student leaders | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

Illuminating the Path to Youth Development

With her experience in education, program management, and international education development for the San Francisco Beacon Initiative, Jessica Zlotnicki joined our Community Partner Co-Educator (CPCE) Fellowship this past spring where she connected with community peers, shared her expertise, and built a deeper understanding of how to work with USF and our students. In this post,…

Finding My Role in Public Service

Benjamin Getchell ’25 is a Politics major with an Environmental Science and a Public Service and Community Engagement minor. Reflecting on his time during his McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento internship this past summer, Benjamin was able to work with his fellow colleagues and find his role in public service. Everyone has a role to play…

Reaching Voters through Community: My Work with SF Elections and USFVotes

Read along on a journey of civic empowerment with Hannah Nelson as she intertwines her experiences with USFVotes and the San Francisco Department of Elections. In her blog post, Hannah shares the transformative power of community engagement, breaking down stereotypes of formal government work, and highlighting her role in making elections more accessible. Join her…

Meet the 2024 USF In DC Fellows

Congratulations to our newest cohort of USF in DC Fellows. This semester, nine students from various majors will be immersed in the policymaking processes in the U.S. capital. Our fellows will get a front row seat to observe and learn how public policy happens at the national level and build the skill set necessary to…

My Summer Internship: A Leap of Faith

Soli Martin-Abascal ’24, a University of Delaware Biden Institute student and Equity Intern shares her unexpected and transformative experience in San Francisco this past year. Despite initially aiming for a different internship, she found herself assisting students with limited English proficiency. Through this experience, she discovered the power of genuine communication and the unexpected rewards…

Empowering Futures: My Journey in Politics with the McCarthy Center

Emily LipKind, a passionate individual whose journey in politics and education has been shaped by her experiences at the Leo T. McCarthy Center. Join us as she shares her story, detailing how her college years led to a profound understanding of her path in the world of politics and policy-making. Read on to discover…

Out of My Comfort Zone

In this week’s blog, USF in DC Fellow, Kallie Barrie, shares her experience as an intern at Monument Advocacy. Read how she used her time on the Hill to gain confidence and insight into pursuing a career in food and agriculture policy. In my semester in D.C., I was a Food and Agriculture Legislative Fellow…

Learning How to Listen

Last month, we sat down with USFVotes member and Community Empowerment Activist, Zachary Sexton, to discuss his experience with the McCarthy Center in advance of the Leo T. McCarthy Award Celebration. In this week’s blog, learn more about Zach’s current work with the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, what he’s learned from the community, and how…