Internship encourages public service

The John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG) has announced the Sylvia E. Kelman Summer Internship recipient. The internship will provide a $4,000 stipend to support a master in public policy (M.P.P.) student in a public sector work/training program. In so doing, the Sylvia E. Kelman Summer Internship introduces students to careers in public service.

Selected as the first Sylvia E. Kelman Summer Intern is Alexander Harris, a 1998 graduate of Brown University and public policy concentrator. He was an Urban Fellow in the New York City Mayor’s Office in 1998-1999 and worked at the 14th Street-Union Square Local Development Corp. in New York City before enrolling at KSG.

This summer, Harris will work with The Education Trust in Washington, D.C., to help further its mission to support education policies for low-income youths and to make the education system more equitable and fair for all students. Harris plans to focus on policy, helping with lobbying, research, and outreach to influence the educational interests on Capital Hill. Given the need to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Harris is hopeful he can make an important contribution to this legislation and thus positively affect the educational opportunities for low-income children.

The Sylvia E. Kelman Internship celebrates the 80th birthday of Kelman and recognizes her family’s devotion to public service. The internship was donated by members of her family, including her son Steven J. Kelman, Albert J. Weatherhead III and Richard W. Weatherhead Professor of Public Management at the Kennedy School, and daughter-in-law Shelley Metzenbaum, a Kennedy School graduate of the M.P.P. and Ph.D. programs.

“The Kelman family is pleased to be able to support students like Alexander and through efforts such as his, to improve policy and reality for those who need help most,” said Kelman. “My mother set a high standard for our family in this regard, and we are pleased to be able to honor her and help others by establishing this internship at the Kennedy School.”