Introducing the Class of 2028 First-Year Fellows

The First-Year Fellows program is uniquely designed to be much more than an internship. Prior to their placement, Fellows take two academic courses—one on public policy and one on statistical methods—and participate in the Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behaviors program. 

During the spring term, Fellows are selected through a competitive application and interview process and then matched with an alumni mentor and placement organization best suited to their academic and career interests.

At the end of the spring term, the students begin Civic Skills Training (CST) which provides them with additional instruction in public speaking, networking, workplace writing, project management, and professionalism. In June, Fellows reconvene in Washington, D.C. for an additional five days of training the week before their 8-week fellowship begins.

Mentors and fellowship placement organizations commit to providing the student meaningful work, first-hand experiences in the policymaking process, and advice about potential career paths.

The Rockefeller Center congratulates the following members of the Class on 2028 on their selection into the First-Year Fellow program, and acknowledges the First-Year Fellow mentors, whose dedication and support make this program possible.

• Benjamin Simon, Committee for a Responsible Budget (CRFB) with mentor Cathy Solomon '82
• Dylan Smith, Health Affairs with mentor George Linzer '83
• Carter Hoskins, League of Conservation Voters with mentor Tiernan Sittenfeld '96
• Phoebe Abrahms, Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand with mentor Kirsten Gillibrand '88
• Jude Poirier, Brookings Institution with mentor Aaron Klein '98
• Eloise Taylor, Office of U.S. Congressman Sean Casten with mentor Sean Casten '98
• Maia Bazo Vergara, African Tech Futures Lab with mentor Rose Mutiso '08
• Amol Bhingarde, Office of U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) with mentor Tanner Bielefeld Pruitt '22
• Jacob Bowen-Glazeroff, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Select USA with mentor Lauren Kennedy '02
• Noah Canada, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander with mentor Raymond Rodriguez '09
• Sarah Hochman, Human Rights Campaign with mentor Nikolas Nartowicz '07
• Jackson Hyde, U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means with mentor Thomas de Wolff '24
• Nardos Mengesha, Solar Energy Industry Association with mentor Abigail Ross Hopper '93
• Andrea Mercado-Cruz, Office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen with mentor Erica Anhalt '09
• Claudia Shin, Government Accountability Office with mentor Allison Bawden '99
• Ben Floman, Penta Group with mentor Matt McDonald '00
• Ritika Sinha, Solar Energy Industry Association with mentor Abigail Ross Hopper '93
• Iris WeaverBell, YMCA of the USA with mentor Jay Matson '91
• Allison Whitt, Brooks, Bawden, Moore, LLC with mentor Ben Bawden '99
• Julianna Wong, Office of U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan with mentor Regina Speed-Bost '87