Meet CUNY ISLG’s 2024 Public Policy Pathways Interns

By Carla Sinclair, Senior Communications Associate

The cohort of CUNY ISLG interns will work hands-on with research, policy, data science, and operations teams, as well as participate in discussions with subject matter experts across a number of pressing issue areas.

The City University of New York (CUNY) is one of the largest, most diverse university systems in the country. As a think-and-do tank based within it, CUNY ISLG is proud to announce the second cohort of the Public Policy Pathways Internship (PPPI), a group of CUNY undergraduate and graduate students who will work alongside the research, policy, data science, and operations teams throughout the summer.

Begun in 2023, the PPPI brings together students from across CUNY schools, fields of study, and degree programs to be a part of the work CUNY ISLG researchers, policy administrators, data scientists, and budget experts are doing in New York City and across the country. The internship is designed to foster the next generation of policymakers or leaders in these fields by providing CUNY students with a paid opportunity to gain work experience, skills, and exposure to careers in government, nonprofits, and/or philanthropy.

In addition to peer-to-peer learning opportunities, interns participate in weekly in-person convenings with CUNY ISLG staff on topics such as community engagement and investment, the policymaking process, and the role of research, data, and operations in policymaking. They will also gain and practice workplace skills such as project management, resume and cover letter development, networking, and workplace relationship management. At the end of the summer, interns earn a microcredential they can share on their resume, LinkedIn, or other platforms.

"CUNY students are the next generation of New York City leaders, thinkers, and doers,” said Siobhán Carney, CUNY ISLG’s Policy Director. “We’re thrilled to be embarking on the second year of working with these future innovators to share our knowledge of the ins and outs of public policy so they can head into the world ready to make a difference.”

"CUNY students are the next generation of New York City leaders, thinkers, and doers.

We’re thrilled to be embarking on the second year of working with these future innovators to share our knowledge of the ins and outs of public policy so they can head into the world ready to make a difference.”

- Siobhán Carney, CUNY ISLG’s Policy Director.

Research

The 2024 cohort of Research interns will provide hands-on support for a number of criminal legal reform-related research projects across the country. This includes providing data management, analysis, and qualitative support to the Safety + Justice Challenge team, as well as conducting background research, attending community meetings, and gathering administrative data for the Hate Crime Detection, Reporting, and Prosecution project.

The 2024 Research interns are:

  • Zelfa Hamadieh, a public health and environmental engineering expert currently pursuing a master’s of public health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at CUNY School of Public Health. Having earned an MS in Environmental Engineering from NYU and a BS in Civil Engineering from Damascus University, she has extensive experience in data analysis, geospatial analysis, and research mentorship.

  • Cinthya Marrero, a policy and research intern, who is working toward a master’s degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Forensic Psychology. Prior, she worked in a legal psychology research lab at her alma mater, Florida International University, where she studied Psychology and Criminal Justice.

Policy

The 2024 Policy interns will support several community-based programs across New York City. This includes preparing policy briefs, attending community meetings, and administrative support for the Public Policy Incubation Project, Neighborhood Navigators Program, Community-Based Restorative Justice Program, and the Kriegel and Lindsay Public Service Fellowships for policymakers and legislative chiefs of staff.

The 2024 Policy interns are:

  • Cinthia Carrion, a Political Science major at CUNY City College. Her past experience includes an internship with the Decade of Fire Youth Summit Program, where she researched and analyzed the link between gentrification and the rise of homelessness within her community and how state and local government was responding to this crisis.

  • Savanah Jackson, a senior at CUNY Hunter College, where she is pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in Public Policy. A recent Grove Fellow at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, Savanah has worked with former NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins and other Fellows to formulate practical policy solutions to housing and immigration issues in New York City. She has also served as a legislative budget intern for District 39 at the New York City Council.

  • Julia Jacobellis, a master’s student at the CUNY Graduate Center studying mass violence, genocide, and crimes against humanity and graduated. She graduated with a bachelor’s from John Jay College in 2023. Prior to joining CUNY ISLG, Julia worked on various research teams in the sociology, anthropology, and human rights fields.

  • Melissa Kiela, a recent graduate from Silberman School of Social Work, earned her master’s of social work in Community Organizing and Policy with a specialization in Immigrants and Refugees. Prior to social work, Melissa worked growing and harvesting food in the high desert as well as protecting buffalo and indigenous land rights in the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains.

  • Dyamante Reid, currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he was the lead researcher for his cohort in the Braven Capstone Challenge. Dyamante graduated with an AA in Liberal Arts from the Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2022.

Operations

The 2024 Operations interns will work on a number of operational and budgetary projects. This includes policy research, data analysis, budget analysis, and stakeholder research and engagement for various Municipality Budget and Policy Projects across the country and the CUNY Efficiencies for Re-Investment & Innovation (ERI) Initiative in New York City.

The 2024 Operations interns are:

  • Amirahon Burhonova, an undergraduate student at Baruch College, majoring in Finance with a minor in Political Science.

  • Tatiana Montero, a rising freshman at SUNY New Paltz, studying Sociology. During high school, she was involved in debate, competing in numerous tournaments under the American Debate League, including a national tournament at Harvard. She also served as an editor and publisher for her school’s newspaper.

  • Yahaya Trawalleh, a senior at John Jay College studying Economics. He was previously an intern at the Marketing and Communications hub at Baruch College.

Data Science

The 2024 Data Science intern will work alongside research and data science staff to translate practical data analysis needs and supports into programming work, including conducting data diagnostics and document data management decisions, as part of the Safety + Justice Challenge. 

2024 Data Science intern is:

  • Edward Miller, a graduate student in the CUNY Graduate Center, who is working toward a master’s degree in data science. He earned his BA in Statistics from Hunter College in 2022, followed by an Advanced Certificate in Data Science from the CUY Graduate Center as well as additional coursework in both Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Natural Language Processing.

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