Welcome to our new class of interns for our Spring 2025 Intern Program! This skilled group will spend the spring exploring the fields of government relations, policy and public affairs. They will also develop strong communication, policy analysis, research and writing skills. Throughout the program, our interns will gain essential insights into the workings of the United States government, the intersection of public affairs and public policy, and the business development process through marketing research and collateral creation.
Out of 474 applicants, we have selected 25 impressive young professionals to join the team this spring, with three returning interns, Lexi Durham, Sriman Thangaraj and Thomas Soh. Together, they will support senior professionals throughout the firm in policy, appropriations, research, public affairs, advisory services, compliance, marketing and overall operations. We are thankful to have this group on our team and look forward to witnessing their development over the coming months. Learn more about each of their backgrounds, interests and fun facts below!
Lila Aboul-Nasr (Policy Intern): Lila Aboul-Nasr is originally from Phoenix, AZ. She is currently a sophomore pursuing a Finance and Accounting double major at the University of Maryland-College Park. At UMD, she is a part of University Honors, Federal Fellows and the QUEST Honors Program. Lila is a Banneker-Key Scholar and has also received the George Snow Door of Opportunity and LEAGUE Foundation scholarships due to her passion for social justice.
Lila has worked for political campaigns, including Mark Kelly for Senate and the Harris-Walz campaign. Recently, she was even able to help launch an organization dedicated to solving the issue of post-campaign cyclical unemployment. She has also worked with various non-profits, such as the Si Se Puede Foundation and one-n-ten, to offer affordable programs and services to Arizona youth. When she’s back home, Lila works at Mathnasium and In-N-Out Burger, which represent two of her favorite things: math and cheeseburgers! In her free time, Lila loves to play soccer, go cliff jumping and try new restaurants.
Fun Fact: Lila has watched the entirety of Glee six times. If there’s a Glee cover of a song, she refuses to listen to the original!
Thomas Bell (Policy Intern): Thomas Bell is a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Before coming to SAIS, Thomas graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Political Science, Spanish and Japanese. He spent two years teaching English in Fukushima, Japan, before spending the first year of his master’s degree in Bologna, Italy. In addition to teaching, Thomas completed internships with the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee, and Eni in Rome, Italy.
Thomas has experience in foreign affairs, health and energy policy, and is excited to learn more at Cornerstone. He enjoys film, language learning and seeing new places.
Fun Fact: Thomas has lived in a lot of places so far, including DC, eight US states, two regions of Italy and one Japanese prefecture!
Luke Brown (Policy Intern): Luke Brown was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, is a third-year student at the University of Kentucky, studying political science, Russian and peace studies. After finishing his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend law school. His previous internship experience includes working in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, where he kept records of legislative hearings and deliberations, as well as working for Justice Action, an Australian nonprofit organization focused on criminal justice reform. His work there included assisted research issues impacting incarcerated individuals, resulting in successfully pushing for a parliamentary inquiry at the state level based on our findings. He also has experience canvassing for multiple campaigns. At UK, he is a member of the College Democrats (for which he was elected Vice President this year), the pre-law and political science honor societies and the Russian Club.
In his free time, he enjoys cheering for the Kentucky Wildcats, the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also a night person and travel geek. Outside of the United States, he has been to Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Fun Fact: Luke can speak Russian reasonably well.
Robert Buhrmeister (Appropriations Intern): Robert Buhrmeister is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a passion for agriculture, policy and serving his community. As the youngest member of a large family, learning quickly was what he understood he needed to do to forge his own path in life. This led to him getting involved in any and everything that could teach him something new. Robert’s experiences range from interning at a local water treatment plant to acting as a campaign canvass director out in Chicago, and even opening up and operating a food pantry during his time in college. In his free time, he loves to spend time building relationships, connecting with nature and cooking.
Robert is so excited to be an Appropriations Intern at Cornerstone Government Affairs this Spring. He is always excited for an opportunity to learn as well as a chance to work hard.
Fun Fact: Robert grew up as a singer/actor in the NY/NJ metro exposing him to working with Broadway stars like Michael Park (Dear Evan Hansen) and even being friends with movie stars like Rachel Zegler (The Hunger Games).
Peter Busch (Appropriations Intern): Peter Busch is a native of Arlington, Virginia with longstanding interests in public policy, government and law. He attends Colgate University in upstate New York, where he is preparing to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in history. In his free time, Peter likes to read Stephen King novels, take long walks or write in my journal. He also enjoys Italian food and looking at maps of subway systems.
Peter has always been interested in history, and in particular, how huge, complicated structures of governance make decisions that affect ordinary people. Growing up in the Northern Virginia suburbs and being involved with his high school’s Model UN team and his university’s student government primed him to think more closely about a career in this field.
Fun Fact: Peter likes to walk everywhere! During previous internships in D.C., he has enjoyed strolling around places like the National Mall or Teddy Roosevelt Island. It’s good exercise, it helps him relax, and it makes him feel more at home in the world.
Chayce Canty (OpsWatch Intern): Chayce Canty is an Atlanta native and a sophomore at Colgate University, where she is double majoring in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies. Her academic focus centers on the ways legal policies and frameworks shape the lived experiences of diverse communities globally. Chayce is also pursuing a concentration in French, further deepening her interest in international relations and cultural exchange. Before starting at Colgate, Chayce took a gap year to study abroad in Belgium, where she immersed herself in French language and culture. Recently, she returned to Belgium to research the legacy of the Belgian-Congo, exploring the intersections of history, art and everyday forms of resistance.
On campus, Chayce is deeply involved in student life and leadership. She serves on the Executive Board of the Black Student Union and has founded a student-led business aimed at providing equitable childcare services to Colgate faculty, staff and students. Chayce also works in the President’s Office, contributing to initiatives that promote a safe, inclusive, and equitable campus environment. Additionally, she participates in several panels focused on fostering campus dialogue around social justice and community-building.
Fun Fact: Chayce is on a mission to visit 30 countries before 30 – only 14 left to go!
Lily Cohen (Policy Intern): Lily Cohen is a current undergraduate senior from Ellicott City, MD. This past semester, she started taking courses toward my Master of Public Policy through the University of Maryland’s joint BA/MPP program. She is simultaneously pursuing a double major in Government and Politics and Criminology and Criminal Justice to complete her undergraduate education. This past summer, Lily served as a Clerk at a lobbying firm in the heart of Washington, D.C., where she was tasked with attending congressional hearings, tracking legislative trends, writing memos and compiling critical research on behalf of clients in the financial services, state and local, healthcare, international, commerce and defense sectors. Before last summer, she worked as a group fitness instructor on campus, served as a campus tour guide, interned through UMD’s Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office, and currently works as a supervisor at Ritchie Coliseum. Lily was also a part of the year-long Federal Fellows program, concentrating on Homeland and National Security Policy. In her free time, she enjoys watching UMD sports teams, spending time at the Maryland/Delaware beaches, exploring new coffee shops and training for her second half marathon!
Fun Fact: Lily played club soccer and achieved a blackbelt in karate when I was 10!
Joshua Dela Cruz (Appropriations Intern): Joshua Dela Cruz is a recent graduate of Northeastern University with a bachelor’s in psychology. His work experience focuses on creating opportunities and researching support programs for adolescent mental health care. In the future, Josh aims to attend graduate school to earn a Master’s of Social Work.
From this internship experience, Joshua hopes to gain a better understanding of how finances disseminate throughout the government and organizations, network with fellow colleagues, and develop the professional language needed to complete funding requests.
Fun Fact: Joshua lived in 6 states (NC, KY, TN, IL, RI and MA) and 1 other country (South Korea) before moving to VA!
Steven Imme (Compliance Intern): Steven Imme is a second-year law student at George Washington University. Before returning to academics, he worked in the semiconductor industry for three years. Steven assisted in matters related to internal inspections, the CHIPS Act and export controls. He enjoys reading books and watching clips on pet animals during his free time, but he hasn’t been able to read much during school.
Growing up, he always wanted to make meaningful contributions to the society. He majored in major in public administration, as a result, and this allowed him to continue gaining public affairs-related experiences.
Fun Fact: Steven was trapped inside a Ferris Wheel for 10 minutes!
Gia Iyer (Policy Intern): Gia Iyer is a sophomore at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, double-majoring in International Affairs and International Business with a concentration in International Development and a minor in Political Science. She is a member of the GWU Parliamentary Debate Team, a researcher for the Onero Institute, and is the Deputy Communications Director for the College Democrats of America. Her topic interests include education policy and foreign relations. In her free time, she enjoys reading high-fantasy books and playing video games.
Gia has been interested in politics since she was in middle school – watching the 2012 elections as a young kid definitely shaped who she wants to be now. Since then, she has seen the government landscape shift dramatically, which piqued her interest in learning how companies, organizations and the government itself keep up. That’s why she decided to study International Affairs, and it’s why she was interested in interning for Cornerstone.
Fun Fact: Gia has been taking kickboxing classes for six months!
Benjamin Lindsey (Policy Intern): Benjamin Lindsey is from Hagerstown, Maryland. He lived there with his parents and two brothers until he attended Towson University. Benjamin ran track and cross country for 4 years in high school before becoming an avid gym-goer in college. He begins this internship after graduating with a major in International Relations in December. In an effort to grow his professional portfolio, Benjamin worked as an RA at TU for 2 years, then as a Refugee Resettlement Intern for summer 2024, and spent his last semester studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. One fun fact about me is that I love the MCU and will talk about it constantly.
Fun Fact: Benjamin has an extensive knowledge of Hollywood operations (box office collections, executive decisions, project developments) despite never studying film in any capacity.
Cara Martin (Policy Intern): Cara Martin recently graduated from American University with her B.A. in International Studies, with a thematic focus on the Global Economy and a regional focus on East Asia. She also completed a minor in Literature. While at AU Cara was involved in the Complex Problems program, serving as a Senior Program Leader in core classes such as Legally Speaking. This allowed her to expand her knowledge regarding foundational aspects of the legal sector while acting as a mentor for incoming freshmen. Cara also worked as an Assistant Reviewer for Clocks and Clouds, American University’s oldest undergraduate research journal. There, she edited and reviewed research papers concerning a variety of international social and political topics, giving her a broader understanding of international issues outside of her degree focus. During her Spring 2024 semester, she studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh where she took courses on Chinese History and Early Irish Literature!
In the summer of 2023, Cara was an Intern at the district office of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. There, she was able to see the domestic policy at work and its impact on everyday Americans. She also interned at the American Maritime Congress in DC, which gave her a look into policy-making, lobbying and governmental proceedings regarding maritime law and its broader role in international relations. This past summer she spent time as a student consultant through AU’s Kogod in Practice program, which introduced her to consulting and the work consultants do to meet client needs and goals. In her free time, she loves to read, journal and walk around the gardens of the National Cathedral. Cara plans to attend law school after her gap year!
Fun Fact: Cara used to Irish dance and danced in a feiseanna!
Max Mooradian (Policy Intern): Maximillian (Max) Mooradian is a senior enrolled in an accelerated master’s program at American University, pursuing dual degrees in International Relations at the School of International Service and Political Science at the School of Public Affairs. On campus, Maximilian is actively engaged in various extracurricular activities. He is a member of the Alexander Hamilton Society, serves as an Economics Fellow at the Pericles Institute, and participates on the Kai Disciplinary Committee. Additionally, he is the former Vice President of Risk Management for the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Maximilian has cultivated a diverse array of professional experiences. He began his career as a Congressional Intern for House Majority Leader Representative Steve Scalise, where he honed skills in event planning, policy research and fostering inter-congressional relationships. Returning to California, he interned for Respresentative Young Kim, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, gaining valuable experience in constituent relations, legislative processes and California’s local political landscape. Maximilian further expanded his expertise through his role at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, where he developed skills in producing publications, efficiently summarizing long-form conferences, and deepening his knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region. Most recently, he served as a Research Intern for Senior Fellow Dr. David Asher at the Hudson Institute. In this capacity, Maximilian conducted in-depth investigations into the Chinese Communist Party’s financial corruption, navigated Chinese-language sources and created comprehensive reports on complex financial schemes, furthering his expertise in China-related economic and geopolitical issues.
Fun Fact: Max speaks Mandarin with conversational proficiency and his favorite hobby is scuba diving.
Ilianna Murphy (OpsWatch Intern): Ilianna Murphy is an Iowa native and currently working to finish her bachelor’s degree in political science and social justice studies at Simpson College. Before interning at Cornerstone, Ilianna worked for a lobbying firm based out of the Iowa State Capitol where she represented a variety of clients. This is where her passion for advocacy and public relations work started. Additionally, Ilianna has experience working at the Grants Program Offices at both Iowa State University and Simpson College. The position allowed her insight into how institutions supplement funds for research and programming.
Ilianna became interested in public relations and affairs during her year-long internship at the Iowa State Capitol. There, she had the opportunity to work closely with lawmakers, advocacy groups and constituents, which sparked her passion for advocacy and social justice work. She was drawn to the power of communication in shaping public opinion, influencing policy and amplifying voices on important issues.
Fun Fact: Ilianna grew up around cornfields!
Faina Pensy (Policy Intern): Faina Pensy is a born and raised Maryland native. She is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, pursuing a dual bachelor’s degree in government and communications with a minor in Russian Studies. During her time as a student, Faina has dedicated herself to advocacy and constructive discourse. On campus, she has served in multiple leadership positions in her Student Government Association, the UMD Honors College and BridgeUMD. Offcampus, she has interned in political consulting and most recently interned with the District Office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.
In her free time, Faina loves to cook, bake, and spend time with her family (especially her dog, Banks). She is an avid reader and is always looking for a new book to learn from.
Fun Fact: Faina has a black belt and is a dedicated New York Times Daily Mini Crossword enjoyed!
Savannah Raley (Policy Intern): Savannah Raley is a senior at Appalachian State University, where she is earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in American Politics and a minor in Leadership Studies. As a Plemmons Leadership Scholar and a member of the Political Science Departmental Honors program, she has honed their analytical and leadership skills through rigorous coursework and hands-on experience. Savannah has held numerous leadership roles, including drafting and passing legislation in student government which impacts over 21,000 students. She also managed campus elections, administering the process for electing representatives and drafting comprehensive bylaws from scratch.
Beyond student government, Savannah served as a Campus Coordinator for the Feminist Majority Foundation, where she led a team to educate students about voter engagement and critical policy issues while managing outreach efforts through social media. With a passion for creating meaningful change and a strong commitment to public service, Savannah brings a diverse skill set and a collaborative approach to every initiative she undertakes.
Fun Fact: During the ten-year span in which Savannah swam for USA swimming, she had the opportunity to engage with Olympians such as Katie Ledecky, Micheal Phelps, Caeleb Dressel and collaborate with coaches such as Bob Bowman.
Kyler Rowzee (Public Affairs Intern): Kyler Rowzee is currently a student at George Washington University, graduating in the Spring of 2025. He studies Business with a concentration in Business Economics and Public Policy and a Minor in Political Science. His previous professional experience has spanned the realms of public affairs, digital advertising, research, political campaigns, and communications.
Outside of work, Kyler enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching movies, listening to music and podcasts, and exercising. He is hoping to gain hands-on experience in public affairs through working with fascinating clients and receiving guidance and mentorship from the experienced employees of Cornerstone. Ultimately, he hopes to leave a lasting impact on the firm and clients as well as gain skills and experience that he will carry with him for the rest of his professional life.
Fun Fact: Kyler wanted to be an actor/director and did theater growing up. He is now passionate about politics and business and has wildly different professional aspirations. However, he is still very passionate about the arts and watches multiple films per week.
Arianna Salerno (Policy Intern): Arianna Salerno hails from Watchung, New Jersey, but has lived in DC for the past three years studying Politics and Intelligence Studies at The Catholic University of America. On campus, Arianna is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honors Chapter and the Cornerstone Scholars Program, specializing in the Politics, Philosophy and Economics track. She currently serves as the Executive Secretary of Catholic’s Undergraduate Student Government Association, playing a key role in fostering student engagement and advancing university-wide initiatives.
Arianna’s passion for policy and government affairs has flourished throughout her diverse range of internships. Arianna has interned in the Office of Senator Cory Booker, Representative Sara Jacobs, and NJ Senate President Nicholas Scutari. Most recently, during the fall of 2024, Arianna was a Government Affairs Intern at K&L Gates DC. Arianna is an avid fan of the arts and enjoys attending live theater productions in her free time. She looks forward to a wonderful semester ahead at Cornerstone Government Affairs!
Fun Fact: Arianna was in an Off-Broadway show in New York City in 2019!
Jasmine Wani (Operations Intern): Jasmine Wani was born in Munich, Germany, and raised in Houston, TX. Jasmine is a junior pursuing a BBA in Management Information Systems at the University of Houston. This semester, Jasmine worked on an energy solutions project with British Petroleum (BP), gaining valuable knowledge about the industry and how strategy shapes global energy markets. Jasmine also studied abroad in Greece last year, which expanded her understanding of different cultures and enhanced her studies.
Outside of academics, Jasmine helps organize events for Charity Week, a global organization that raised over $3 million for orphans this year. This experience has developed her leadership and event-planning skills while deepening her passion for giving back. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys morning walks, watching sunsets, reading historical fiction, and baking. Jasmine looks forward to learning from Cornerstone Government Affairs and growing her skills in consulting while continuing to make a positive impact.
Fun Fact: Jasmine can speak 3 languages (English, Urdu and Kashmiri)!
Jose Wray (Policy Intern): Jose Wray recently graduated from Santa Clara University, where he was a captain of the Men’s Rowing team. Wray also served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative for the team. He double majored in Political Science and Religious Studies and was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha and Theta Alpha Kappa honor societies for each discipline, respectively. Away from school, Wray spent his summers interning at a nationwide non-profit that aimed to reduce youth violence by empowering middle school students to write about their experiences with youth violence and their solutions to its prevalence in their communities.
Fun Fact: Jose can do the splits!
Olivia Wyrick (Policy Intern): Olivia Wyrick, originally from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, graduated Cum Laude from the College of Charleston in June of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a European concentration and French and Francophone Studies. During her time at Charleston, she was an active member of the French National Honor Society and International Studies Honor Society and participated in Rotaract. She spent a year in Switzerland as a Rotary Youth Ambassador and a semester abroad in France at La Rochelle University. Olivia’s professional experience includes being a Senate intern for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and working as a field organizer for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. In her downtime, Olivia enjoys exploring new tea shops, trying unique ice cream flavors and listening to classical music.
Fun Fact: Olivia has a complete collection of annotated books by Jane Austen, has run a 5K, and is working towards completing a 10K!
Charlotte Yew Huixin (Public Affairs Intern): Charlotte Yew Huixin is a sophomore at Duke University, studying Public Policy and Sociology, with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Born and raised in Singapore, Charlotte is enthusiastic about bringing global-minded perspectives to her roles on campus and in her work. She currently serves as President of the Singapore Students’ Association and is a dancer with Pureun, a K-pop dance team at Duke. An avid museum-goer and amateur art enthusiast, Charlotte is a member of the Undergraduate Executive Board at the Nasher Museum of Art. Charlotte has worked on marketing projects with Duke University’s Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, as well as with Durham Community Incubator.
Last Summer, Charlotte interned with the Singapore Tourism Board, where she supported cross-functional digital transformation projects. Proficient in Chinese and Korean and fascinated by Southeast Asian affairs, Charlotte leverages her diverse background to connect with people from all walks of life. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Fun Fact: Charlotte is a soccer fan and used to avidly play Fantasy Premier League. She got pretty good, placing in the Top 2% of players in my second season!
Joining us from previous intern classes:
Lexi Durham (Public Affairs Intern)
Sriman Thangaraj (Appropriations Intern)
Thomas Soh (Appropriations Intern)