This fall, IGNITE welcomes eight interns from across the country. These young leaders bring wide-ranging experiences, creative ideas, and a deep commitment to IGNITE’s mission. From high school and college students to recent graduates, these interns will contribute to IGNITE’s mission through advocacy, alumni engagement, program development, research, storytelling, and youth organizing. Meet the inspiring young people who will be supporting IGNITE’s work this fall!
Meet the Fall 2026 IGNITE INterns
Monica Claros Olivares
Special Projects Intern | Brandeis University
“I chose to intern with IGNITE because I knew it would be a community that intentionally created space for young women to not only see themselves as leaders, but also to prepare them as such. Growing up as a first-generation student and the daughter of immigrants, I often found myself navigating institutions that were not built with people like me in mind. At the same time, some of the most transformative experiences in my life came from programs and mentors who actively invested in students from backgrounds like mine.”
Kayari Douglas
Women in Student Government Intern | Prairie View A&M University
“I see myself using my lived experiences as a college student, student leader, and woman of color to advocate for students who may not always feel heard or represented. Navigating college, balancing academics with leadership responsibilities, and learning how to find and utilize campus resources have shown me how important it is for students to have supportive and accessible leadership. My experiences in student organizations have also taught me the importance of speaking up, collaborating with others, and advocating for issues that directly affect students. I want to use these experiences to encourage civic engagement, connect students with resources, and help create a campus community where students feel empowered to use their voices.”
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Kai Leigh Hernandez
Legislative Advocacy Intern | San Diego State University
“I first worked with IGNITE in high school through my Women in Politics club. Through this experience, I attended IGNITE the Capitol in Sacramento, where I advocated for legislation and met with senators to discuss key issues. This experience was incredibly inspiring and showed me how meaningful it can be to participate directly in the legislative process and advocate for change. My experience with IGNITE left a lasting impression on me and inspired me to continue pursuing opportunities in political advocacy. I hope to contribute to IGNITE’s mission while gaining valuable experience in advocacy, leadership, and legislative work. Most importantly, I want to help create meaningful change and encourage other young women to become involved in politics."
Yunah Kim
Advocacy Programs Intern | A&M Consolidated High School
“Volunteering at the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network (BIIN) has had a significant influence on my ability to connect with the community around me. With a rather compact population of Koreans within College Station, I was surprised and overjoyed to see that several Korean students had sought ESL education at BIIN. Not only did this experience prompt me to see beyond the existing knowledge of my own town, but it has pushed me to connect with the others around me with far more openness."
Lakshmi Koganti
Civic Engagement Intern | Edison High School
“My experiences have taught me that students often notice problems before the people making decisions do. As a student ambassador for Edison Township Public Schools, I represented nearly 2,400 students and brought their concerns directly into conversations with administrators and the Board of Education. I want to continue using that perspective to make sure young people feel heard, especially those who may not feel comfortable speaking up themselves. Whether through student organizing, community outreach, or civic engagement, I hope to create spaces where young people can share their experiences, find common ground, and turn those experiences into meaningful action.”
Isha Misra
Civic Engagement Intern | San Mateo High School
“I remember my mom used to put oil in my hair when I was little—a hair ritual that has been done by Indian women for generations— and she would tell me about her experience being pregnant with me and how she was treated by her bosses and coworkers. Despite being an incredibly hard worker in a senior position at her company, she was demeaned for wanting to take leave amidst a traumatizing pregnancy. Hearing about her and others’ experiences, and starting to develop my own, made me indignant at the difference in how society and the systems around us treat people of different genders and races. I think this frustration and confusion turned into a need for me to do something about it, and I’ve since gotten involved in my community, school, and organizations like IGNITE in an attempt to do anything in my power to address the discrepancies that have been so normalized.”
Sydney Satterwhite
Legislative Advocacy Intern | Vanderbilt University
“I was drawn to IGNITE because I am extremely passionate about politics and democracy. Furthermore, I am especially interested in empowering and equipping young women with the knowledge, resources, and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in the political process. I am excited to align myself with and learn from other women in politics striving for equitable change. The opportunity to develop my political and legislative advocacy skills is one that I find valuable to my overall career goals.”
Ana Smart
Legislative Advocacy Intern | Brigham Young University
“Working as a campaign manager for a BYUSA [Brigham Young University Student Service Association] election really shaped the leader I am today. It taught me that leadership isn’t just about having a vision, but about bringing people together, understanding their strengths, and making them believe in what you are working toward. It also showed me how powerful student voices can be when they are organized around a shared purpose.”
Interested in interning with IGNITE in the future? Sign up to receive alerts when applications open.