Congratulations to our brilliant HSS students who dabble in multiple disciplines across our school!
These ambitious students— Gianella Bautista, Leila Garcia Barahona, and Angel Olivares— have secured and are participating in amazing internships within New Jersey’s state government, two with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and one with the New Jersey Governor’s Office. Their accomplishments aren’t one-offs in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, but exemplify the excellence of our students and the quality of education that opens doors for opportunities like these.
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Gianella, an International Studies major with minors in Spanish, Prelaw, and Psychology (Class of ‘27), and Leila, a Political Science major with a minor in Spanish (Class of ‘26) are working as interns at Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s District Office here in Ewing. The internship has provided many new opportunities and experiences for the two students, allowing the two to serve the community that Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman represents and gain insight into how the government functions to serve its citizens.
Both students highlighted how rewarding the experience has been while also being informative, with Leila attesting that “It has been both educational and fulfilling” and Gianella stating that “The experience so far has deepened my appreciation for public service and has further inspired me to engage in work that advocates for others” when asked about their experiences thus far.
Additionally, Angel, a Political Science major with a minor in International Studies (Class of ‘26), has secured an internship in the Governor’s office under the Legislative Affairs Department. The internship has allowed Angel to see behind the curtains of legislative work and how hard the aides in the office work to pass bills. He has also worked with Governor Phil Murphy on the Clemency Project, an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration population and give people a second chance.
On this matter, Angel attests that “[he] truly love[s] this aspect of the work and hope[s] to continue on a similar path in the future.” The importance of such opportunities is especially the case for first-generation students, like Angel, who are historically underrepresented in both higher education and fields such as state and federal government.
May their internships lead to fruitful careers and opportunities in the future and that we see many more of our HSS students secure internships like Gianella, Leila, and Angel!