WU Coaching Program
Apply to be a WU Coach! Applications open August 24, 2026.
Workshop U is looking for coaches — life or career coaches, or professionals with basic coaching skills — who can each coach young adult students during the 2026–2027 academic year. Coaches meet with each student for up to two hours per month, primarily in-person on Thursdays, from December through May, with an optional virtual continuation through late May.
Coaches receive:
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Training on the Workshop U program (for alignment) and other content areas relevant to working with young adults
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A small stipend so they can count paid hours toward ICF (re)accreditation
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Support for transportation costs in the form of parking vouchers or stipend.
Timeline Overview
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Returning coaches: confirm your interest and preferred caseload (2, 3, or 4 students) by Friday, August 21, 2026
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New coach applications open: Monday, August 24, 2026
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Virtual coach training & preparation: begins Oct/Nov 2026 (dates TBD)
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Meet & Greet with students (in-person at 701 Market): Thursday morning and mid-day, December 10, 2026
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In-person coaching: Thursday mornings, January 7 – March 4, 2027 (5 sessions)
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Continued coaching (optional, for pairs who elect to continue): Thursdays, March 18 – May 27, 2027, in-person or virtual, decided by coach and students
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Next Step Presentations & Graduation: coaches invited to attend, late spring 2027 (dates TBD)
Eligibility
Please read the following schedule requirements and qualification preferences to assess if you are eligible to apply. Thank you!
1. Schedule Requirements
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Available to join a live, virtual preparatory training or commit to watch recordings (dates TBD in Oct/Nov 2026)
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Able to travel to and be present in-person for a "Meet & Greet" with staff and students on Thursday morning, December 10, 2026, at our downtown Philadelphia campus (701 Market Street) — mandatory, so students and coaches can meet one another
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Able to travel to and be present for in-person coaching on Thursdays for the five sessions during Stage 2 of Workshop U: January 7, January 21, February 4, February 18, and March 4, 2027 — mandatory to establish rapport and continuity
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Able to continue coaching (in-person or virtual) for student-coach pairs who elect to continue coaching in Stage 3 of Workshop U: Thursdays March 18, April 1, April 15, May 13, and May 27, 2027
2. Qualification Preferences
NEW FOR 2026–2027: Strong preference for coaches who have completed the Positive Intelligence (PQ) Mental Fitness Program with Shirzad Chamine.
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You have prior experience and comfort working with young adults age 18–24, through volunteer or paid work, or as a mentor
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You have experience living in a large urban city (ideally Philadelphia)
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You have personally lived the experience of, or have a hands-on understanding of, the socioeconomic and racial discrimination faced by young Black and brown adults, who are the majority of Workshop U's student body
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You are a professionally trained coach who is ICF accredited at the ACC level or higher, have completed the Community College of Philadelphia's Professional Coaching Certificate program, or are a Philadelphia-area professional with basic life or career coaching skills learned through volunteer or work experience
Not sure if your coaching experience is a fit? Please provide more details and we'll be glad to talk about your specific circumstance.
What's provided
TRAINING:
An overview of the Workshop U program, clarity on the scope of your role as a coach, WU coaching philosophy materials, and a brief overview of adolescent development theory and trauma-informed practice with additional resources for further learning.
NEW FOR 2026–2027: Peer coaching application of key concepts learned in coach training.
SUPPORT:
Primary support from our Director of Coaching, an ICF MCC coach who designed the original self-leadership curriculum for Workshop U and leads coach check-in calls throughout the year. You'll also be connected with a staff member who knows your students, as a point of contact if a student isn't responsive or you have well-being concerns.
STIPEND OR VOLUNTEER DOCUMENTATION:
All coaches receive support for transportation, either in the form of parking vouchers or transportation stipend. Coaches also receive a small stipend for coaching hours so they can count hours as paid hours toward ICF (re)accreditation. Stipend amounts are discussed during the interview process.
How to apply
Applications from new coaches open Monday, August 24, 2026, and will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please send an email to eowen@workshopu.org with the subject line "WU Coach Application" that includes:
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A cover letter describing why you're interested and how you meet most or all qualifications — please confirm you're available for all scheduling requirements, then detail how you meet the qualification preferences (including completion of the Positive Intelligence (PQ) Mental Fitness Program with Shirzad Chamine, if applicable)
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Your preference for coaching 1 or 2 students (final coach-student matches for hired coaches are not made until December; no guarantee is made for how many students you will coach)
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A standard resume or link to your LinkedIn profile
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Email address and mobile number
FOR MORE INFORMATION, check the PDF Coaching Flyer
- Cyan (WU Student '23 -'24)
“The coaching is the highlight of my day. I’ve never really had a mentor like this before... somebody with real experience, with something under their belt, you know?
My coach pays attention and she cares. But it's all my goals. She’s just holding me accountable to my own. Coaching is like organization for my thoughts. If it's just me in my head it’s all so overwhelming, but after I talk with my coach I’m like, 'oh!' now I have something to go off of. ”
- Cyan (WU Student)
what do students say about coaching?
Meet our 2024 - 2025 Coaching team
Diana Waters
Diana has been the Faculty of Educational Leadership and Internship Supervisor for over 20 years. Her commitment is to social justice and transformative education. Her superpower is holding content and dynamic simultaneously for insight and action.
Mysheka Nelson
Mysheka Nelson is a leadership coach with six years of corporate experience, including international work in the Philippines and Guatemala. Mysheka helps business professionals, entrepreneurs, and young adults unlock their potential, overcome challenges, and lead with impact. With a passion for developing strong, effective leaders, Mysheka specializes in leadership coaching, training, and thought leadership to drive meaningful growth.
Andrea Chaney-Lawrence
With over a decade of experience working with young people, Dre is dedicated to empowering the next generation to reach their full potential. Having served in various leadership and administrative roles, she bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for guiding youth toward purposeful and fulfilling lives.
Dorris Proctor
With over 20 years of leadership experience, Dorris Proctor is a dedicated development coach specializing in empowering others to unlock their full potential. Credentialed through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Dorris combines proven strategies with personalized approaches to foster growth, resilience, and impactful communication skills in aspiring professionals. Passionate about nurturing talent, Dorris is committed to shaping the next generation of leaders.
Melody Mcbride-Bey
Coach Mel is a Philly native and a former teacher. Currently, she is a Training and Consulting Specialist, and she coaches and trains teachers and district leaders on positive behavior practices to implement.
Olivia Hawkins
With over two decades of experience in the business world, Olivia is a seasoned professional who combines her expertise with genuine coaching. Her motto "Love is Life’s Reward”, resonates in her dedication for teaching and fostering connections in order to achieve growth and improvement. Through her leadership, she empowers individuals to develop, operate, and excel independently or together towards shared success.
Cheryl Rice
Cheryl has over 22 years experience coaching people to be leaders in their own lives. She has graduate degrees in psychology and organization development as well as her ICF PCC. Cheryl also has a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology and founded a global program called the You Matter Marathon - no running required! She loves Philadelphia sports teams and dark chocolate.
Florence Mickens
Florence Mickens is the Manager for Policy and Operations for the American Board of Internal Medicine. Florence has been with ABIM since 2009. She was a member of the first graduating class of the Bodine HS for International Affairs. A former summer exchange student to Japan, Florence loves to travel, read mysteries and try new local restaurants.
Robin Wilson-Tolbert
Robin’s 25+ years of human resource and business experience spans many industries and functions, from the performing arts to healthcare; from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies, from talent acquisition to HR leadership. She has coached people across the globe at a variety of levels (new-grads to senior executives and entrepreneurs); and from many disciplines (technical to creative). She brings this expertise to her career coaching and consulting practice, where the focus is on YOU and YOUR definition of success.
Tammi Fleming
Tammi Fleming is an executive coach, strategist, and founder of Diamond Consultants, specializing in leadership development and organizational growth. With a background spanning nonprofits, philanthropy, and the federal government, they help executives enhance their presence, navigate transitions, and drive meaningful change.