Growing up in Flushing Queens, New York, Alyssa Alicino was raised with many friends from Latin America and a sense of responsibility toward her community.
“I’ve always had a special connection with the culture. Many of my friends were of Latin American descent, and I spent countless hours with their families trying to decipher their conversations in Spanish,” said the junior at Baruch College at the City University of New York. “Since I was a young girl, I always found helping others extremely fulfilling.”
So it’s come as no surprise to Alicino’s family and peers that she’s explored her interests in South and Central America and sought highly prestigious internships in public service like one at the White House as a college student.
“She has a lively, inquisitive mind, a great spirit and attitude toward learning, and a genuine interest in public service,” said Dr. Sanders Korenman, Alicino’s economics professor who taught her economic analysis of public policy in his class, which has undoubtedly been useful in her full-time workload this spring with the National Economic Council. Conducting research, managing incoming queries, and writing memos are just a few of the tasks Alicino is undertaking amid a very select group of young people at the White House.
“My favorite aspects of the internship thus far have been the Speaker Series with senior staff members and small group meetings. I think that hearing others’ experiences helps expose me to other opportunities I wouldn’t have thought about before,” she said, adding that she’s also really enjoyed the community service project. “It allows me to put some of the topics we deal with at the White House into context.”
As part of her experience, Alicino is helping with an SAT prep program at a Washington area high school.
Indeed, this rising public servant has taken part in many more activities as a college student that have put major geo-political issues into perspective, as she’s studied abroad in Spain and Guatemala, taught English classes in Chile, and attended a leadership development conference in Mexico in just a few years.
