Baruch Student Named a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow

May 4, 2022

Baruch College undergraduate Marina Nasef (’25) is among 15 students from 12 New York City higher education institutions selected for the highly competitive 2022 Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship program, a three-summer paid internship in both the public and private sectors.

Watson Fellows are chosen for their outstanding academic records, strong leadership potential, and desire to explore cultures and new professional fields. Nasef, who is majoring in operations management at the Zicklin School of Business and minoring in law and policy, is considering interning for the Office of the Public Advocate, American Documentary, and Resilient Cities Catalyst working to bring light to underserved communities.

“I was in complete awe and filled with excitement winning this Fellowship,” Nasef expressed. “I can’t wait to experience the many opportunities, personal growth, and discoveries that are soon to come.”

Inspired by Love of Family and Commitment to Serving her Community

For Nasel, the decision to pursue the fellowship comes from many factors—first is her appreciation and admiration of her family.

“They have come from Egypt to America with almost nothing in their pockets, yet have grinded and remained hopeful despite the hardships,” explains Nasef. “My humble father, driven mother, and hardworking sisters have motivated and encouraged me to take on leadership roles and projects that are much bigger than myself.

“I account any of my success to them.”

Nasef also points to becoming aware of the numerous problems facing her community, such as the lack of representation and available resources, as a motivating factor to apply for the Fellowship.

This opportunity will help advance her previous efforts to evoke change.

Previously, Nasef previously was a student representative for all 1.1 million NYC DOE students on the Panel for Educational Policy addressing the issues of mental health prioritization, educational instruction, racism, post-secondary readiness, and the need for greater transparency about policies that impact students.

She served as executive producer for the film It’s Time: Ending the Stigma on Mental Health, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Health and NYC School Mental Health Department, to share information and prioritize mental health in the school system through public voice.

Nasef adds, “As I saw the death toll rising and jobs depleting during the pandemic, I used my position as Lieutenant Governor of Division 10 Key Club and fundraised almost $10,000 for COVID- relief and organized tutoring and therapeutic services.”

With an interest in consulting and law, the JK Watson Fellowship will help her define a meaningful career path.

“I have gradually seen myself become a helping hand, a voice for those silenced, and a person who held the courage to rewrite their own story. I knew that applying for Jeannette K Watson with the internships, cultural events, seminars, and cohort available to me would enable me to continue my work of amplifying voices of the underserved and supporting them in their pursuit of justice.”

Baruch Helps Student Secure Fellowships

According to Nasef, she learned about the JK Watson opportunity through a Fall 2021 orientation about public service fellowships hosted by Valeria Hymas, deputy director of the Office of National and Prestigious Fellowships Advising.

“The application process was great—it gave me the chance to sit down and take the time to reflect on my personal growth and career interests,” recalls Nasef. “The hardest part of the application process was choosing which internship would I want to pursue—there are so many great options.”

The Office of National and Prestigious Fellowships Advising helps students through the essential steps of applying for fellowships and scholarships, including writing proposals. Learn more about the Office and how it supports Baruch students.

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