Kylee is a first-generation college student from Chicago. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington, where she earned her B.A. in International Studies with minors in both International Economics and Spanish, as well as an Area Certificate in Political & Civic Engagement, with research interests in diplomacy, security, and governance.

Inspired by what she learned at a grass roots level, she decided to gain a more top-down perspective, interning at an Italian think tank in Rome, Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI), where she conducted policy-oriented research for the Italian Parliament to establish Italy’s first National Human Rights Institution.

More recently, she has worked with Jeremi Group, an organization that provides subsidized education along with career preparation and placement for at-risk populations in the Chicagoland area. She also serves as Vice President of HQ Tec overseeing the development of an electronic money transmission platform to facilitate remittances from the United States to Africa.

Summer Internship

I recently completed my summer internship with Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya (BNBR), a nonprofit in Kenya dedicated to promoting mental health and protecting the rights of individuals with mental health conditions and their caregivers. During the first half, I worked in Nairobi, conducting policy analysis and crafting briefs to inform County Mental Health Action Plans. I also contributed to a Ministry of Education conference, helping define Social-Emotional Learning and addressing barriers to youth education in Kenya.

In the second half, I was based in Kilifi, a rural district on Kenya’s coast, where I designed an impact evaluation plan for a project empowering persons with disabilities and assisted in distributing assistive devices to community members. Additionally, I created a proposal for a coconut processing social enterprise, conducting market research to connect 40 smallholder farmers to markets. This initiative aims to provide steady income for farmers, employ individuals with disabilities, and support sustainable BNBR financing.

This internship gave me the opportunity to contribute to impactful projects while gaining invaluable insights into the challenges faced by vulnerable communities in Kenya. I am incredibly grateful for the kindness and hospitality I experienced throughout my time there, and I sincerely hope to return in the near future.