Third Intern affiliated with the White House in Five Years!
Recent alumna Taniya Dewan has been accepted to the Office of Administration, Executive Office of the President Internship Program. She will be the third John Jay College student since 2010 to intern in the Executive Office of the President and is set to begin her assignment with the Office of Chief of Operation Services in February.
Dewan, a Queens, NY native, graduated in 2013 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in International Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Relations with a concentration in security policy at New York University while working as an analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“This internship is a dream come true, a unique chance to obtain a deeper understanding of public service, gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills,” said Dewan. “My experiences at John Jay College are extremely significant and one of the major reasons for my accomplishments. The diverse culture and robust environment enabled me to transform my ideas into social action and leadership through my rigorous course work, research, internships, community service, and other learning experiences. For four years, John Jay had literally become my second home.”
As an undergrad, Dewan was a motivated and diligent member of the college community who immersed herself in many academic and social activities. During her freshman year she participated in the Pre Law Institute’s Boot Camps, which prepare students for the law school admission process. She said she developed a commitment to community service because of her experiences as a Peer Ambassador and with student government. Interested in promoting and sharing the culture of the Indian subcontinent and South Asia on campus, she joined the Desi Club and eventually became its vice president.
Along with the unwavering support of her mother, Dewan expressed deep admiration for the many John Jay faculty and staff who served as her mentors. Prominent on her list of mentors is Premwati Sukhan, Associate Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development, who helped her secure, as an undergraduate, an internship with the United States Marshals Service, and continued to guide Dewan following graduation as she completed the application process for the EOP internship. 
Among the highlights of Dewan’s college career were the opportunities to work with faculty. She was a research assistant for the Center on International Human Rights (CIHR). Working with Professor George Andreopoulos, Director of the CIHR, Dewan contributed to the center’s annual research report on civil and human right issues. As a member of John Jay’s United Nations Student Association, she was coached by Professor Jacques Fomerand of the Department of Political Science, whose efforts helped the Model U.N. Team win five awards at the 2013 National Model United Nations Conference, including the Distinguished Delegation Award for its overall performance.
Dewan described the “life-altering experience” of working the Professor Baz Dreisinger of the English Department on the Prison to College Pipeline Program, which provides college-level academic course work to inmates while also preparing them for reentry into society. She credits that experience with fostering her belief that education is an important tool for social change.
Looking ahead, Dewan envisions a career in the global intelligence field doing research and analysis. In addition, she is interested in helping to address issues facing women especially women in the South Asian community who may face cultural and economic obstacles to pursuing their aspirations. Her ultimate goal is to one day serve on the President’s National Security Council at the White House.
“This internship is a golden and enriching opportunity to serve at the world hub of international policy and governance,” said Dewan.
