Rutgers-Newark and Braven Expand Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship Program to Empower Future Public Service Leaders

In its second year, the Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship Program—a partnership between the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America (CPRA) at Rutgers University–Newark and national nonprofit Braven—is placing six undergraduate students in congressional internships in Washington, D.C.

Launched in 2024 to address the early barriers that prevent many students who are first in their families to go to college and/or come from low-income backgrounds from accessing public service careers, the initiative offers an immersive, nine-week internship experience on Capitol Hill. Fellows receive housing, transportation, a professional wardrobe stipend, and a living allowance, along with ongoing career development and mentorship.

“Our partnership with Braven is a natural extension of CPRA’s mission to explore and expand political participation among communities historically excluded from pathways to leadership,” said James Jones, Director of CPRA.

“In just one year, we’ve seen the tangible impact: one of our inaugural Fellows is now a full-time congressional staffer.” Jones, an expert on congressional staff diversity. “In my research, I have examined the barriers to access in politics, specifically on Capitol Hill—and through this program, we are working to remove them.”

The 2025 Rutgers-Newark Capitol Hill Policy Fellows are:

• Alexis Castro, Rutgers-Newark School of Criminal Justice – Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-21)
• Jacinay Coleman-Shelton, Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration – Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
• Esron Holder, Rutgers Business School – Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10)
• Moujan Moghimi, Rutgers-Newark School of Arts and Sciences – Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-13)
• Karen Perez, Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration – Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7)
• Edwin Pineda-Cortes, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences – Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10)

Alumni of the program have already gone on to work at the New Jersey Department of Health and on Capitol Hill.

“The Capitol Hill Fellowship embodies the legacy of Sheila Y. Oliver by preparing students to lead with purpose, insight, and integrity,” said Hyacinth Miller, Director of the Public Service Leadership Program. “Our students are not just participating in public service—they are shaping it.”

Aliyah Saleem, a 2024 Capitol Hill Fellow, and class of 2024 graduate of the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration, described the experience as deeply formative.

“Being a legislative intern wasn’t just a title—it was a responsibility I carried with deep purpose. Every day on the Hill, I felt the weight and honor of advocating for the constituents we served. Working under Representative Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, was both humbling and empowering," she said. "Her resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her community left a lasting impression on me. She showed me what public service can and should be. As I look ahead, I’m inspired to build on the legacy she’s shaped and continue the work of lifting up the voices of those often unheard.”

The program is supported by Johnson & Johnson, which contributed $100,000 in 2024 to fund internship stipends in honor of the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, a trailblazing public servant.

“Newark is home to extraordinary student leaders who are deeply rooted in their communities and ready to drive meaningful change,” said Samantha Crockett, Executive Director of Braven Newark. “Through our partnership with Rutgers–Newark and the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America, we’re proud to expand opportunities for these talented Fellows to contribute their voices on Capitol Hill and beyond. Their experiences in Washington will not only shape their own paths, but also strengthen the civic fabric of Newark and the nation.”

About CPRA and Rutgers University-Newark

The Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University–Newark explores the intersection of race and politics through research, education, and leadership development. Learn more at cpra.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N) is a diverse, urban, public research university that is an anchor institution in New Jersey’s cultural capital. It is exceptionally well positioned to fulfill higher education’s promise as an engine of discovery, innovation, and social mobility. It has a remarkable legacy of producing high-impact scholarship that is connected to the great questions and challenges of the world. It is in and of a city and region where its work on local challenges undertaken with partners from many sectors resonates powerfully throughout our urbanizing world. Most importantly, RU-N brings an incredible diversity of people to this work—students, faculty, staff, and community partners—making it more innovative, more creative, more engaging, and more relevant for our time and the times ahead.

About Braven

Founded in 2013, Braven empowers promising young people with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs or graduate school. Braven is embedded within institutions of higher education and partners with employers to build cutting-edge career education into the undergraduate experience for rising college goers. Braven Fellows are persisting in college and achieving exciting levels of internship and job attainment. For more information about Braven, visit braven.org.