Welcome 2026 Civic Fellows

Friday, July 17, 2026
Contact: Amy Cheng Tarnoviski / 202-351-0575
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: amy.tarnoviski@ileader.org

Washington, DC – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is proud to announce its 2026 Civic Fellows, a distinguished cohort of 28 undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the United States who are spending the summer in Washington, D.C., gaining firsthand experience in public service and policymaking.

Representing a diverse range of academic disciplines, institutions, and backgrounds, the 2026 ILF Civic Fellows are united by a shared commitment to civic engagement and leadership. Throughout the summer, Civic Fellows are interning with federal agencies, congressional offices, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and innovative startups while participating in ILF’s leadership curriculum, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities with leaders across government, business, and the nonprofit sector.

As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, ILF remains committed to preparing the next generation of leaders who will shape our nation’s future. By investing in young people through mentorship, public service, and leadership development, ILF empowers students to strengthen their communities and help build a stronger future for our nation.

For more than 27 years, the ILF Civic Fellowship Program has provided talented undergraduate students with immersive public service experiences that foster leadership, civic engagement, and professional growth. Strongly rooted in America’s Asian Pacific American communities, ILF’s Civic Fellowship today serves U.S. citizens and future leaders from all walks of life.

“The Civic Fellowship is designed to give students more than an internship; it provides a community of mentors, peers, and leaders who encourage them to grow personally and professionally,” said ILF Executive Director Amy Cheng Tarnoviski. “By connecting Fellows with meaningful public service opportunities and leadership development, we are helping prepare them to make a lasting impact in their communities and careers.”

Summer 2026 ILF Civic Fellows

  1. Alex Chen, Southern Methodist University, Federal Aviation Administration
  2. Arshi Chawla, University of California, Berkeley, U.S. Department of Justice
  3. Austin Song, University of Georgia, Legis1
  4. Brandon Cheng, Harvard College, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
  5. Caleb Faulkerson, George Mason University, Global Education Office Global Faculty-Led
  6. Coby Lin, New York University, National ACE
  7. Ella Yu, Georgetown University, Georgetown University’s Small Business Corps
  8. Grace Zhou, Harvard College, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
  9. Henry Hung, Johns Hopkins University, U.S.-Asia Institute
  10. Ianna Chan, Hillsdale College, Hudson Institute
  11. Isabella Merino, University of Texas at Austin, U.S. Department of Labor and District of Columbia Public Schools
  12. Janhavi Ramekar, Oakland University, Atlantic Council and FAPAC
  13. Jessica Chai, University of Texas at Austin, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
  14. Joshua Wei, University of California, Davis, Federal Communications Commission
  15. Kai Wong, Amherst College, National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Commission
  16. Katelyn Myint, University of California, Los Angeles, District of Columbia Superior Court
  17. Leo Zhang, Georgetown University, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
  18. Lynn El Dabbagh, University of Southern California, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
  19. Michael Liang, Cornell University, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
  20. Natalie Kim, Scripps College, District of Columbia Superior Court and National Korean Student Alliance
  21. Pearl Rehm, New York University Shanghai, FedTech
  22. Riya Ashok, University of Virginia, FedTech
  23. Rushien Maghsoud, The George Washington University, The Office of Governor Wes Moore
  24. Tate Lee, Duke University, United States International Trade Commission
  25. Vedant Khadiya, Rice University, Hudson Institute
  26. Xian-Wei Chiu, University of California, Davis, International Tax and Investment Center
  27. Yuwei Cheng, University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S. Senate
  28. Zaina Waheed, Rice University, Legis1 and Muslim Americans in Public Service

Please find more information about the ILF Civic Fellowship at https://www.ilfnational.org/fellowship/.