Pardee School Students Share “Life-Changing” Summer Internships Supported by Corgan Fund
Written by Tin Yan (Charlotte) Cheung, PAR ’27, BA in International Relations and Economics.
The Michael T. Corgan Internship Fund was established in 2021 to award selected Pardee students a stipend for an otherwise unpaid summer internship. The Fund supports internships in the field of international affairs to prepare them for future careers in the field and build skills at globally recognized institutions. This year’s funding opened the gateway for six students to apprentice in a wide breadth of organizations, ranging from agricultural technology start-ups to diplomatic offices. Each student reflected on their new experiences, connections, and appreciation for these opportunities that were made possible by the generous alumni support of the Corgan Fund over the last several years.
Jacob Rivelli (MAIA ‘26) gained first-hand experience in what it means to build economic inclusion for the developing world from the ground up. Interning as a U.S. fellow for the partnerships team at Hello Tractor, an agricultural company focused on supporting farmers in Africa, Jacob worked on business development and cultivating fundraising opportunities with global development agencies and aid organizations. He observed meetings, developed project ideas, drafted concept notes, and wrote grant proposals. This proved to be an invaluable experience as he developed crucial skills in the operations of the grant writing process, stakeholder engagement, and bringing his training in international affairs into working with private-sector enterprises.
Another intern pursuing opportunities in private-public partnerships was Breah Lyon (MGP ‘25), who strengthened her experience in social impact at Equal Innovation by sourcing potential partners for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York City. Her contributions connected startups aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with investors, corporations, philanthropy, and government. Pitching and leading a project to bridge relationships between consular partners in Boston and innovation centers in Denmark, Japan, and Canada, Breah enhanced the organization’s founder network and foreign governmental connections. Breah says that the experience taught her how “innovation involves not only thinking about entrepreneurship, technology, and the value of effective creation, but more importantly about re-thinking systems and the status-quo of our world.” Expanding her approach to global policy strengthened her career endeavor to advance the innovation agenda for international development.
The Corgan Fund also unlocked opportunities for students to occupy direct roles in strengthening research efforts and streamlining stakeholder alignment within diplomatic offices and embassies. Amy Desiata (PAR ‘27) interned at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C. She produced media briefs on Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. foreign policy updates on a daily basis. Her impact was significant: the reports were sent to diplomats throughout the Embassy including the Ambassador herself and the King’s Office in Jordan. Helping plan and organize Embassy functions, create social media content, and support the embassy team with other administrative duties, Desiata says, “this internship gave me insight into how diplomacy operates behind the scenes. I was immersed in the fast-paced and detail-oriented world of diplomacy and allowed me to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings. I sharpened my skills, expanded my perspective, and reaffirmed my passion for pursuing a career in diplomacy.”
Rida Ali’s (PAR ‘27) internship as a Diplomat Assistant at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations placed her in rooms that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise: she attended high-level meetings at United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UN General Assembly, and UN Security Council meetings on the war erupting between Pakistan and India. Developing briefs on the Indus Water Treaty, Kashmiri human rights, geopolitical security, and counterterrorism, Rida contributed to over 15 publications on the Pakistan Mission’s website. She further supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and South Asia by conducting legal and policy research on the relevance of state sovereignty to international law and national security threats. In Rida’s words, “this experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as it allowed me to build a network in the realm of diplomacy and international politics while gaining first-hand insight into how diplomacy works.”
Pardee students learned about the inner workings of non-governmental organizations and give back to the community. Seher Arora (PAR ‘27) worked as a Resettlement Intern at the International Institute of New England (IINE), a refugee resettlement agency, where her work directly supported incoming immigrants and Special Immigrant Visa holders to adjust to a new host environment. Seher expressed incredible gratitude towards her passionate team of colleagues a significant role in “shifting my perspective on refugee resettlement, strengthening my interest in refugee law and migration studies, and reaffirming my commitment to work on issues at the intersection of race and migration.”
For Yana Gokhman (PAR ‘27), leveraging her position as an intern at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston (UNAGB) meant teaching over 300 middle and high-schoolers public speaking, negotiation, and collaboration in debate. Planning and leading lessons to cohorts of students each week, Yana helped them understand Model UN debating practices and procedures, and put theory into practice with Model UN simulations. Leading by example, she in turn found it a valuable experience on projecting stage presence when communicating in front of substantial crowds. This internship, made possible by the Corgan Fund, opened her eyes to how enjoyable community building can be “in a space where there was a love for international affairs and creating a positive future.”
Read their full reflections here: