Barbara Lee Fellowship
The Barbara Lee Fellowship is a paid internship opportunity for students interested in gaining professional experience in law, public policy and practice.
Congratulations to the 2025 Barbara Lee Fellows!
The Barbara Lee Fellowship gives juniors and seniors exposure to and education in the nuts and bolts of Massachusetts political leadership through practical experience in the arena of public policy and practice. Selected students, who register for an eight credit internship through the Department of Politics and Policy, receive a stipend and an internship placement with a female state legislator.
Graduates from the Barbara Lee Fellowship Program have gone on to do a wide variety of things. A few examples include:
- Law school and graduate school
- Americorps
- Working at the Massachusetts State House in various capacities, including Chief of Staff
- Campaign Field Work Director
- Legislative Aide with a member of Congress
- Teaching and working in academia
- Non-profit and NGO work
The Barbara Lee Family Foundation Intern Fellowship Program, developed in the spring semester 2004, was based on the interest of three groups: a political science department that wanted to increase the scope and success of its already-established internship program, a donor whose philanthropic foundation commits itself to putting more women in positions of political power, and state legislators who wanted to mentor young women in the political process.
Barbara Lee is an alumna of Simmons University and founded and ran the Barbara Lee Family Foundation. The Foundation has provided funding to Simmons for increasing awareness of politics as a vocation for women.
Criteria for Application
- Seniors preferred, juniors considered.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation from a faculty member
Please note: Students who are participating in the Fellows program should take POLS 212: Politics Unplugged: How Things Work in Massachusetts, offered in the fall semester. The goal of the course is to prepare students for direct involvement in the political process, whether it be with legislators (state representatives, federal representatives, governor's office) or non-government organizations involved in policy formation (non-profits, interest groups, lobbying groups).
The course gives an overview of the Massachusetts political system and organizes speakers and site visits throughout the semester. Students are required to give mock oral presentations to legislators and heads of NGOs and to use the internet as a research tool for tracking bills and laws. The class will focus on developing writing skills, including memo writing, advocacy writing, public policy briefing memos, and one major policy analysis paper, depending on the type of internship in which the student wishes to participate.
How to Apply
The application for the Barbara Lee Fellowship is currently closed. Applications for Spring 2027 will open in Fall 2026.
Please contact Aarti Chellakere ([email protected]) with any questions.
The Barbara Lee Fellowship Program in the News
Finding Her Place in Political Science
First-generation student and political science major Syeda Anas ’26 reflects on her involvement with the Barbara Lee Fellowship Program, and about learning to talk to people without fear of judgment.
Community Immersion and Everyday Leadership
Africana studies and international relations major Alexandra “Ale” Huamán ’26 reflects on four years at Simmons: getting involved in the Boston community, being a Barbara Lee Fellow, and studying abroad to name a few of the activities she packed in.
Finding Inspiration in a Women-Centered Environment
Victoria Savoie ’26, a political science and communications major, reflects on her participation in the 2025 spring NYC Agency trip through the Department of Communications, the articles she wrote for the student-run news organization, The Simmons Voice, and her selection for the Barbara Lee Fellowship program.
Barbara Lee Fellows Intern at the Massachusetts State House
Simmons recently hosted a celebration for student participants in the Barbara Lee Fellowship, an internship program that pairs Simmons students with female-identifying senators and representatives at the Massachusetts State House.
Cultivating Diverse Perspectives, in Boston and Abroad
Mariana Rodríguez Rivera ’25 shares her experience with the Passionate Leaders Project, her study abroad experience, and how Simmons has prepared her for a career in accounting.
A Multidisciplinary Education: Irish Immersion, State House Internship, and Reproductive Health Research
Sociology major Gracyn Delaune ’24 reflects on her time abroad, impactful internships and research opportunities, her favorite professors and what it is like to attend school in Boston.
Developing a Personal Passion into a Capstone Research Project
Exercise Science student and Barbara Lee Fellow Haleigh St.Hilaire ’24 explores the intersection of Exercise Science and Public Health through her internship at the Massachusetts State House.
Flourishing in the Community at Simmons and Completing Meaningful Internships
Bella Yee ’24 is a Public Relations and Marketing Communications major, with minors in Business and Public Policy. She is the Communications Director for the Student Government Association and Co-President of the Communications Liaison. Yee also interned for the Massachusetts legislature, most recently for the Office of Representative Adrianne Ramos.
Questions? We are here to help.
Office of Research and Fellowships
The Office of Research and Fellowships is committed to supporting the intellectual curiosity, creativity and scholarly development of Simmons students.
Jaime Libowitz
Director of Operations, Student Engagement, Success, and Diversity