About Our Program
The American Red Cross Greater New York Region offers exceptional undergraduate and graduate students developmental internship opportunities at our chapters across the Greater New York Region, which includes New York City, Long Island, Greenwich, Conn., and the Lower Hudson Valley.
Through training and mentorship students are involved in projects critical to the day-to-day work of our non-profit organization gaining an insider’s perspective on our mission.
Our Volunteer Internship Program provides opportunities for professional experience and exposure to the non-profit sector while receive networking, personal, and professional development opportunities, and academic credit if applicable.
This fall we are partnering with the City University of New York (CUNY) to host 6 CUNY Service Corps interns who are new to the workforce but are ambitious, bright, and ready to apply the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to work.
Our program is in accordance with all applicable employment laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act. While our program is unpaid, we offer College or University credit. Preference is given to those with an academic requirement for an internship however, all students are encouraged to apply. In addition, we partner with college and university programs seeking placements for students in nonprofits for service corps, experiential learning, or similar programs.
Communications Interns
These interns are practiced and persuasive public speakers, have strong writing skills and are savvy about social media. They communicate the Red Cross mission behind-the-scenes, on-camera, in-person and online.
Disaha Sharda
She/Her
Intern, Marketing and Content Creation Specialist
My name is Disha and I am currently a junior at New York University interested in pursuing a double major in Media, Culture, and Communications and Economics. Some of my other interests include Public Relations, Data Analytics, and Computer Science! I hope to one day be a Chief Marketing Officer at a company. I love listening to music and going to concerts. Washington DC, my hometown, is my favorite place to visit even though I have lived there my entire life. On a personal level, I’m easy to get along with, funny, and a team player!
Manager: Deepti Bherwani
Zixiao Zhao
He/Him
Intern, Marketing and Content Creation Specialist
I'm Zixiao Zhao and I'm currently studying Integrated Marketing in NYU. Planning to work in marketing industry in the future, I would like to learn more from everyone here.
Manager: Deepti Bherwani
Community Relations Interns
These interns want to be uniquely positioned as facilitative leaders in the community, increasing capacity to deliver services and facilitating local resilience-building actions. They will be working to develop strong relationships with federal, state, and local elected officials to increase awareness of our programs
Serena Saini
She/Her
Intern, Community and Government Relations
I'm a rising second-year Masters in Law and Diplomacy student at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. At Fletcher, I focus specifically on International Business and International Security, with a minor concentration on Global Governance. Before my studies at Fletcher, I graduated from Boston University in 2019 with a B.A. in International Relations, Foreign Policy, and Security. Following my graduation from the Fletcher School, I hope to continue my career in International Development and focus specifically on policy development. Based in Boston for the summer, I'm excited to spend my free time with my family and my golden doodle, Bodie.
Manager: Denise Bloise
Kylah Minto
She/Her
Intern, Community and Government Relations
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hello my name is Kylah Minto. I am 19 years old and I am a senior in college. I study human resources and marketing. I love music and I can play with instruments. I am a great leader, very vocal, and have great team work skills. I am also licensed Financial Advisor.
Manager: Denise Bloise
Crystal Ebanks
She/Her
Intern, Community and Government Relations
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hey :) I'm Crystal but I also go by Crys. I'm studying psychology in hope of being an art therapist and I'm really interested in art, music, and some fashion. I love to try new things and to teach myself new things. A fun fact about me: Kill Bill vol. 1 is my favorite movie of all time.
Manager: Denise Bloise
Development Interns
These interns are natural networkers and enjoy creating effective strategies for engaging donors and planning events. They are critical thinkers and strong communicators who thrive in a busy, fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. They are working with an equally driven team to help mobilize the power of donors in support of the Red Cross mission.
Nora Huffines
She/Her
Nonprofit Fundraising - Individual Giving
Hello! My name is Nora Huffines. I am heading into my third year in the honors program at UNC Chapel Hill. I am studying history and business. My thematic concentration for my history major is women’s and gender history, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed as these women are often left out of the conversation. I am passionate about people, and ensuring that all people have a voice. That is why I so look forward to this summer and further into the future as I am considering a career in nonprofit law. I believe my most outstanding skills are my ability to mediate and collaborate. A couple fun facts about me are that I must start each day by completing the New York Times' Wordle, and I am on the hunt for the best pasta in NYC.
Manager: Jessica O'Brien
Elizabeth Nguyen
She/Her
Nonprofit Fundraising - Corporate Partnerships
Returning Fall 2021 Intern
Hi everyone, I'm Elizabeth! I'm Chinese-Vietnamese-American and call southern California home. I'm majoring in International Relations with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. Post-undergrad I hope to continue my education at graduate school and acquire a position at a non-profit organization aimed towards supporting humanitarian missions in a global context. I have always been extremely extroverted and have strengthened my communication skills through various board positions with organizations at NYU and throughout my adolescent years. A fun fact about me is I love adventure and trying new foods, one of my favorite places I have traveled to was New Orleans and I hope to visit Asia soon to reconnect with my cultural roots.
Manager: Lea Chiu-Adisa
Siqi Ling
She/Her
Intern, Nonprofit Fundraising - Corporate Partnerships
Returning Spring 2022 Intern
I‘m a communications professional focused on PR, with internship experience in risk and crisis communication, branding, and food marketing. I'm now a full-time student studying Strategic Communication at Columbia. I'm good at photography. Fun fact: I'm a Ravenclaw.
Manager: Lea Chiu-Adisa
Disaster Cycle Services Interns
These interns are action-driven and client-focused. They will be on the front lines delivering services to clients and/or work behind-the-scenes developing plans for effective service delivery.
Ryan Hughes
He/Him
Intern, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
Hi, I am Ryan Hughes. I study Political Science and Economics at Adelphi University. I am not sure what I want to do for a career exactly right now, but I hope to be able to work in a setting that allows me to work with both politics and economics. I would say some of my skills are working with people, specifically children as I have a lot of experience with that. A fun fact about me is that I play the saxophone.
Manager: Chandra Hew
Secondary Manager: Bridgette Espinoza
Mariana Braga
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
Returning Fall 2021 Intern
My name is Mariana and I am a NYU student studying psychology and public health. I am organized, detail-oriented, and a fun fact about myself is that I am Uruguayan!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Danelys Castillo
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hello, I'm Danelys (Day-na-lease) Castillo, but you can call me Dana! I recently graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. I enjoy helping people, and I want my passion to reflect in the quality of my work. I like to be up and in the action, seeing the faces of the people I'm helping, hoping that I'm making a difference somehow. I aspire to one day work for organizations that center around youth and LGBTQ+ communities. A fun fact about me is I've never lived anywhere outside of NYC!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Cidney Choi
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
Hi Everyone! I'm Cidney, and I'm very excited to join Red Cross for the summer as an intern Coordinator for the Disaster Responder Development team. After spending 5 years in oncology biotech, I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Health at New York University. I'm interested in health equity with childhood/adolescent mental health focus. I live in Brooklyn Heights with my partner and love every single moment of it!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Evelyn Cuahutle
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
My name is Evelyn Cuahutle and I am a recent college graduate with a degree in psychology. I aspire to become a licensed mental health counselor, which I hope to achieve in a few years time as I enter Manhattan college for their mental health program this upcoming fall. Additionally, I have participated in a variety of volunteer and seasonal work positions which have enriched my skills in communication, group cooperation, and patient/client management. A fun fact about me is that I enjoy nature walks!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Kate Diem
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
I'm a forensic psychology graduate student at John Jay CUNY, and I'm interested in a career in non-profit work, case management, and crisis intervention. In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, heavy metal, and spending time with my cat, Burrito.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Gent Gashi
He/Him
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hi, my name is Gentonis ! I am currently studying Science in Forensics. My dream career is to become a Forensic Scientist for the NYPD to help at the scene of a crime, fun fact is that I'm also really tech-savy!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Kelsie Greene
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
Hello! My name is Kelsie and I am a graduate student at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). My studies are focused on humanitarian policy and gender-focused public policy. After graduate school, I plan to pursue an NGO career where I will center gender justice in creating programs and policies to support communities experiencing crises. Outside of my studies, I work as a teaching assistant and enjoy running, cooking vegan meals, and spending time with friends. A fun fact about me is that I recently adopted two kittens!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary
Manager: Fernando Morales
Jorge Hercules
He/Him
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Right now, I am studying criminal justice to pursue a career in law. Perhaps being a lawyer or even just a police officer so I can assist the community. I'm a person who likes working in groups when it comes to challenging assignments, we can use our experiences and knowledge to complete a task with the greatest excellency. Using my communication skills I will hopefully be able to assist and help those in need so that we all can improve this community slowly. It doesn't matter what the topic is, I'm an outgoing and open-minded individual who tries to live the best life possible.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Joe Kelly
He/Him
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
Hi Team! My name is Joe Kelly and I am excited to work with everyone this summer. I was born and raised in Astoria, New York. I recently just graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Homeland Security. This fall, I will be continuing my studies at St. John’s for a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership. My focus is to pursue a career in Emergency Management where I can use my skills in such a rapidly changing environment. In my spare time I enjoy sipping a good cup of coffee, watching a Yankees game, doing CrossFit, and playing with my adopted dog, Bailey.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary
Manager: Fernando Morales
Elizabeth Newman-Corre
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
My name is Elizabeth and I just finished my sophomore year at the University of Michigan (go blue!). I am studying International Studies and Medical Anthropology, and hope to one day work in emergency preparedness and disaster response. I speak Hebrew and I'm a licensed EMT. In my free time, I enjoy cardio-boxing and cooking. I am so excited to be working with the American Red Cross!
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary
Manager: Fernando Morales
Nicole Palmetto
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Preparedness Presenter
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Nicole Palmetto is a rising Junior Roosevelt Scholar and Grove Fellow at Hunter College. She is studying Public Health with a Certificate in Public Policy and minors in Human Rights and Community Organizing. She is an Executive Assitant at Apne Aap, a grassroots organization working against sex- trafficking, and works on the admissions team at Hunter College. She is looking forward to a career rooted in human rights advocacy and hopes to travel in the future.
Manager: Olga Wallace
Ashley Price
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Responder Development Coordinator
Hi, my name is Ashley Price and I will be attending Boston College this fall to earn my master’s degree in social work. I look to go into a career in global policy reform and build on my research skills that I have learned in past internships. A fun fact about myself is that when I was an undergraduate, I studied abroad in Italy.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Sydney Soka
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Workforce Engagement Coordinator
Hi! My name is Sydney Soka. I am a junior at American University, studying psychology and communication media studies. I recently got back from studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark where I got to pursue my passion for traveling. Another passion of mine is helping others, which I hope to do through the field of psychology. Those who know me consider me to be a mediator and care taker. I look forward to being apart of the Red Cross team!
Manager: Sean MacLean
Emma Stabile
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Workforce Engagement Coordinator
Hi everyone! I am Emma Stabile and I am going to be a senior at The College of New Jersey this fall where I am majoring in sociology. My career aspirations are to one day be employed by an impactful non-profit organization that would help me to make a difference in people’s lives and make a change in the world. Some of my skills include being organized and creative. A fun fact about me is that I love painting and I am very passionate about sustainability and climate justice. I am very excited to gain more knowledge through this internship at the Red Cross!
Manager: Catherine Esposito
Cheyenne Sze
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hello, My Name is Cheyenne Sze I am currently a senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. My Major is Emergency Services Administration with a Minor in Homeland Security. I want to work with FEMA or in the Department of Homeland Security. One of my outstanding skills is being being able to work under pressure. A fun fact about me is that I love to watch Kdramas.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Carla Vicuna
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hello Red Cross Staff and Volunteers! My name is Carla Vicuna, an Ecuadorian women. I am a senior studying Psychology at Queens College. I aspire to help kids and become a shoulder for those who do not have someone to lean on. I’m dedicated to my tasks and what I set my mind to. A little fun fact about me is that I’m bilingual, and wish to learn a third language as well as ASL.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
Wendy Zuquilanda
She/Her
Intern, Disaster Response
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hi, my name is Wendy Zuquilanda and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. After I graduate I intend to work within Law Enforcement. Some skills I possess are determined, organized, self-motivated, and adaptable. A fun fact about myself is that I like to read, paint, and travel.
Manager: Uikki O'Bryant
Secondary Manager: Fernando Morales
External Relations
These interns are practiced and persuasive public speakers, have strong writing skills, and are savvy about social media. They will be part of communicating the Red Cross mission behind-the-scenes, on-camera, in-person and online.
Jialin Zhong
She/Her
Intern, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator
My name is Jialin Zhong (she/her). I study nonprofit management at Columbia University in NYC. Helping to prevent and alleviate human suffering is why I started a nonprofit career. The outbreak of COVID-19 has reminded us that we all live in a community with a shared future for humankind. With this value in mind, I am committed to delivering humanitarian aid regardless of race, nationality, class, political opinions, or religious beliefs. My cross-cultural communication skill has prepared me to work in this diverse environment, engaging with a broad range of personality types. Through the 2022 internship program, I expect to gain an insider's perspective on the Red Cross humanitarian mission.
One fun fact about me: I love playing Pokémon games!
Manager: Desiree Reiner-Ramos
International Services
These interns want to be uniquely positioned as a facilitative leader in the community, supporting efforts to build not only more disaster-resilient communities but also stronger and well-connected communities overall. They may work either behind-the-scenes or in the community to build local resilience by supporting the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program, teaching International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and/or spearheading outreach efforts to promote our programs.
Rachel Kosta
She/Her
International Services Program Coordinator
through the The Simon Wiesenthal Center
I study political science and sociology and wish to dedicate my professional life towards advocating for human rights and equality. Most importantly, I want to work against the exclusion of minority groups and come to understand, and hopefully tackle, the underlying mechanisms that stand in the way of equal treatment.
I am a very talkative person, enjoy working together with different people, and appreciate surroundings where everyone is given space to contribute to the conversation. Being part of an inclusive space is extremely enlightening and important to me; this might be where my ability to speak four languages comes in most handy ;)
Manager: Gregg Porter
Caroline Lawton
She/Her
International Services Program Coordinator
My name is Caroline Lawton, and I am so excited to be joining the International Services team! Currently, I am an MPA candidate at NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service with a specialization in International Development. My goal is to one day manage projects devoted to reducing the vulnerability of women in crisis situations.
My outstanding skills include Excel, STATA and other data tools, and I think I'm pretty good at connecting with people, too. I am also a very good cook.
A fun fact about me is that I recently adopted a miniature dachshund puppy named Alfredo!
Manager: Gregg Porter
Bailey Lerman
He/Him
International Services Program Coordinator
through the The Simon Wiesenthal Center
Hi, my name is Bailey Lerman and I’m from New Jersey. I am currently studying political science and business economics at the University of Chicago. I am not sure what type of career I want to pursue yet, but I am definitely most interested in politics and international relations. On that note, I am very up to date on current world events in the news and I enjoy discussing my thoughts on them, as well as hearing other perspectives. I am excited to meet you all at the Red Cross this summer.
Manager: Gregg Porter
Volunteer Services Interns
These interns are resourceful, interested in team-building and want to help create the strategic direction for developing, engaging and retaining a highly effective and satisfied workforce through the utilization of volunteers, interns, and employees.
Phoebe Baluyot
She/Her
Intern, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
Returning Spring 2022 Intern
My name is Phoebe Baluyot and I am currently studying Human Resource Management at Baruch College. Interning for the Disaster Workforce Engagement team during the spring semester was a perfect fit for me since I also minor in Psychology with a focus on industrial/organizational psychology and career planning. I love talking to people who are passionate about their interests and matching them to opportunities that are meaningful to them and their career goals, and part of that is learning about personality types, work styles, and motivation.
I was able to learn about the Disaster Cycle Services from a bird’s eye view and all the volunteer opportunities within it during my time with the DWE team, and I'm thrilled to take what I’ve learned with them to the Volunteer Services department as a recruitment intern, the most fabulous department ever!
By researching and implementing best recruitment practices to expand the Recruitment Champions program, I hope to train and inspire our volunteer recruiters to find talented and committed people that will embody the Red Cross values of compassion and impartiality when disaster strikes.
Coming from Southeast Asia, a region of the world that is consistently impacted by typhoons, I truly admire and appreciate volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy to alleviating all forms of suffering, and I look forward to supporting the Red Cross workforce this summer!
Manager: Danielle Wohlenberg
Sofia Dumic
She/Her
Intern, Volunteer Engagement
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Currently a senior at Hunter College, I will graduate after the Fall 2022 semester with a Major in Psychology and Minor in Sociology. After receiving my Bachelor's degree, I will continue my education by pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of school, I work in Property Management as an Accounting Manager which has taught me a tremendous amount of interpersonal skills at several levels. When I am not in school or at work, I enjoy traveling to Europe and the Caribbean.
Phoebe Simon
She/Her
Intern, Youth Services
CUNY Career Launch Intern
Hello, everyone! I'm Phoebe, an upper-level senior transfer student at Baruch College, and this is my first official internship. I am thrilled to be nearing graduation this September and to start off my professional career in full. I've studied psychology with a minor in English. My career aspirations are not yet set in stone, but at this time I hope to eventually enter the field of disaster response or a similar on-site philanthropic position. As for a fun fact, I have a twin brother who did wonders for building up my conflict resolution skills since childhood. I am forever grateful.
Our Numbers
Our Greater New York Region program began in 2016 when our national headquarters shifted from a national support model to a program any region could start and grow. Since then our interns have played key roles in our organization and worked on hundreds of unique projects in every line of service.
Our program is also run by a team of Talent Acquisitions volunteers who have donated hundreds of hours worked to find the best collegiate talent for our managers.
500
Interns Onboarded
50,400
Worked Hours Generated
100+
Unique Projects