Daniel C. Kramer Public Service Funded Summer Internship Program and 2016 Recipients

A permanent link to the award and its 2016 recipients is located here.

In 2016, the Legal Studies Institute launched a new funded summer internship initiative: The Daniel C. Kramer Public Internship Program in Law and Public Policy.

Named after Dan Kramer, Professor of Political Science at CSI from 1967 to 2000, and made possible by the generosity of Richenda Kramer, the program provides summer stipends in the amount of $2,000 to qualified students for internships in approved legal and policy settings. In return for a stipend, students work in a non-profit legal or policy setting for thirty-two hours each week for ten consecutive weeks over the summer. Eligibility is based on a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in public service in law or public policy, and demonstrated financial need. Students receiving an offer of a summer stipend may select from our menu of placement opportunities or propose their own placement site. The Program’s placement sites include the Office of the Staten Island District Attorney, the Legal Aid Society of Staten Island, Criminal Division, the Legal Aid Society of Staten Island, Civil Division, Staten Island Legal Services, and various other offices of elected officials and advocacy groups.

Meet CSI’s 2016 Daniel C. Kramer Public Service Summer Interns

Christina Dellaventura is a rising senior at the Macaulay Honors College at the College of Staten Island.  Christina majors in English Literature and Sociology/Anthropology and minors in American Sign Language.  She maintains a GPA of 4.0.  In the past, Christina has served as a research assistant to History Professor Melissa Borja, and as an intern at the Office of New York City Councilmember Debi Rose. In 2015, she was recognized as a Lisa Goldberg/Revson Scholar, an award given to students who are passionate about human rights and are likely to pursue a career in public service.  This summer, Christina will be interning in Washington, D.C., at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Migration and Refugee Services.  She will conduct policy research and attend panel discussions around the city related to migration issues. 

Jennifer Giordano is a rising senior in the Verrazano Honors Program at the College of Staten Island, CUNY. She is currently completing her major in History with a minor in Italian Studies. Her GPA is 3.86. Jennifer works for the St. George Library Center, a branch of the New York Public Library. During the winter intersession of 2015, Jennifer studied abroad in Florence, Italy through the Lorenzo D’Medici Institute and was fortunate enough to receive both the Frank and Margaret Ricciardi Scholarship and the Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship. She plans to take the LSAT in September. This summer, Jennifer will be interning at the Richmond County Surrogate’s Court.

Rachel Postiglione is a rising senior at the College of Staten Island in the Verrazano Honors Program.  She is majoring in Political Science with minors in Legal Studies and Spanish.  Rachel maintains a GPA of 3.86. After graduation, she plans to attend law school.  Rachel will be interning this summer at the Offices of New York City Councilmember Joseph C. Borelli (R—Staten Island).

Rachel Smalle is a rising senior in the Macaulay Honors College. She majors in both History and Geography and maintains a GPA of 4.0. Rachel received the Undergraduate Research Stipend from the College of Staten Island in 2015 and 2016 to conduct her own studies in history. She was also named a Macaulay Meyer Scholar and a Macaulay Revson Scholar in 2015. Her interests include traveling, studying German, reading science fiction. This summer Rachel will be interning at Staten Island Legal Services, where she will work on housing and family law issues.

About Daniel C. Kramer:

Daniel C. Kramer was born in Chicago but grew up in Philadelphia.  He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Kenyon College, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught at the University of Illinois for three years before joining the faculty of Richmond College, which later became the College of Staten Island, in 1967. Professor Kramer retired in 2000, after thirty-three years of service to the College, but continued to teach courses. He authored or co-author eight books and numerous journal articles on constitutional law, participatory democracy, and American politics and policy. In addition, he was active in the Staten Island Democractic Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Human Rights Watch. Professor Kramer died in 2010. During his long tenure at the College of Staten Island, he was renowned for his great teaching and personal warmth. He was mentor and friend to hundreds of College of Staten Island students and graduates.