Federal Service Student Ambassadors
Class of 2008-2009
Nia Austin
Nia was raised in Newark, Delaware, and currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a junior at Carnegie Mellon University where she studies Cognitive Science with a minor in Computer Science. As a student co-op for the federal government this summer, she worked on an artificial intelligence project based on computer science and linguistics. Her favorite part of the experience was networking and learning about other projects and opportunities. As a Federal Service Student Ambassador she seeks to present public service as a viable alternative to the private sector in order to attract the outstanding students at Carnegie Mellon.
Nadia Bruce
Nadia’s interest in law enforcement and forensic toxicology led her to enroll in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, of the City University of New York. Determined to find a career that incorporates all of her interests, Nadia knows that the United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) is where she wants to be upon graduation in May 2009. She was excited to come to Washington D.C. this summer to work at the FDA, researching and updating toxicological information on regulated substances added to food, for the Priority-Based Assessment of Food Additives database. As a Federal Service Student Ambassador, Nadia hopes to demystify some of the perceptions her peers have about working for the Federal Government and open their eyes to the limitless possibilities within government.
Nick Campisano
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Nick Campisano is currently a senior at Duke University and enrolled in the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. This summer, Nick served as a research assistant at the Federal Communications Commission. He worked in Commissioner Robert McDowell’s office alongside the Commissioner’s three legal advisors. Nick’s work included covering telecommunications hearings, writing comment summaries, drafting speeches, organizing arguments and researching initial issues. His projects covered topics such as the XM and Sirius Satellite Radio merger, early termination fees for cell phones and net neutrality. As a Federal Service Student Ambassador, Nick is excited to tell others of his educational summer and energize them to experience similar opportunities. He looks forward to the challenges associated with being an Ambassador.
Jeremy Cluchey
Raised in Maine, Jeremy is a second-year Masters of Public Policy student at the Terry Sanford Institute at Duke University. In the summer of 2008, he interned with the Physical Infrastructure team at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), where he audited the efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service’s delivery systems. Jeremy looks forward to being a Federal Service Student Ambassador to spread the word about the valuable opportunities for young people in the federal government.
Matt Joseph
Matt attends Middlebury College as a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in U.S. History. Matt interned at the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service this summer. He reviewed agency casework activity to draft mandated Congressional notification letters. In addition, he researched and briefed the agency’s Operations Management Team regarding the national media and possible agency casework, and was deployed to assist agency conciliators during a jurisdictional protest march and rally. Matt drafted the agency’s National Assessment of Racial Tension, enjoying the opportunity to work on actual policy and play a role in how our country addresses racial conflicts. The internship allowed him to use his writing, research and communication skills to work on substantive projects, demonstrating to him the importance of public service and the personal reward one receives from making a difference. As an Ambassador, Matt hopes to provide a starting point for his fellow students and college administration in moving toward revitalizing government service by encouraging the best and brightest to serve.
Mischere Kawas
Mischere is a third-year student at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C. After serving in the U.S. Peace Corps and interning at the Department of Justice, Mischere decided to pursue an internship at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the summer of 2008. At DHS, Mischere worked in the Human Rights Law Division (HRLD), which is part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During her internship with HRLD, she worked with attorneys at ICE headquarters and in the field to effect the removal of human rights persecutors seeking refuge in the U.S. Mischere most enjoyed the opportunity to do substantive work on landmark cases and to assist DHS attorneys in their day-to-day tasks. She is looking forward to increasing awareness about opportunities in the federal government for attorneys and getting her fellow students excited about federal government work.
Kathryn Lafferty-Hernandez
Kathryn is a third-year student at the University of California at Berkeley majoring in International Political Economy. She is originally from Orange County, California, where she first became interested in public service while volunteering at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. In the summer of 2008, she was part of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Internship program working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Foreign Agricultural Service. As part of the Western Hemisphere division, Kathryn worked as an International Trade Assistant gathering media releases from various posts throughout Latin and South America. She also assisted with translations and developing a strategic plan for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in order to improve trade relations. Kathryn is excited to be an Ambassador this year and hopes to spread the word about the many wonderful opportunities available to students and recent graduates in the federal government.
Jorge Luna
Jorge was born in Valparaiso, Chile, and raised in New York City. He received his AB from Dartmouth College, with a dual major in Bio-Genetics/Development and Spanish. Having completed his MPH at Columbia University, with a focus in Health Policy and Management, he is currently enrolled at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in a doctoral program for Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Jorge moonlights as a coordinator for an international stroke-prevention clinical study evaluating the predictive value of blood biomarkers. This summer, he interned at the National Cancer Institute/NIH at the Center for Cancer Research, conducting a national study evaluating the administrative costs associated with health insurance processing for Oncology-Hematology private practices. His future goals include medical school and service at the Epidemiologic Intelligence Service at the Center for Disease Control.
Kate McNulty
Kate is originally from Des Moines, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa where she studied Political Science, International Studies and History. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. In the summer of 2008, she interned with the Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Working as an International Trade Affairs Assistant, Kate’s projects included a study on trade in genetic resources and the tracking of current initiations on the Codex Alimentations. Kate thoroughly enjoyed the level of responsibility and independence assigned in this position. She hopes, as an Ambassador, to introduce students to the rewarding nature of working within the federal government.
Elan Mitchell
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Elan is completing her undergraduate studies at Spelman College. She is a rising senior majoring in International Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies. In the summer of 2008, she interned with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. Working with the Green Building Workgroup, she primarily focused on Executive Order 13423, studying high-performance buildings and ways to make federal facilities sustainable. She enjoyed meeting with several federal agencies about their green buildings and hearing about their long-term goals for sustainable buildings in the 21st century. Elan looks forward to being a Federal Service Student Ambassador to share her experience with students around campus and provide them with the resources to find their niche in the federal government.
Erin Motley
Erin is a senior at North Carolina State University, majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Business Management and a minor in Spanish. A third-year intern with the Department of Energy, Erin worked this summer with the National Nuclear Security Administration as well as Policy and International Affairs in Africa and Middle East. She gained practical work experience by attending meetings with other agencies, ambassadors and Prime Ministers. Erin most enjoyed networking and spreading the word about the numerous ways in which young professionals can serve their country. Becoming a Federal Service Student Ambassador will allow her to expand knowledge of opportunities and help other students find their way to a job in the federal government.
Emily Norris
Emily grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, and is currently a senior at Princeton University studying at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs with a certificate in Near Eastern Studies. She interned in Washington, D.C., this summer, analyzing, assessing and formulating policy related to strategic communication and countering ideological support to terrorism. She enjoyed working with people who were passionate about their work and appreciated the opportunities afforded her to meet specialists in many fields. She looks forward to being an Ambassador because she believes that her peers want to have a positive impact in the world when they graduate, and that facilitating their access to information about opportunities in federal service presents a chance to connect passionate, educated students to agencies where they can make a difference.
Renee Michelle Ragin
A native of New York City, Renee is a junior at Harvard University with a concentration in History and Literature. She spent this summer in Washington, D.C., at the Department of State as the acting desk officer for four Caribbean countries. Renee has developed a profound appreciation for the variety of career opportunities the State Department offers, both domestically and internationally. As a Federal Service Student Ambassador, Renee seeks to inspire her peers to find and pursue similar opportunities in the federal government.
Dana Svendsen
Dana is from North Andover, Massachusetts, and will graduate in the spring of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University. This summer she interned with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and served as an engineering technician for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Compliance and Engineering Branches. At FERC, Dana was immersed in a “high-energy” environment where she had the opportunity to assist in design reviews of the LNG facilities. She was also able to attend an inspection at one of these facilities currently expanding its capacity for LNG. This was undoubtedly the most enjoyable part of her internship because she experienced hands-on the logistics and engineering behind LNG facilities. Dana is excited to be an Ambassador because she loves sharing what she is passionate about with others. She hopes to inform fellow students about the great opportunities working for the federal government and helping them get the jobs they want and deserve.
Daniel Tavana
Born and raised in New Jersey, Daniel is a senior attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies International Relations and Political Science. This summer, Daniel worked for the Department of Defense. As a Federal Service Student Ambassador, Daniel wants to raise awareness of public service and encourage his peers to make a difference.