Tow Foundation Public Service Interns
The Tow Foundation Public Service Interns Program concluded in 2024. We are grateful to the Tow Foundation for their many years of support, and for their inspiration of philanthropic contributors who will allow the College to continue to support public service and advocacy internships
Students pursuing public service-related internships are invited to consider the Liman Fellowship Program, Zwas Community Impact Interns or Beyond Barnard Internship Program to see if their internship qualifies.
Students can also add their name here to receive updates about these and other Summer 2025 programs.
About the Tow Foundation Public Service Interns
Until 2024, the Tow Foundation provided support for internships in public service; and hundreds of Barnard students have served as Public Service Interns with the Tow Foundation's support. Tow Foundation Public Service Interns worked everywhere from New York City Council to offices in the US House of Representatives and Senate, PEN America, Bronx Defenders, The Children's Law Center, and many in between. Internships took place in government, nonprofits, NGOs, and an array of other organizations.
Meet the 2024 Tow Public Service Interns
Molly Alexander '25
Molly Alexander is a rising senior at Barnard College majoring in English and Human Rights. She will be graduating in 2025 and hopes to get a masters in Human Rights followed by a law degree. Her goal is to be a human rights lawyer and to advocate for those in need. She will be working in refugee resettlement with Catholic Charities Community Services NY.
Nicole Chang '25
Nicole Chang, originally from Brazil and Taiwan, is a Human Rights - Education major with a keen interest in international affairs. Nicole spent her summer working with The Tibet Fund, a non-profit organization committed to safeguarding and advancing Tibetan culture while enhancing the well-being of Tibetan communities across South Asia.
Tali Beckwith-Cohen '25
Tali Beckwith-Cohen is a history major and a coordinator with the Columbia Housing Equity Project. This summer, she will be interning at Broadway Community Inc, a homeless stabilization shelter in Morningside Heights.
Mahabuba Masud '26
Mahabuba Masud is passionate about pursuing public service work at the intersection of public health and advocacy. In her Tow Foundation Public Service Internship, she will work on projects related to healthcare policy and provide constituent services to the people of New York at the Office of United States Senator Gillibrand.
Sheza Sheikh '27
Sheza Sheikh is a first-year majoring in political science with a minor in human rights on the pre-law track. She is interested in family and immigration law, interning at The Bronx Defenders within their Family Defense Practice during the summer.
Sydney Johnson '25
Sydney Johnson is a rising senior majoring in Anthropology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. This summer, she will serve as a Communications Intern at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s first HIV/AIDS service organization.
Rose O'Brien '25
Rose O'Brien is a student at Barnard College planning to graduate in 2025 with a major in Urban Studies with a Political Science Specialization. As part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Internship Program, Rose will be working with Sanctuary for Families to help survivors of gender violence gain legal support. Following graduation, Rose is interested in pursuing law school to continue work in the field of public interest law.
Amanda Cassel '25
Amanda Cassel is a rising senior interested in the environment and land use regulation. This summer, Amanda will be interning at Preservation of Affordable Housing within the legal department. POAH produces essential services such as housing, access to schooling and public transportation, and community-rooted resources that promote economic mobility.
Elise Penn '26
Elise Penn is an Economics major with a concentration in Human Rights. This summer, Elise is thrilled to join the Education Law Advocacy Project at SMRLS, where she’ll support the Project's mission of empowering families and ensuring that every child has access to equal educational opportunities.
Julia Rose French '26
Julia Rose French is a sophomore at Barnard studying Political Science and minoring in Spanish and Economics. This summer she will be interning at Congressman Adriano Espaillat's office (District 13) in Harlem, New York.
Kelsey Wu '27
Kelsey Wu is hoping to pursue a major in history or sociology on the pre-law track. Kelsey is excited to be a part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Interns 2024 cohort and is honored to receive the assistance of this program for her summer internship this year with the Beyond Earth Institute where she will be conducting research within the field of space policy.
Samantha Obel ‘26
Samantha Obel is majoring in political science with a minor in science and public policy. This summer, she is interning for the League of Women Voters Illinois, working specifically with Voter Services. She will also be helping out with Vote411, a "'one-stop-shop' for election related information."
Molly Alexander '25
Molly Alexander is a rising senior at Barnard College majoring in English and Human Rights. She will be graduating in 2025 and hopes to get a masters in Human Rights followed by a law degree. Her goal is to be a human rights lawyer and to advocate for those in need. She will be working in refugee resettlement with Catholic Charities Community Services NY.
Nicole Chang '25
Nicole Chang, originally from Brazil and Taiwan, is a Human Rights - Education major with a keen interest in international affairs. Nicole spent her summer working with The Tibet Fund, a non-profit organization committed to safeguarding and advancing Tibetan culture while enhancing the well-being of Tibetan communities across South Asia.
Tali Beckwith-Cohen '25
Tali Beckwith-Cohen is a history major and a coordinator with the Columbia Housing Equity Project. This summer, she will be interning at Broadway Community Inc, a homeless stabilization shelter in Morningside Heights.
Mahabuba Masud '26
Mahabuba Masud is passionate about pursuing public service work at the intersection of public health and advocacy. In her Tow Foundation Public Service Internship, she will work on projects related to healthcare policy and provide constituent services to the people of New York at the Office of United States Senator Gillibrand.
Sheza Sheikh '27
Sheza Sheikh is a first-year majoring in political science with a minor in human rights on the pre-law track. She is interested in family and immigration law, interning at The Bronx Defenders within their Family Defense Practice during the summer.
Sydney Johnson '25
Sydney Johnson is a rising senior majoring in Anthropology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. This summer, she will serve as a Communications Intern at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s first HIV/AIDS service organization.
Rose O'Brien '25
Rose O'Brien is a student at Barnard College planning to graduate in 2025 with a major in Urban Studies with a Political Science Specialization. As part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Internship Program, Rose will be working with Sanctuary for Families to help survivors of gender violence gain legal support. Following graduation, Rose is interested in pursuing law school to continue work in the field of public interest law.
Amanda Cassel '25
Amanda Cassel is a rising senior interested in the environment and land use regulation. This summer, Amanda will be interning at Preservation of Affordable Housing within the legal department. POAH produces essential services such as housing, access to schooling and public transportation, and community-rooted resources that promote economic mobility.
Elise Penn '26
Elise Penn is an Economics major with a concentration in Human Rights. This summer, Elise is thrilled to join the Education Law Advocacy Project at SMRLS, where she’ll support the Project's mission of empowering families and ensuring that every child has access to equal educational opportunities.
Julia Rose French '26
Julia Rose French is a sophomore at Barnard studying Political Science and minoring in Spanish and Economics. This summer she will be interning at Congressman Adriano Espaillat's office (District 13) in Harlem, New York.
Kelsey Wu '27
Kelsey Wu is hoping to pursue a major in history or sociology on the pre-law track. Kelsey is excited to be a part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Interns 2024 cohort and is honored to receive the assistance of this program for her summer internship this year with the Beyond Earth Institute where she will be conducting research within the field of space policy.
Samantha Obel ‘26
Samantha Obel is majoring in political science with a minor in science and public policy. This summer, she is interning for the League of Women Voters Illinois, working specifically with Voter Services. She will also be helping out with Vote411, a "'one-stop-shop' for election related information."
Molly Alexander '25
Molly Alexander is a rising senior at Barnard College majoring in English and Human Rights. She will be graduating in 2025 and hopes to get a masters in Human Rights followed by a law degree. Her goal is to be a human rights lawyer and to advocate for those in need. She will be working in refugee resettlement with Catholic Charities Community Services NY.
Nicole Chang '25
Nicole Chang, originally from Brazil and Taiwan, is a Human Rights - Education major with a keen interest in international affairs. Nicole spent her summer working with The Tibet Fund, a non-profit organization committed to safeguarding and advancing Tibetan culture while enhancing the well-being of Tibetan communities across South Asia.
Tali Beckwith-Cohen '25
Tali Beckwith-Cohen is a history major and a coordinator with the Columbia Housing Equity Project. This summer, she will be interning at Broadway Community Inc, a homeless stabilization shelter in Morningside Heights.
Mahabuba Masud '26
Mahabuba Masud is passionate about pursuing public service work at the intersection of public health and advocacy. In her Tow Foundation Public Service Internship, she will work on projects related to healthcare policy and provide constituent services to the people of New York at the Office of United States Senator Gillibrand.
Sheza Sheikh '27
Sheza Sheikh is a first-year majoring in political science with a minor in human rights on the pre-law track. She is interested in family and immigration law, interning at The Bronx Defenders within their Family Defense Practice during the summer.
Sydney Johnson '25
Sydney Johnson is a rising senior majoring in Anthropology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. This summer, she will serve as a Communications Intern at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s first HIV/AIDS service organization.
Rose O'Brien '25
Rose O'Brien is a student at Barnard College planning to graduate in 2025 with a major in Urban Studies with a Political Science Specialization. As part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Internship Program, Rose will be working with Sanctuary for Families to help survivors of gender violence gain legal support. Following graduation, Rose is interested in pursuing law school to continue work in the field of public interest law.
Amanda Cassel '25
Amanda Cassel is a rising senior interested in the environment and land use regulation. This summer, Amanda will be interning at Preservation of Affordable Housing within the legal department. POAH produces essential services such as housing, access to schooling and public transportation, and community-rooted resources that promote economic mobility.
Elise Penn '26
Elise Penn is an Economics major with a concentration in Human Rights. This summer, Elise is thrilled to join the Education Law Advocacy Project at SMRLS, where she’ll support the Project's mission of empowering families and ensuring that every child has access to equal educational opportunities.
Julia Rose French '26
Julia Rose French is a sophomore at Barnard studying Political Science and minoring in Spanish and Economics. This summer she will be interning at Congressman Adriano Espaillat's office (District 13) in Harlem, New York.
Kelsey Wu '27
Kelsey Wu is hoping to pursue a major in history or sociology on the pre-law track. Kelsey is excited to be a part of the Tow Foundation Public Service Interns 2024 cohort and is honored to receive the assistance of this program for her summer internship this year with the Beyond Earth Institute where she will be conducting research within the field of space policy.
Samantha Obel ‘26
Samantha Obel is majoring in political science with a minor in science and public policy. This summer, she is interning for the League of Women Voters Illinois, working specifically with Voter Services. She will also be helping out with Vote411, a "'one-stop-shop' for election related information."