David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program

Celeste Barry MPP 2027

Office of Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Celeste Barry is a Master in Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School and a Scholar with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Theory from Whitman College. This summer, she will serve in the Office of Governor Wes Moore (MD), supporting the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff on priority initiatives at the intersection of policy, political strategy, and public messaging. 

Prior to HKS, Celeste served as a Program Associate at The Sentencing Project, where she co-authored national reports on incarceration trends, racial disparities, and the scale of life and long-term sentences. This work deepened her interest in how research and advocacy shape decisions that directly affect people’s lives, and in the challenge of translating evidence into strategies that can be implemented and sustained. 

At HKS, Celeste has developed skills in policy design, stakeholder analysis, and political messaging, including supporting the mayoral transition in her hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Her work is driven by a central question: how can public leaders turn strong policy solutions into real outcomes when facing political backlash and viability concerns? This focus has grown out of her interests in non-punitive responses to substance use disorder and the political barriers that limit harm reduction strategies in the United States.

Gabriella Cantor MPP 2027

Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

Gabriella Cantor is a policy strategist and activist committed to advancing democracy reform and accountability in the public sector. She is pursuing a Master in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School with a concentration in Democracy, Politics, and Institutions. Gabriella is also a Research Assistant at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, where she works with Tova Wang and Professor Erica Chenoweth on projects related to civic engagement, labor unions, and collective action. This summer, she will be serving as a Legislative and Oversight Fellow in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s D.C. office. 

Prior to HKS, Gabriella served as a Senior Policy Associate at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), where she conceptualized and advanced reforms to strengthen government oversight and transparency. Gabriella graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Sociology and Civic Studies. While at Tufts, she interned with several nonprofits, including the Public Rights Project, Giffords, and Community Labor United.

Gabriella is dedicated to fortifying democratic institutions and shaping a future in which government is more equitable, effective, and transparent.

Jakub Dovcik MPA 2027

Office of Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Jakub is a Master in Public Administration candidate and Richard E. Neustadt and John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on state capacity and growth economics. This summer, he will join the State Innovation Team at the Office of the Governor of the State of Maryland to work on the implementation of artificial intelligence tools in public service delivery and government operations. 

Before Harvard, Jakub worked on the Government Innovation and Political Leadership teams at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) in London, where he focused on the applications of artificial intelligence in public services, with a particular emphasis on education reforms for the age of AI. Prior to TBI, Jakub was a Private Secretary and Policy Advisor to two Slovak Prime Ministers, a Chief of Staff to the first government Chief Innovation Officer, and an analyst at the Slovak Ministry of Health during the first wave of COVID-19. He holds an MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Anthropology and Development from the London School of Economics, and a BA in Development Studies and Economics from King’s College London. In 2025, he was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Slovakia in the Social Impact and Public Sector category. 

Victoria Hasan MPP 2027

International Growth Centre Rwanda

Victoria is a Master in Public Policy candidate and Frank Knox Memorial Fellow. She will spend this summer with the International Growth Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, where she will support the evaluation of industrial policies aimed at increasing exports.

Prior to HKS, she spent five years in the U.K. Civil Service. Most recently, she was Senior Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, where she oversaw work on transitional justice following the Troubles. This included setting up an information recovery commission and developing a joint legacy framework between the U.K. and Irish Governments, announced in 2025. She also supported negotiations that led to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in 2024.

Victoria graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Oxford, and speaks English, Mandarin, and Japanese.

Jordan Kuklin MPP 2027

Coalition for New Trade

Jordan Kuklin is a Master in Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School dedicated to public service that promotes economic security and agency for all. This summer, Jordan will support the Coalition for New Trade in their policy and communications work to advance a people-first trade agenda grounded in worker solidarity and broad-based economic opportunity.

Prior to Harvard, Jordan served for four years as a Director’s Financial Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). During his rotational fellowship, he worked on initiatives including market concentration analyses, the Biennial Credit Card Market Report, and the CFPB’s annual performance and budget reports. A former theater kid and Eagle Scout, he balances technical rigor with the interpersonal agility required for collaborative public problem-solving. Originally from the Bay Area, Jordan graduated summa cum laude from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in economics and political science.

Applications for the summer 2027 fellows cohort will open in fall 2026. 

Harvard Kennedy School students returning for the 2027-2028 academic year are invited to apply for the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program during the fall 2026 semester. Semifinalists will be selected and interviewed in early January 2027 and finalists will be selected in mid-late January 2026. 

Throughout the spring 2027 semester, finalists will benefit from tailored mentorship from CPL faculty, staff, and alumni; access to CPL’s broad network of collaborators, alumni, and practitioners; personalized internship search support; and invitations to CPL events and networking opportunities. 

Once internships are secured, finalists formally become Gergen Fellows and join a cohort of passionate public servants who meet regularly to build community and develop leadership habits and skills. Stipends of $10,000 USD will be disbursed after finalists submit their formal summer internship offer letter.

Throughout the following academic year, Gergen Fellows will integrate into the larger community of CPL fellows, attending CPL fellows events and receiving continued networking support and mentorship from faculty, staff, and alumni. Fellows will also curate their own unique programming and serve as recruiters and mentors for the next year’s finalists. 

Calendar

Fall 2026

• September 24, 2026 – Applications open; Zoom info session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. RSVP for the info session
• November 30, 2026 – Applications close at 11:59 p.m. ET
  • Office hours with program manager Lia Mastrogiacomo can be scheduled by emailing gergenfellows@hks.harvard.edu

Spring 2027

• January 2027 – Semifinalist interviews are conducted and finalist selections are made. 
• February to April 2027 – Finalists receive:
  • Access to CPL network of collaborators, alumni, and practitioners
  • Tailored mentorship from CPL faculty, staff, and alumni
  • Personalized internship search support
  • Invitations to CPL events and networking opportunities
• May to June 2027 – Finalists become Gergen Fellows upon confirming internship employment and receive a $10,000 USD stipend. The Gergen Fellows cohort is publicly announced. 

During the spring, finalists participating in a joint/concurrent degree program outside of Harvard, or those who need to attend HKS abroad, will be asked to attend Gergen finalist events remotely. 

Summer 2027

• Gergen Fellows attend Zoom cohort meetings to build community and reflect on internship experiences.
• Each Gergen Fellows submits a summer reflection essay that may be shared publicly on the CPL website.

2027-2028 Academic Year

• The Gergen Fellows integrate into the CPL community and:
  • Attend CPL fellows’ events such as the practitioner dinners and lunch & learns
  • Receive continued mentoring and networking support
  • Curate and conduct fellows-led programming
  • Recruit and mentor next year’s finalists
• Gergen Fellows may be invited to speak at CPL community-facing events.

Questions? Email gergenfellows@hks.harvard.edu

What are the eligibility guidelines for this program?

• The Gergen Summer Fellowship Program is open to current U.S. and international Harvard Kennedy School students pursuing a public service internship for summer 2027, and who will return to study in person at HKS in fall 2027.
• Applicants must be returning students enrolled in a two-year degree or concurrent/joint degree program at HKS.
• Students who meet these criteria and are attending HKS abroad during the 2026-2027 academic year are eligible to apply. 

Can I apply for another fellowship at the same time?

• Gergen Fellows join a dedicated cohort who benefit from a unique fellowship experience and contribute as active members of the broader CPL community. While CPL does not prohibit Gergen Fellowship finalists from applying to other Harvard-sponsored internship programs and fellowships, if a Gergen finalist accepts another Harvard-sponsored internship fellowship (i.e. Dukakis, Bloomberg, etc.), they are no longer eligible to be a Gergen Fellow.

Who is not eligible for this program?

• Those graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Those who are not studying in person at HKS in the 2027-2028 academic year (e.g., joint degree students spending fall 2027 at a different graduate school)
• Those taking a leave of absence during the previous spring, following fall, or full academic year.

Which internships are supported through the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program?

• The public service internship must be full-time for ten weeks with a government, NGO, or nonprofit organization.
• Internships may be located globally. In order to receive the stipend, Fellows must be eligible to work in the country where their summer internship is located. CPL does not sponsor visas for Gergen Fellows.

Which internships are not supported through the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program?

• Internships in the for-profit/private sector or working for a political campaign.
• Research with Harvard faculty. (Students interested in conducting research with a faculty member should work directly with that faculty member and the appropriate research center in seeking funding.)

APPLICATION MATERIALS

• Resume
• Bio (up to 250 words)
• Statement of intent to pursue work in government or nonprofit service over the summer, explaining the skills the student seeks to develop through their summer internship, the kind of organization they are interested in, and the sort of work they seek to do. (up to 250 words). 
• Personal statement articulating the student’s dedication to public service, their vision for their career in public service, and how support from the Gergen Summer Fellowship will enable their work during the summer and into the student’s future. (up to 250 words)

While applicants who have already secured summer employment in government or nonprofit are welcome to apply, applicants do not have to have a prepared job offer. This program is designed to support students in finding meaningful work in public service.

Preference will be given to applicants whose essays clearly convey the field and type of work they wish to pursue; however, they are not required to specify a particular job or organization.

Finalists will be selected based on applicants’ demonstration of:

• A specific, compelling case for how the Gergen Fellowship will continue their demonstrated dedication to public service and public leadership and how the Gergen Fellowship will enable them to pursue opportunities that otherwise might not be possible.
• A commitment to summer work that 1) advances the public, common good, and 2) has potential to serve as a springboard for post-graduation careers in government or nonprofit service. The most successful applicants convey this commitment in concrete terms.

In order to be confirmed as Gergen Fellows, finalists will need to submit:

• Formal offer letter for summer employment that aligns with the spirit of the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program
• Compensation information detailing pay offered by host organization/employer (if applicable). This is for informational purposes only; CPL generally does not reduce Gergen Fellowship funding if an internship is paid.
• Signed CPL fellowship allowance paperwork

Questions? Email gergenfellows@hks.harvard.edu