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Funded Summer Internships
The Helene and Grant Wilson Center's Funded Summer Internship Program was launched in 2009 and funds up to 10 糖心vlog短视频 students in full-time summer internships with New York social enterprises and nonprofit organizations each year.
The goal of the internship is two-fold: To offer experiential learning and income for students interested in careers in the nonprofit/social impact sector, and to offer bright, highly motivated, mentored students in service for nonprofits. Internships must provide hands-on, substantive opportunities for students to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the organization.
Summer 2026 Internships
Eligibility
- Students must be currently enrolled at Pace and graduating from 糖心vlog短视频, December 2026 or later.
- Students across all majors (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible, International students are also encouraged to apply.
- Students should share an interest in human services and/or social enterprise.
- Interns make a 280 hour commitment, working full-time (35hrs/week for 8 weeks), compensated at $20/hour.
How Pace Students Can Apply
Postings of our funded summer internship positions will be published in spring 2026, applications and resume submissions will only be accepted via Handshake search: "Wilson Ctr. Funded". In addition to an updated resume, applicants must submit a thoughtfully written cover letter tailored to suit the internship you are applying for. Please visit to learn more about how to become "resume-ready" on Handshake and read about our recent cohort of 2025 summer interns, below.
During Summer 2025, the Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship funded 10 internships at NYC metro area social enterprises and innovative nonprofits:
Xavier Allen '26
Environmental Educator, Hudson River Park Trust
BS in Information Systems, Seidenberg School of CSIS
Xavier, a senior at 糖心vlog短视频糖心vlog短视频檚 Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems pursuing a bachelor糖心vlog短视频檚 degree in Information Systems, spent his summer interning with Hudson River Park Trust as an Environmental Educator Intern. With a strong passion for the environment, Xavier brought his background in both technology and environmental studies to one of New York City糖心vlog短视频檚 most dynamic urban parks.
Xavier糖心vlog短视频檚 days varied widely糖心vlog短视频攆rom leading inquiry-based programs like Nature Explorers and Shoreline Ecology for school groups, to engaging the public in Big City Fishing and Discovery Tank demonstrations. He also developed an interactive 糖心vlog短视频渘ature station糖心vlog短视频 for Pier 51, focused on water quality, where children learned about brackish water, salinity, and river ecology through matching games and hands-on experiments. These experiences highlighted his ability to connect with young learners and reinforced his interest in combining education, data, and technology in service of environmental research.
Rachel Swanson, his supervisor at Hudson River Park Trust, praised Xavier糖心vlog短视频檚 糖心vlog短视频減ositive can-do attitude,糖心vlog短视频 noting that he consistently volunteered to take on new challenges and brought an energetic, engaging presence to both education and science tasks. She described him as 糖心vlog短视频渁 natural糖心vlog短视频 when working with children and commended his receptiveness to feedback and eagerness to learn, especially in areas like classroom management and tailoring lessons to different age groups. His initiative, reliability, and collaborative spirit made him a valuable addition to the seasonal education team.
Through this internship, Xavier gained confidence in public speaking, professional communication, and curriculum development. Supported by extensive training and mentorship, he stepped into leadership roles and discovered new career possibilities at the intersection of environmental stewardship, research, and technology policy. He credits this experience with not only affirming his academic path but also broadening his vision for future opportunities in law, technology, and environmental advocacy.
Amanda-Francesca Bordei '27
Government & Community Relations Intern, Port Authority of NY & NJ
BA in Political Science, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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Amanda, an undergraduate student in 糖心vlog短视频糖心vlog短视频檚 Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, spent her summer interning with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey as their Government and Community Relations Intern. Marking our program糖心vlog短视频檚 first placement at this dynamic government agency, this exciting internship provided Amanda with a plethora of experience and opportunity. Working under the guidance of her supervisor, Ophelia, Amanda contributed to key projects that supported the agency糖心vlog短视频檚 outreach, communications, and intergovernmental affairs efforts.
Among her projects, Amanda created an automated Microsoft Forms tool to track interactions with elected officials, helped organize major public events such as the JFK Airport Poster Contest and the ADA 35th Anniversary celebration and developed a government and community relations 糖心vlog短视频渟wag kit糖心vlog短视频 to support Port Authority糖心vlog短视频檚 presence at community engagement opportunities and events. Amanda also collaborated on the proposal of an innovative intern-led project that will harness the power of AI. By centralizing access to information across agencies, chatbots can be used to improve and streamline internal and public-facing communications.
Amanda糖心vlog短视频檚 internship experience was further enriched by facility tours and on-site assessments across Port Authority糖心vlog短视频檚 airports and facilities, providing her with a comprehensive view of the agency糖心vlog短视频檚 operations. She credits the support and mentorship she received糖心vlog短视频攑articularly from her supervisor糖心vlog短视频攚ith helping her refine her career path, which now includes a strong interest in law, public policy, and government service. Amanda糖心vlog短视频檚 time at the Port Authority deepened her understanding of community-centered work and public infrastructure, and she has been offered to stay on in her role at the organization for the remainder of the summer beyond her internship commitment.
Rajni Jaiswal '25
Summer Program Assistant, Trust for Public Land
MPA, Government Track, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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This summer, Rajni Jaiswal, a Master of Public Administration student at 糖心vlog短视频糖心vlog短视频檚 Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, served as a Program Assistant Intern with the Trust for Public Land糖心vlog短视频檚 Community Schoolyard Program. Dedicated to transforming under-resourced schoolyards into vibrant public spaces, the program has revitalized hundreds of sites across New York City.
Rajni糖心vlog短视频檚 internship blended research, fieldwork, and team collaboration. She updated and verified TPL糖心vlog短视频檚 database of potential playground sites, researching jointly operated parks and Department of Education properties to identify and prioritize locations for future renovations. Using Google Maps analysis and TPL糖心vlog短视频檚 糖心vlog短视频渃omposite need糖心vlog短视频 scoring system, she produced data-driven recommendations that directly informed the team糖心vlog短视频檚 strategic planning.
In the field, Rajni visited sites across all five boroughs, documenting current conditions and meeting with community stakeholders. She also worked closely with her colleagues to execute numerous stewardship activities糖心vlog短视频攎ulching, weeding, and tending to gardens and green infrastructure. This experience deepened her understanding of how TPL糖心vlog短视频檚 programs engage with communities to maintain and enhance public spaces.
Her supervisors praised her professionalism, initiative, and adaptability, noting her willingness to take on unfamiliar assignments and her receptiveness to feedback. A highlight of her summer was completing a review of 16 jointly operated playgrounds, creating detailed site descriptions that became a key input for TPL糖心vlog短视频檚 strategic plan. Rajni valued TPL糖心vlog短视频檚 collaborative culture, where senior leaders worked shoulder-to-shoulder with field staff. Coming from a more hierarchical work environment in India, she appreciated the inclusiveness and shared commitment of her team and their willingness to serve the public. Rajni leaves the internship with sharpened GIS and Excel skills, an expanded network, and a deeper appreciation for the intersection of urban planning, public policy, and community engagement糖心vlog短视频攊nsights she plans to carry into her career in the nonprofit and government sectors.
Chloe Hammill '28
Public Programs & Communications Intern, Printed Matter, Inc.
BA in Women糖心vlog短视频檚 & Gender Studies and Peace & Justice Studies, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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Chlo茅, a Women糖心vlog短视频檚 and Gender Studies major at 糖心vlog短视频 planning to double major in Peace and Justice Studies, spent her summer interning with Printed Matter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the dissemination and appreciation of artists糖心vlog短视频 books and publications. As part of the Programming team, Chlo茅 contributed to a variety of projects supporting upcoming exhibitions, events, and community engagement efforts, including an exhibition focused on the gay rights movement in New York and Argentina.
Throughout the internship, Chlo茅 conducted outreach and archival research, drafted content for public-facing materials, assisted with communications to supporters and media outlets, and helped maintain the organization糖心vlog短视频檚 website and event listings. Her background in computer science proved especially valuable as she supported technical projects and streamlined internal systems, including organizing press contacts and optimizing spreadsheets used for mass communications. The open-office environment provided opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration, which Chlo茅 embraced. Weekly staff meetings also allowed her to share updates and develop confidence in a professional setting. This experience solidified Chlo茅糖心vlog短视频檚 interest in mission-driven work at the intersection of publishing, culture, and social justice, affirming both her academic focus and future career direction.
Madeline Hecht '27
Summer Program Associate, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
BA in Communications & Media Studies, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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Madeline, a Dyson College of Arts and Sciences student pursuing a degree in Journalism, spent her summer interning at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) as their Summer Associate. NFTE is a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people from under-resourced communities with the skills and mindset to succeed in business and in life. Working closely with her supervisors, Madeline contributed to both the daily operations of NFTE糖心vlog短视频檚 summer BizCamps and to larger storytelling projects that highlighted the impact of the program.
Among her responsibilities, Madeline supported the smooth operation of NFTE糖心vlog短视频檚 Bizcamps including the behind the scenes logistics necessary for a successful outcome. She helped manage scheduling, identifying supplies and classroom activities, while also assisting with the coordination of a culminating business pitch competition. She played a key role in ensuring that student voices were heard, even designing voting forms that allowed peers and teachers to fairly evaluate business plans. Additionally, Madeline embraced her journalistic background by interviewing finalists from NFTE糖心vlog短视频檚 Mid-Atlantic competition, transcribing and shaping their stories into one-page profiles to be shared with the organization糖心vlog短视频檚 national audience.
Beyond these projects, Madeline participated in team meetings and connected with NFTE糖心vlog短视频檚 development and communications staff, including the Director of National Communications, who shared valuable professional insights and industry contacts. These experiences not only gave Madeline exposure to the inner workings of a national nonprofit but also affirmed her interest in journalism by allowing her to apply her interviewing, writing, and editing skills in a real-world context. Madeline describes her internship as transformative, offering clarity about her professional path while deepening her appreciation for the power of education and entrepreneurship to change lives. She credits her supervisors for designing projects that were both meaningful to her and impactful for NFTE, and she leaves the experience with stronger communication skills, confidence in her professional writing, and a renewed passion for nonprofit storytelling.
Brandon Mejia '27
BioBus Junior Scientist: Research and Teaching, BioBus Inc.
BA in Political Science, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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This summer, Brandon, a first-generation Political Science major at 糖心vlog短视频糖心vlog短视频檚 Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, served as a Junior Scientist: Research and Teaching Intern with BioBus, a nonprofit that inspires and empowers students糖心vlog短视频攑articularly those historically excluded from science糖心vlog短视频攖o discover, explore, and pursue scientific careers.
As a Junior Scientist, Elian co-led a team of high school mentees in designing and executing an original research project on Rain Gardens糖心vlog短视频攇reen infrastructure that helps prevent flooding and improve water quality. After consulting with BioBus community partners, Elian and his co-mentor, along with their team of mentees, developed the project from the ground up, researching soil compositions, mapping rain garden locations in NYC, and constructing small-scale experimental gardens to test water absorption rates. They also created a public survey to assess community awareness of rain gardens糖心vlog短视频 benefits.
Elian糖心vlog短视频檚 role went far beyond technical research, through his internship he devoted time to mentoring high school interns, guiding them through experimental design, fieldwork, and presentation preparation糖心vlog短视频攁ll in English, his second language. His supervisors noted remarkable growth in his confidence, communication, and leadership, particularly in navigating professional interactions in English and taking initiative in group settings. He also surprised his peers with his practical skills糖心vlog短视频攗sing power tools to help the team construct the rain gardens糖心vlog短视频攅arning admiration from both interns and staff.
According to BioBus, college interns like Elian play a pivotal 糖心vlog短视频渢each-the-teacher糖心vlog短视频 role, amplifying the organization糖心vlog短视频檚 impact by enabling a small staff to engage nearly two dozen high school students in authentic research each summer. For Elian, this internship experience has greatly informed his future career path while deepening his understanding of environmental issues, community-based problem solving, and the power of mentorship.
Jillian Perticone '26
Teaching Intern, GO Project
BA in Political Science / MPA in Public Administration, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
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Jillian, a Dyson College of Arts and Sciences student pursuing a combined degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration, spent her summer interning as a Teaching Intern with Go Project, an education-focused nonprofit that provides academic enrichment and social-emotional support to students in New York City. Her placement gave her a unique perspective on nonprofit operations and programming, blending classroom instruction with organizational management.
Jillian糖心vlog短视频檚 responsibilities evolved over the course of the summer, beginning with clerical and organizational work as the Go Project transitioned its internal systems. She later took on more direct student engagement as the Teaching Assistant for a third-grade classroom, where she supported literacy, math, and enrichment activities throughout the day. She also led the 糖心vlog短视频淵oung Inventors糖心vlog短视频 program, guiding students through hands-on projects like building and testing bridges, combining STEM learning with creativity and problem solving.
Beyond her teaching role, the internship provided Jillian with valuable professional insights. While she enjoyed the classroom environment, her experience clarified her long-term goal of focusing on nonprofit management and organizational leadership rather than direct instruction. She credits the mentorship and support she received from her supervisors and colleagues with affirming her skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication, while also reinforcing the value of adaptability in a fast-paced nonprofit setting.
For Jillian, the internship was not only an opportunity to apply what she has studied in the classroom but also a chance to see firsthand how nonprofits operate and make an impact at the community level. She describes her experience at Go Project as both affirming and transformative, providing clarity about her future career path in nonprofit management and public service.
Arvind Raghunathan 糖心vlog短视频25
Research Associate Technician, Billion Oyster Project
MS in Accounting, Lubin School of Business
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Arvind, a first-year graduate student at the Lubin School of Business pursuing his master糖心vlog短视频檚 degree in Accounting, spent his summer interning with the Billion Oyster Project (BOP) as their Finance & Administration Research Associate Technician. BOP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor through environmental education, public engagement, and hands-on conservation efforts.
Throughout his internship, Arvind contributed meaningfully to the organization糖心vlog短视频檚 Finance and Operations team, supporting office management, event preparation, and executing numerous internal financial processes. His responsibilities also included managing ferry reservations for corporate groups, camps and external partners coming to work with Billion Oyster Project on Governor糖心vlog短视频檚 Island. Additionally, he assisted with public-facing events like City of Water Day and the organization糖心vlog短视频檚 open exhibit space at Pier 101 supporting public education efforts. Agata, his supervisor, praised his professionalism, initiative, and willingness to step up in fast-paced, high-pressure moments糖心vlog短视频攈ighlighting his ability to problem-solve independently.
Arvind demonstrated exceptional growth over the course of his internship, growing more confident, proactive, and collaborative. He was recognized for his strong communication skills, reliable follow-through, and positive energy that contributed to the team culture. His final research project, which compared the economic value of oyster filtration to traditional water filtration systems, reflected his ability to merge data-driven analysis with environmental impact. The internship helped Arvind refine his career goals, inspiring him to pursue future finance roles at mission-driven organizations with a greater social and environmental impact. His experience at BOP left him feeling more empowered and deeply connected to the broader mission of sustainability and equity.
Pranav Vignesh Prakash '26
Digital Media and Marketing Intern, Hudson River Park Friends
MS in Social Media & Mobile Marketing, Lubin School of Business
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Pranav, a first-year graduate student at the Lubin School of Business pursuing his master糖心vlog短视频檚 degree in Social Media and Mobile Marketing, spent the summer interning with Hudson River Park Trust as their Digital Media and Marketing Intern. Hudson River Park is a dynamic public space and environmental sanctuary spanning over 5 miles that provides recreation, education, and conservation along Manhattan糖心vlog短视频檚 Hudson River waterfront to New York City residents and visitors, alike.
Throughout his internship, Pranav worked closely with his supervisor, Julie, to produce digital content aligned with the park糖心vlog短视频檚 ecological and brand awareness goals. She praised his adaptability, the high polish of his deliverables, and his ability to ideate and revise content to meet the brand糖心vlog短视频檚 tone and audience. Among his projects, his proudest accomplishment was developing a series of social media reels for 糖心vlog短视频淐rab Week,糖心vlog短视频 a campaign designed to raise awareness about endangered crab species and promote the park糖心vlog短视频檚 environmental mission. His supervisor noted Pranav糖心vlog短视频檚 work on this project and described him as a integral colleague whose contribution significantly elevated the team糖心vlog短视频檚 output. Through this internship opportunity, Pranav strengthened his video production, editing, and marketing skills using platforms like Premiere Pro, CapCut, and Photoshop, and credits the experience with reaffirming his career goal to pursue a career in digital and social marketing. His time at the Park deepened his appreciation for the role public green spaces play in both environmental and community health, and he concluded his internship more confident, capable, and inspired.
Zillah Tafirenyika 糖心vlog短视频25
Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Center for Employment Opportunities
MBA in Business Analytics, Lubin School of Business
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Zillah, a graduate student with a background in Human Resources and Business Analytics, spent her summer interning at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator. CEO is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing employment services to individuals who have recently returned home from incarceration, fostering economic mobility and community reintegration.
Throughout her internship, Zillah gained hands-on experience in the recruitment and hiring process, supporting every stage of candidate engagement糖心vlog短视频攆rom application review to phone screenings and interview coordination. Working closely with hiring managers and recruiters across departments, she utilized the applicant tracking system Greenhouse to manage workflows and ensure a seamless hiring process. Zillah quickly transitioned from training and shadowing to independently managing responsibilities, including conducting candidate outreach, scheduling, and administering mass hiring events.
Zillah credits this internship with deepening her understanding of the nonprofit sector, particularly the importance of mission alignment in hiring practices. Her supervisor praised her initiative, professionalism, and strong communication skills, especially as she began to work independently and provide coverage for multiple team members. Zillah also found the experience valuable in reaffirming her passion for service-oriented work and in preparing her for her future goals, including launching her own nonprofit. She emerged from the experience more confident, organized, and empowered糖心vlog短视频攔eady to lead with purpose and compassion.
Past Summer Funded Internships
- 2020 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2019 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2018 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2017 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2016 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2015 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2014 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2013 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2012 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2011 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2010 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)
- 2009 Summer Funded Internships (PDF)