Director of the University Scholars Honors Program with the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He has extensive experience in curriculum development, international affairs, politics of disaster, urban development, civics and international history.

Dr. Carriere brings a wealth of creative energy and enthusiasm, to his position. He has developed and is applying an innovative set of changes to advance the texture and scope of the World Affairs Seminar, including broadening the scope of break-out sessions and integrating service projects into the capstone process. His high level of experience in academics and international education adds considerable depth to WAS.

Stuart Schmidt, MS

Program Director

Stuart Schmidt first attended World Affairs Seminar as a high school delegate, and has since found passion in supporting youth empowerment through education. Stuart joins the WAS staff with experience in higher education, youth program development, fundraising and donor management, and skills in web development and photography. He has held several different roles with World Affairs Seminar, including as staff counselor, Senior Staff, and Web Developer. In his current role, he oversees the development of all academic and social activities during the seminar. Stuart earned his Masters of Science from Lakeland University and his Bachelors from Northland College.