Now in its eighth year, the Paul F. Pelosi Scholars Initiative (PSI) continues to uplift exceptional SFS sophomores and juniors through a dynamic program that fosters professional growth, meaningful mentorship and real-world learning. By funding public service internship placements and connecting students with accomplished practitioners and scholars, PSI equips students with the tools and networks needed to thrive in public service.
Established through the generous support of Paul F. (SFS’62) and Nancy Pelosi (H’02), who have donated $3.3 million since 2018, PSI has become a cornerstone for nurturing talent dedicated to the common good. Since its launch, the initiative has supported 98 scholars, building a growing network of alumni, mentors and public service practitioners.
The initiative selects students who embody the Jesuit value of “people for others” and provides them with opportunities to deepen their professional experience, expand their networks, and engage meaningfully with issues of public service.
This summer, Pelosi Scholars gained hands-on experience across a diverse range of public service organizations, both in the United States and abroad. Their internships took place at organizations including the U.S. Department of Defense, World Bank, Atlantic Council, Darfur Women Action Group, Climate Department in the City of Mechelen (Belgium), International Organization for Migration and more.
Current SFS sophomores and juniors interested in becoming a Pelosi Scholar can apply here to the 2027 cohort through September 30, 2026.
Maya Belorusskiy
Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union
Maya Belorusskiy (SFS’28) interned at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, with the Foreign Commercial Service. In this position, she interfaced with different U.S. agencies, European institutions and American industry stakeholders, drafting reports and conducting research on developments in EU digital and competition policy.
Internship accomplishments:
“I drafted four policy analysis reports for newly passed EU tech regulation, assessing economic impact on U.S. stakeholders during my internship. I also helped coordinate three roundtables with private and public stakeholders from EU and U.S. institutions concerning issues pertaining to healthcare, defense and chemicals regulation. Finally, I was able to conduct in-depth research on the innovation impacts of the recently passed EU Tech Sovereignty package, comparing it to appropriate U.S. regulation.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Go into any opportunity with an open mind and a drive to contribute to the team effort! Do not be afraid to speak up about assigning yourself more work or connecting across shared interests with members of senior staff at any agency/post you are working in.”
Carmela Cadja
World Bank
Carmela Cadja (SFS’28) spent her summer at the World Bank Group interning for the Forced Displacement team in the Fragility, Conflict and Violence department. Her main work consisted of writing blogs on different approaches to encouraging economic self-reliance among refugees and including them in national education and health systems.
Internship accomplishments:
“I wrote six blog posts about the World Bank’s renewed approaches to managing forced displacement situations and allowing refugees to become self-reliant as opposed to aid-dependent. These will be published throughout the fall to introduce a wide audience (policymakers, governments, journalists, intergovernmental organizations, etc.) to ideas on how to pivot the current humanitarian and aid system. I also created a Powerpoint that showcased key lessons, insights, and results from the Bank’s recently closed projects in FCV-affected countries that were partly powered through WHR financing. This deck will be presented by the senior operations officer to department officers to understand the summarized impact.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Don’t be scared to strike up a conversation with anybody. Everybody working at the World Bank has a very interesting background in development, so it’s nice to hear from their experiences and learn about different opportunities you could explore yourself. I was a little hesitant to go up to people randomly because of seniority, but I wish I had realized sooner how friendly everyone was and how open to hearing about your interests and sharing their own honest views about recommended early-career work opportunities.”
Alexandra Hamilton
IOM for the Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery in the Preparedness Unit
Alexandra Hamilton (SFS’28) spent her summer in Geneva, Switzerland, interning at the International Organization of Migration (IOM). In her role, she worked for the Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery in the Preparedness Unit on crisis response capacity building and institutional preparedness work.
Internship accomplishments:
“I reviewed and provided recommendations on AI-powered Anticipatory Action proposals and contingency plans for three additional country offices, helping ensure the funding provided by the Japanese government is aligned with preparedness and early action priorities. I also developed an IOM-UNDP serious gaming exercise on emergency preparedness, including Crisis Averted simulation risk cards and recommended actions, which is currently being piloted with the Government of Poland and IOM Vienna. Finally, I met with the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) once a month to track survey data on flood and drought preparedness given by country offices in Nigeria, Sudan and Chad.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Be flexible and willing to say yes. Because I was open to taking on different tasks, I was able to work with everyone on my team and learn so much about how countries prepare for different emergencies. Additionally, take advantage of the networking opportunities. I was able to coffee chat with people from all over the world, which exposed me to different parts of IOM’s work that I never would have encountered otherwise. As a result, I was able to build connections while experiencing the diversity of the UN system.”
Rosa Huffman
Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (UMD)
Rosa Huffman (SFS’27) spent her summer in College Park, Maryland, interning at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) through the Research for Intelligence and Security Challenges (RISC) program. Over an intensive 10-week program, she worked in a team under the guidance of faculty members and government champions, tackling real-world problems within ARLIS’s focus areas.
Favorite memories:
“Briefing at the Pentagon (and being selected as one of the top six briefs, so getting to brief twice)! Meeting incredible, dedicated public servants through coffee chats, briefs or even conversations in the building. It was inspiring to see the vast array of people who have dedicated their lives to serving the country and a cause greater than themselves, including aspiring interns, government professionals, private sector members and even the IT team.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Take risks and step out of your comfort zone. Government work can be unpredictable and hard, but you have the tools and network to succeed. Lean on your strengths and those around you, whether it be mentors, bosses, other interns, or career professionals you meet throughout the program. Establishing a good relationship with my bosses and team early on proved to be the most instrumental piece of my internship, and I am better for it after the program’s termination. I wish I had let go of expectations and stress going into the program. There is so little that you know, and that’s the point. You learn new skills, grow into yourself and expand your knowledge base, and that starts with acknowledging that there is so much that you don’t know, and that’s okay.”
Peer Khan
U.S. Department of the Treasury, G7/G20 Office
Peer Khan (SFS’27) spent his summer in Washington, DC, interning in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Global Engagement and Strategy. He supported preparations for the United States’ G20 presidency in 2026 and G7 presidency in 2027 by drafting memos on sanctions, trade disputes, monetary policy and other multilateral economic issues, as well as tracking countries’ progress on key G20 priorities.
Favorite memories:
“My final team lunch with the staff from our office on the last day of my internship. The people that I met through this internship were undoubtedly the best part. They were the most encouraging and thoughtful mentors I have had in a professional setting, and hearing their encouragement on my final day really motivated me toward a public service career. I also loved presenting my final research paper on demographic challenges to G20 nations (especially in East Asia) to my team as well as our Office Director. This was a really exciting— also frightening—experience for me, but being able to present and answer questions effectively, in front of people who have so much experience in actual government-to-government diplomacy, really made me feel proud of my work.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Always be ready to network, especially in your downtime, and not only with those in your office, but anyone whose job you find interesting. The Treasury serves so many different policy functions, and it’s really valuable to learn about them.”
Riz Khan
Institute For Social Policy and Understanding
Riz Khan (SFS’28) spent his summer as a research intern at the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), a nonpartisan nonprofit focusing on providing objective education on American Muslims for informed policy decision-making.
Internship accomplishments:
“I collected survey data and initiated literature reviews, addressing gaps in understanding Muslim American voting behavior, political engagement and awareness of public health issues. I improved stakeholder communications by correcting toolkits, revising infographics and embedding website HTML. I also developed a large-scale survey on Muslim college student experiences amid rising Islamophobia by designing outreach strategies, building contact lists and initiating engagement.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Reach out widely at your internship. Talk to everyone and learn about what they do – and why! Internships are a great opportunity to build out your professional network. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the work you are doing! Every little part of the work you do is impactful at the end of the day. Finally, make friendships with your other interns, and build a community outside of work!”
Akiko Kono
City of Mechelen, Belgium
Akiko Kono (SFS’28) spent the summer interning with the city of Mechelen, Belgium, under Masterplan Binnendijle, a European Urban Initiative-funded project to transform the Binnendijle River into an inclusive ecological corridor. She contributed to reports documenting project outcomes for the European Union and developed materials to support project replication by other municipalities.
Favorite memories:
“One of my favorite memories was swimming in the Binnendijle River with my colleagues. The EU initiative I interned for included creating the first open water swimming zone in Belgium, so being able to experience this component of the project firsthand was wonderful. I also really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues by having lunch outside together with a large portion of the office every day. It was amazing to hear their insights on topics ranging from how emerging technology is shifting public participation strategies across Europe to where to find the best sorbet in the city.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“My biggest piece of advice would be to engage with one’s colleagues as much as possible. I was very fortunate that everyone I worked with was so willing to include me in meetings, site visits and casual conversations about their work. If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself not to be shy or as nervous about asking questions, as I found that people were always excited to share their experiences. I learned that simple curiosity goes a long way. “
Benjamin Leong
United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs’ Division for Inclusive Social Development
Benjamin Leong (SFS’27) interned at the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs’ Division for Inclusive Social Development (UN DESA DISD). Through his internship with the Programme on Ageing, he reported on member states’ progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, designed workshops on demography and social participation on the African continent, analyzed sub-regional African implementations of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and supported conference coordination like COSP19.
Favorite memories:
“Being able to directly engage with member states in the General Assembly Hall felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My foreign language proficiency was also definitely tested this summer, as I had the opportunity to work orally in French and Mandarin Chinese during my engagement with member states and civil society leaders. I also loved engaging with interns within my office, on the floor, and throughout the UN. This was very rewarding, given that I was one of the youngest interns at UNHQ. There was also diversity in geography, lived experience, academic interest and professional background. Everyone was really kind and open to chatting about the city, their experiences with the UN, and their professional trajectories.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“People are generally friendly and want to help; don’t be intimidated to talk to people in the office. At the start of my role, I had a difficult time talking to staff in my office, since I was intimidated by the prestige associated with their roles, but I learned over time that most people in the office were really willing to give career advice or offer guidance on work. Also, learn about the organizational context you’re entering, as that’s where you will be able to make the most impact and fill gaps.”
Luke Madden
Atlantic Council, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs
Luke Madden (SFS’28) was an intern at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs. There, he supported the constituent parts of the center in hosting events, conducting research and assisting in administrative duties.
Favorite memories:
“I loved getting to talk to AC fellows and staffers from different programs to learn more about their career paths and decisions, which helped sharpen my interest in the future considerably. I also really enjoyed the Summer Social, because hearing from AC’s President and CEO Fred Kempe about the value of the AC’s work and seeing my coworkers be recognized for their contributions really brought the whole organization together and made it seem less opaque. Finally, getting to be in the room where key decision-makers met to discuss the major crises of the day was a fantastic opportunity that I won’t forget anytime soon. Hearing from Gulf policymakers, representatives of private oil and infrastructure companies, and American government officials talk about how to navigate the ongoing regional instability gave me new insight into the key issues currently facing the U.S. and its regional partners.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“The best way you’ll get work to do is if you look for it, and the only way you’ll get better work is by doing the grunt work to prove that you’re capable of being trusted with more important tasks. You should also talk to as many people as you can because you won’t have that internship email address forever.”
Ella O’Connor
The International Organization for Migration
Ella O’Connor (SFS’28) spent her summer in Vienna, Austria, interning at the International Organization for Migration’s regional office for Europe and Central Asia. O’Connor’s work supported the regional policy and liaison unit as well as the planning, monitoring and evaluation unit. She maintained a stakeholder index and knowledge management website and assisted in tracking and updating evaluation reports and management response matrices.
Internship accomplishments:
“As a joint intern for the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (PME) and the Regional Policy and Liaison Unit (RPLU), I co-designed and delivered qualitative analytics training to about 30 staff members while analyzing roughly 25 evaluation reports and management response matrices to strengthen evidence-based practices. For RPLU, I built a stakeholder index with over 150 entries and created a knowledge management website for 47 country offices. I also aggregated Central Asian migration policy data, including Route-Based Approach research, to strengthen partnerships, inform regional analysis and co-design a government policy training in Turkmenistan.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Getting a sense of task priorities makes it easier to rank your workload and strategically manage across departments. I also found it extremely helpful to set periodic meetings to review my work with my superiors, which kept me on schedule across both units! Also, communicate when you are feeling overwhelmed. It’s better to be honest with a supervisor than take on too much work that you cannot complete to the best of your ability. Finally, working at the IOM will introduce you to so many new topics related to migration policy. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!”
Jeremy Suzuki
Darfur Women Action Group
Jeremy Suzuki (SFS’28) recently completed an internship at the Darfur Women Action Group, an anti-atrocities and humanitarian organization based in Washington, DC, that supports advocacy and aid efforts in Sudan. In his role as outreach and partnership-building intern, Suzuki managed online advocacy, organizational partnerships and speaker events for the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York City and Genocide Awareness Month in Washington, DC.
Internship accomplishments:
“During the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March at the United Nations in New York, I planned and executed a speaker event during the conference to raise awareness of the genocide in Sudan, registering 50+ attendees and high-level attendees from UN Women. Moreover, to bring together and reinvigorate the anti-genocide community in Washington, DC, for Genocide Awareness Month in April, I led planning and coordination for a Genocide Awareness and Prevention speaker event in collaboration with Genocide Watch and No Business with Genocide. The event registered 100+ attendees representing various organizations and the general public.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“Always be responsive and communicate whenever you have questions or need help, knowing that your supervisors and coworkers are always there to support you and help you grow professionally.
Additionally, form a task tracker for yourself so that you don’t forget or lose focus on priority tasks and immediate projects as well as long-term efforts.”
Anita Tun
International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Vienna, Austria
Anita Tun (SFS’27) spent her summer in Vienna, Austria, interning in the United Nation’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). As an intern supporting the labor mobility division, she works on issues related to private sector partnerships, human rights, labor exploitation, remittances and labor migration.
Internship accomplishments:
“During my internship, I took the initiative to pitch an idea for a deliverable to my team, which I then turned into a 10-page report analyzing how technology interacts with the migrant workforce. I also created an AI agent to help the team craft their bimonthly reports, boosting efficiency for this tedious task. Additionally, I reviewed and edited hundreds of pages of reports, helping projects increase their likelihood of receiving funding and approval.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“You can suggest other ideas or projects that you want to do that are not assigned—take initiative!”
Ryan Weierman
International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Vienna, Austria
Ryan Weierman (SFS’28) interned at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Regional Office for Europe/Central Asia in Vienna, Austria. She was a member of the Migrant Protection Unit, which seeks to protect and fulfill the rights of migrants. She supported the Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration program by helping to develop a functional toolkit for case managers navigating vulnerable cases, including gender-based violence, trafficking and unaccompanied/separated children.
Internship accomplishments:
“My favorite accomplishment was editing a 200+ page toolkit for complex case management in the Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration (AVRR) program. The existing toolkit was difficult to navigate and the standard operating procedures and annexes were disorganized. After reorganizing the document, I added functionality to it by developing an AI agent that refers IOM case managers to the appropriate toolkit sections to consult based on their case descriptions. As a result, I helped incorporate responsible AI use that improves workflow efficiency without replacing human discernment and migrant-centered case management.”
Advice for future Pelosi Scholars:
“You will be overwhelmed at first by the institutional practices and platforms, but it will only get easier over time to navigate them. The acronyms will be confusing, but you will learn them and learn the IOM jargon! Also, take advantage of “downtime” in the office to get to know your colleagues. My favorite moments were the chats I had with my coworker, Graciela, about her opinions on Spanish politics, the UN elections, travel, academia, coffee and more.”