Leadership
Residents
Leadership Residents
The Leadership Residency is a professional development opportunity based in Harpswell’s leadership centers in Phnom Penh. Leadership Residents (LRs) are volunteers who support, mentor, teach, collaborate with and live alongside our Cambodian Women’s Leadership students and alumnae.
LRs become integral members of our community, joining the Harpswell sisterhood and alumnae network. Through their work, LRs can expect to refine their professional interests, define their leadership style and engage in hands-on social impact.
LRs are asked to commit to a term of four to eight months, beginning between May-August or November-February.
View and share the LR two-pager.
Harpswell’s dynamic Leadership Residents (LR) are a core presence in dorm life.
Core Responsibilities
Teach Harpswell’s Core Curriculum
Facilitate twice-weekly critical thinking discussions on current events
Tutor students in English language skills
Host consistent office hours
Support student leadership development
Build meaningful relationships with students and alumnae
Plan engaging cultural activities outside of the leadership centers
“At Harpswell, where girls come from different provinces and backgrounds, a strong community of support is created through the exchange of ideas. Harpswell reminded me that we need to nurture a sense of belonging and togetherness to uplift our communities.
- Shalini Ravind (Singapore) LR 2022-2023
Launching in 2025, the Leadership Resident Fellowship is a one-year opportunity for one exceptional young woman to take on a leadership role in the LR Program.
Leadership Resident Fellow
The Leadership Resident Fellowship is a 12-month residential position at Harpswell’s leadership centers in Phnom Penh. The LR Fellow will act as peer leader for LRs, taking the lead on ensuring the LR program runs smoothly.
The LR Fellow will play a significant role in shaping the culture of the LR Program and making an impact on the next generation of Cambodian women leaders. LR Fellows will work closely with Harpswell’s Cambodian Women’s Leadership staff, contributing to a culture of collaboration and cultural exchange. The fellowship is an opportunity for creativity, and we encourage applicants to propose their own ideas for expanding the scope of their contributions to the leadership centers.
View and share the LR Fellowship two-pager.
Core Responsibilities
Foster meaningful relationships with students and alumnae
Lead Core Curriculum and critical thinking course facilitation
Manage LR scheduling, ensuring all classes and events are sufficiently staffed
Onboard incoming LRs
Cultivate a strong culture of support and collaboration amongst the LR cohort
Organize one cultural activity and one volunteering activity per quarter
Support Communications Officer in gathering content
Professional Development
Both LRs and LR Fellows are eligible for optional, part-time internships at one of our local NGO partners, gaining valuable experience in international development work.
In addition, all Harpswell alumnae have access to ongoing virtual development opportunities, from professional mentorship to expert-led learning sessions.
Program Benefits
Cultural Exchange
LRs and LR Fellows live immersed in Khmer culture at Harpswell’s leadership centers, celebrating traditional holidays and enjoying fresh Khmer food daily alongside our students and staff.
During their time at Harpswell, all LRs will have the chance to travel to the provinces for a homestay with a Harpswell student and their family.
Living Expenses
In addition to full room and board plus travel insurance, LRs and LR Fellows receive a monthly stipend reflective of cost-of-living in Phnom Penh:
LR: $330 USD
LR Fellow: $420 USD
Both LRs and LR Fellows are asked to make their own travel arrangements to and from Cambodia.
Who should apply?
For both LRs and LR Fellows, we welcome applications from international women with university degrees who demonstrate:
A commitment to social change, women’s leadership and education as a tool for empowerment.
A genuine curiosity for the experiences of others and interest in cross-cultural learning and discovery.
Resourcefulness and flexibility, alongside the ability to self-motivate and work independently.
Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written (teaching experience a plus).
A willingness to work non-traditional hours (frequent evenings and weekends)
In addition to the above qualifications, LR Fellow applicants should also have:
2+ years of professional experience.
Teaching experience strongly preferred.
Harpswell is committed to bringing LRs with diverse experiences to our leadership centers. We welcome applicants from any race, ethnicity, social background, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
Applications are Now Closed.
The next application cycle will be announced in June 2025. Thank you for your interest in joining us!
Please reach out with any questions to lrprogram@harpswell.org
Meet Our Leadership Residents
Over the past 14 years, Harpswell has hosted more than 100 Leadership Residents. Hear about their experiences:
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT & TT DORM, 2016)
- Bachelor’s in Political Science, University of California Berkeley“The highlight of my trip came near the end of my program when a fellow leadership resident and I cooked up a soccer tournament for the students. On the day of the event, the Harpswell women descended upon soccer fields normally reserved for men and boys. The women became fierce competitors despite the fact that many had never played soccer before. Afterward, the women proudly posted photos on Facebook, asserting to their peers a woman’s right to play sports—a small but telling indicator that something had shifted that day. Before I came to Cambodia, I took for granted the experience I gained from being an alumna of Gamma Phi Beta. Now I see that all along I was getting prepared for the mission I am on today: to build young women leaders all over the world.”
Excerpt from Spring 2016 edition of Gamma Phi Beta Magazine
JoJo Lam
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2018)
- Bachelor’s in Law, Cardiff University
- Master’s in Law, Cardiff University“What we do is complex. There's so much going on behind each face, and it's not always wonderful, but this beautiful experience transforms them, often outside the Cambodian societal comfort zone, into global citizens.”
Clara Ho
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2016)
- Bachelor’s in Human Services, Northeastern University
- Master’s of Social Work, Simmons University“Being a Leadership Resident at Harpswell was a beautiful, challenging, heartwarming, and humbling experience. I learned more from the girls than they learned from me, I’m sure of it- I learned about Cambodian Khmer culture but even more so, I learned how to live for others and what hard work and love really looks and feels like.”
Katie Bruce
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2016-2017)
- Bachelor’s in Sociology, University of Massachusetts
- Master’s in Sociology, University of Cambridge“Harpswell is a community of women that lift each other up. The students encourage each other to do and be their best—both in their academic pursuits and making a positive impact on their country.”
Gabby Fiore
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2015-2016, 2018)
- Bachelor’s in Neuroscience, Rhodes College“The sisters called me ‘teacher,’ but they truly taught me so much more. It is a gift to learn from one another, beyond what can be found in books.”
Jocelyn Labombarde
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2017)
- Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies (Sociology and Special Education), Radford University“I am so grateful for my time with Harpswell. The dorm was filled with creative and intelligent women who allowed me to observe and appreciate their culture. I was surrounded by respectful, dedicated, and loving “sisters” and we all learned from each other.”
Astin Altenburg
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2012-2013)
- Bachelor’s in Anthropology, Princeton University,
- Master’s in Education Policy and Management, Harvard University“It was an honor to learn and live alongside the Harpswell scholars. Together, time and again, we grappled with hard history, collaborated and supported each other's learning, and together created community. What I learned from the powerful and inspiring young woman at Harpswell has helped shape the trajectory of my work in education.”
Jessica Lander
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2009)
- Bachelor’s in Recreation Management and Policy, University of New Hampshire
- Master’s in International Development, Northeastern University“Harpswell was a life changing experience for me and has been an absolute privilege to be involved with the organization for so many years.”
Maggie Doyle Toran
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2016-2017)
- Bachelor’s in English Literature & Language, Rhodes College“The girls in Harpswell are so inspirational and loving. From day one, they welcomed me with open arms and open minds. This was such a formative experience for me right after college -- being able to share my love for learning and education with them, while learning about their diverse backgrounds, dreams, and wishes is something I'll never forget.”