Barnard College Barnard College
Beyond Barnard

Liman Fellowship Program

Providing funding and support to Barnard students interested in interning during the summer at organizations that advance the public interest — as well as access to the annual Liman Colloquium at Yale Law School.

 

Meet the 2024 & 2025 Barnard Liman Fellows

Samantha Elkins ‘27 (she/her)

Samantha Elkins is a sophomore at Barnard College from Miami, FL, double-majoring in Political Science and Human Rights. She is on the pre-law track and is excited to explore her passions for law and upholding human rights this summer. As a Liman Fellow, Samantha will intern at Legal Momentum, the nation's first and longest-serving legal advocacy group for women and girls in the United States. Samantha is also a University News reporter for the Columbia Daily Spectator and Co-President of Columbia University’s Amnesty International chapter.

 

Belén González ‘27 (she/her)

Belén González is a member of the class of 2027 who is currently studying History with a concentration in Rights, Law, and the State and minoring in Spanish. She is originally from San Diego, and is passionate about understanding how governmental policies infringe and protect the rights of the most vulnerable, especially in relation to immigration. This summer she will be interning at the Federal Defenders of San Diego, ensuring that legal representation is available to all regardless of one's accusation and social status. She is excited for this unique opportunity which will enable her with the resources to take action to fight against injustice and ensure a more equitable future for all.

 

Nubia Gooding ‘27 (she/her)

Nubia is a sophomore from Princeton, New Jersey pursuing Economics and Social History with a minor in Africana studies. As a Liman fellow, she will be working with Newark Community solutions focusing upon their legal navigation and eviction diversion program. Through her work, she hopes to empower marginalized communities to generate positive change.

 

Ellesandra Taormino ‘26 (she/her)

Ellessandra Taormino is a junior at Barnard pursuing a degree in Political Science. She is passionate about freedom of speech and the press, having previously worked for the National Coalition Against Censorship and USA-TODAY-Florida. She plans to pursue law school after graduation and a future career in 1st Amendment and media law.

Guadalupe Vasquez ‘25

Guadalupe Vasquez is a junior double-majoring in Human Rights & Spanish and Latin American Cultures. She is passionate about immigration justice and plans on pursuing law school to become an immigration attorney. As a Liman Law Fellow, she will intern with Jubilee Immigration Advocates, a San Francisco-based law firm representing the Bay Area’s most vulnerable and marginalized immigrant communities.

 

Ana Victoria Serna ‘25

Ana Victoria  is a senior studying History with a concentration in Rights, Law, and the State. She is deeply interested in the legal intersections of border surveillance, immigration, labor power, and ongoing imperialism. Ana Victoria will work on the Immigration/Special Litigation team at Mobilization for Justice, a NPO that provides free legal services to multi-marginalized New Yorkers.

Esther Park ‘25

Esther Park is a junior at Barnard, studying Political Science and Religion. For the Liman Fellowship, she will be expanding her career in the field of philanthropy by working with the McNulty Foundation as a Summer Associate focusing on Programs and Outreach.

Lanah Wyne ‘25

Lanah is a junior pursuing a major in political science and human rights. As a New York City native, Lanah has been offered many valuable experiences to get involved in her community. She is deeply committed to advancing equal access to justice through legal advocacy.

Emma Kaneira ‘25

Emma Kaneira is an English Literature and Economics double major from Texas. This summer she will be interning at the New York Legal Assistance Group, a non profit in NYC dedicated to providing legal services for low income New Yorkers. Previously she was a Laidlaw Scholar, and worked this past summer at the Unstable Archives research group at the University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to attend law school after graduating from Barnard.

About the Liman Fellowship Program

The 2026 Liman Fellowship Program application is now open and closes on February 6, 2026 at 5pm. Review the Program Guidelines here. Questions about participation in the Liman Fellowship Program can be directed to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.

The Liman Fellowship Program offers funding and support to Barnard students who wish to work at organizations that serve the public interest. Barnard is one of only eight institutions nationwide (the others are Brown University, Bryn Mawr College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Spelman College, Stanford University, and Yale University) where undergraduates are eligible to participate in this program. Liman Fellows spend a summer gaining professional experience that promotes social justice and equity in publicly-funded or nonprofit organizations or agencies. Qualifying work includes law-related services for the public — such as helping those who cannot afford attorneys — as well as social justice advocacy and policy work that supports underserved communities.

Liman Fellows will take part in the Liman Colloquium, held every April at Yale Law School, where they will join students, scholars, and advocates from around the country. Through their involvement with the program and the Colloquium, Fellows become part of a robust network of public interest advocates.

Any student entering their second, third, or fourth year is eligible, regardless of their major. Intention to apply to law school is not required.

The Liman Fellowship Program is funded by the generous support of the Liman Foundation and philanthropic contributors to the Beyond Barnard Internship Program.

Program Details

  • $6,000 stipend; Fellows are eligible for subsidized on-campus housing at Barnard College
  • 8-10 weeks of in-person summer work at a publicly-funded or nonprofit public interest, social service, cultural, or government agency
  • A final report detailing a student's internship experience is due to the Liman Foundation at the end of the summer

Qualifications:

  • Students entering their second, third, or fourth year
  • Interest in public interest services, advocacy, and social justice
  • Commitment to participate in an internship for 8-10 weeks
  • Desire and ability to attend the Liman Colloquium at Yale Law School (participation is required, and costs of attendance are covered by Beyond Barnard)

Note that performing clerical work for a judge, serving as an academic researcher/assistant, or working for any branch of the federal government are not eligible internship experiences. Questions about the program can be addressed to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.

Previous Barnard Participants:

Barnard's Liman Fellows have proceeded to careers at a range of institutions. Information about their Liman Placement is included below:

2025 Fellows:

  • Samantha Elkins ‘27, Legal Momentum

  • Belén González ‘27, Federal Defenders of San Diego

  • Nubia Gooding ‘27, Newark Community Solutions

  • Ellesandra Taormino ‘26, ACLU

  • Gabrielle Fabozzi ‘28

2024 Fellows:

  • Lanah Wyne ‘25, Brooklyn Defenders
  • Emma Kaneira ‘25, New York Legal Assistance Group  
  • Guadalupe Vasquez ‘25, Jubilee Immigration Advocates
  • Ana Victoria Serna ‘25, Damayan
  • Esther Park ‘25, McNulty Foundation 

2023 Fellows:

  • Adeline Larsen ’24,  Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
  • Anusha Merchant '25, Government Accountability Project
  • Dana Molina ’25, The Brave House
  • Lauren Zhou ’24, Chinese-American Planning Council

2022 Fellows:

  • Sharmie Azurel '23, Asian American Bar of New York
  • Victoria Cadostin '23, National Immigration Law Center
  • Renata Happle '24, Earth Law Center
  • Mary Ingram '23, Brooklyn Defender Services

2021 Fellows:

  • Toby Shore '22, Youth Justice Network
  • Natalie Romain '22, Children's Defense Fund
  • Niharika Rao '23, New York Legal Assistance Group
  • Caroline Cole '22, Civil Rights Clinic at Cardozo Law School

2020 Fellows:

  • Rachel Barkin '22, Emerging Adult Justice Project
  • Alexandra Berdon '21, Title IX, Columbia University School of Law
  • Nikita Samtani '21, Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services
  • Julia Tecotzky '21, Center for Appellate Litigation

2019 Fellows:

  • Iga Szlendak '21, The Legal Aid Society
  • Nathalie Kahn '20, New York Supreme Court
  • Samaha Hossain '20, New York Legal Aid Society
  • Anna Sugrue '20, Columbia Law School Clinic on Challenging the Consequences of Mass Incarceration

2018 Fellows:

  • Alida Pitcher-Murray ’19, The Door
  • Rose Reiken ’20, The Children's Law Center
  • Ruth Sherman ’19, Columbia Law School Mass Incarceration Clinic
  • Shreya Sunderram ’19, Legal and Policy Division of  NYC Public Advocate Letitia James’ Office, Civil Rights Investigations and Policy