Two Hunter College students are among 149 undergraduates chosen nationally to participate in the Public Policy & International Affairs Program’s Junior Summer Institute.
Kierra Shaw and Lissette Tenesaca, both Political Science majors, will attend the program — Shaw at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington and Tenesaca at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (which is new to PPIA).
The prestigious fellowship for rising seniors provides six weeks of free, rigorous summer programming at one of six campuses across America to prepare them for advanced schooling and careers in public service and international affairs, according to its promotional materials. More than 1,300 students applied for the slots.
“We congratulate Kierra and Lissette and are excited about their participation in PPIA,” said Office of Prestigious Scholarships & Fellowships Director Stephen Lassonde. “PPIA is one of several prestigious summer programs catering to different student interests that have accepted Hunter students in recent years. Those who attend it speak of wonderful experiences. We encourage students to come check out the offerings.”
Kierra Shaw, who is heading to the University of Washington for a fellowship this summer.
Shaw, of Brooklyn, is a student athlete who plays on Hunter’s Varsity Softball team. She is pursuing her major with a concentration in International Relations and an Economics minor. She says that her goal is “to work internationally and aid people globally” and that she is “beyond excited” to be studying at the Evans School this summer.
Lissette Tenesaca, who is headed for Harvard’s Kennedy School for the summer.
Tenesaca, of Queens, is a Thomas Hunter Honors student with a concentration in Political Theory and a minor in Philosophy. An editor of the Hunter College Political Journal, she is obtaining a Public Policy Certificate through Roosevelt House. In 2022, she was a summer research intern at the NYC Board of Correction, where she investigated conditions at Rikers Island and which inspired an interest in carceral research and oversight.
“I am honored to be a part of the inaugural PPIA cohort at the Harvard Kennedy School and am particularly looking forward to participating in the Public Policy Incubator and Op-Ed boot camp,” she said.
Hunter’s Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships has a stellar track record in preparing students for many different kinds of competitive scholarships and fellowships. In recent years, the college has produced two Rhodes, two Marshall, six Schwarzman, five Luce, seven Goldwater, and 39 Fulbright Scholars among many other prestigious awardees.
The 43-year-old, nonprofit PPIA supports efforts to augment diversity in public leadership and nurture “visionary, inclusive, and compassionate leaders,” according to its website. PPIA Fellows receive a stipend to assist with summer travel, food, and other expenses.
