News & Events

March 30, 2026

The Moynihan Center at The City College of New York (CCNY) announces its 2026–2027 cohort of Moynihan Public Service Fellows. Twenty-five undergraduates, drawn from across CCNY’s schools and disciplines, will enter a two-year program of cohort-based seminars, mentorship, and fully funded summer internships with New York City government agencies and public-service-oriented nonprofits, with awards of up to $20,000 per Fellow.

Since 2022, the Moynihan Public Service Fellowship has supported nearly 100 Fellows who have completed internships with more than 50 organizations. The fellowship’s comprehensive curriculum combines rigorous academic study with practical professional development, preparing Fellows for leadership roles in government administration and public service. Ninety-two percent of alumni are working in public service or pursuing further education in the field.

"Each new cohort reminds us of the extraordinary depth of talent and purpose within City College's student body," said Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, executive director of the Moynihan Center. "These twenty-five fellows bring with them a commitment to public service, and our program is designed to channel that commitment into the analytical skills, practical experience, and professional networks they will need to become effective leaders."

"What continues to distinguish our fellowship is the deliberate bridge it builds between rigorous academic study and real-world practice," said Michael Miller, managing director of the Moynihan Center. "Our fellows engage with the theory of governance and policy while gaining hands-on experience in the organizations shaping New York City's future. That combination—intellectual depth paired with practical wisdom—is what prepares them to take on the complex challenges that public service demands."

"The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship represents exactly the kind of transformative opportunity that defines a Colin Powell School education," said Marc Ostfield, dean of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. "These twenty-five fellows are not just preparing for careers. They are preparing to lead. We are proud to support their journey into public service and confident they will make their mark on New York City and beyond."

The fellowship includes a comprehensive curriculum that addresses both theoretical foundations and practical skills. First-year Fellows explore power, politics, and policy in New York City, while second-year Fellows learn media literacy, engage in constructive dialogue across lines of difference, and develop policy solutions through the Civic Innovation Lab.

Members of the new cohort described what drew them to the fellowship:

Zeinab Bah, civil engineering major: "I'm excited to be a Moynihan Fellow because it gives me a window into how things actually work and not just how people talk about them."

Eman Sadiq, political science and comparative literature major: "I'm hoping the Moynihan Fellowship will equip me with not just practical skills but also a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a public servant."

Destiny Medrano, psychology major: "I'm excited to give back to the community that welcomed me and to be able to advocate for them."

Ryan Radwan, civil engineering and political science major: "I would be thrilled to join the society of fellows since I'm planning to use the next two years to deeply engage with our city's communities, and I believe if I have fellows learning alongside me to work towards that goal, I'll be able to exceed my expectations of social impact!"

The 2026–2027 Moynihan Public Service Fellows are:

Railenny Almonte, Ahmad Aman, Benedict Aurelius, Faiza Aziz, Zeinab Bah, Nicholas Balbuena, Ahmad Mudaser Barekzai, Tanzia Begum, Joyce Chai, Mayesha Fahmida, Alan Febrillet, William Gibbons, Laurena Haxhari, Maximiliano Ibarra, Ayesha Ilyas, Destiny Medrano, Andres Ortiz, Anisha Parvez, Anna Pérez Quezada, Pranisha Phyak, Ryan Radwan, Eman Sadiq, Victoria Sanabria Schmerler, Nafissatou Yattassaye, and Julia Zakowicz.

Learn more about the Moynihan Center and its fellowship programs.