Sixteen University of Florida undergraduate students have been selected for local public service internships through the 2025-2026 CiviGators Internship Program.
Sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and UF’s Office of Government and Community Relations, the CiviGators program places students in part-time, meaningful roles with government offices and community organizations in the greater Gainesville area. Since its creation in Spring 2025, 27 UF students have participated in the program.
Interns work 10 to 15 hours per week while earning academic credit. They also participate in weekly professional development activities developed with Government and Community Relations. The program is open to undergraduates from all majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The students selected represent a range of academic backgrounds and interests. Read more about the interns and their placements below.
Abigail Needleman
Abigail is a senior majoring in business administration, with a pre-law concentration and a minor in social justice and policy. She aspires to make positive change in her community, and has completed a judicial internship with Judge Ross in the 17th Circuit. She volunteers in Gainesville with Gator Diplomats, an organization that prioritizes outreach and philanthropy to underserved Gainesville populations. With interests in advocacy, she hopes to attend law school in the future.
She has been placed with Marion County as a community services intern.
Ava Wherley
Ava is a junior majoring in journalism and political science. She serves as treasurer of the Public Leadership Society and digital organizing director of the College Democrats. With a passion for public service and social advocacy, she hopes to attend law school and become a public interest lawyer.
She has been placed with Children’s Trust of Alachua County as a community engagement and communications intern.
Avery Wicker
Avery Wicker is a senior at the University of Florida majoring in public relations on the corporate communications track, with a minor in innovation. She discovered her passion for politics and public service through the Florida House Page and Messenger Program as well as an internship with her state representative. At UF, she works as a member services supervisor with RecSports and stay engaged in campus leadership opportunities. Her goal is to pursue a career in lobbying and, ultimately, run for office to make a positive impact in her community.
She has been placed with Alachua County Tourism and Economic Development as a public relations intern.
Beatrice Lodolo Fiorani
Beatrice Lodolo Fiorani is a junior double majoring in criminology and political science, with a focus on European Union studies. A native of Italy, she is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish, and brings a creative and globally minded perspective to her public service work. She has a strong interest in international law, multilingualism, and civic engagement, and hopes to attend law school after graduation. She has also gained experience as a legal assistant and undergraduate researcher, strengthening her passion for law and public service.
She has been placed with Alachua County as an environmental services intern.
Daniella Ronda
Daniella Ronda is a sophomore majoring in civil engineering in the Wertheim College of Engineering, with a minor in urban & regional planning. She is passionate about fostering resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities by integrating planning principles into engineering practice. At UF, Daniella currently serves as secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a postsecondary degree attainment influencer with Take Stock in College and Career. She aims to combine technical expertise with a deep commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship in her future career.
She has been placed with Marion County as an administrative intern.
Emma Betzing
Emma is a sophomore studying political science while double minoring in leadership, and sociology of social justice and policy. She has interned with Integrated Services Inc. in Pasco County, worked with Gainesville Giving Gardens to operate UF’s Put for a Purpose, and studied abroad with the UF in Rome language and culture program. Additionally, Emma is an active member of Phi Alpha Delta, UF’s pre-law fraternity, and their Society of Scholars. Emma has an interest in helping those in need of social justice, and aims to attend law school and become an attorney.
She has been placed with Alachua County as a community support service intern.
Gonzalo Beltroy
Gonzalo Beltroy is a political science and economics student with experience in local political organizing, a state legislative campaign, and policy research. He has conducted research on social movements and elections, including the dynamics of far-right populism in Germany, while also contributing to voter outreach, event coordination, and community engagement. Gonzalo plans to pursue a career in public service and become a U.S. foreign service officer.
He has been placed with the City of Gainesville in the Office of Environmental Resiliency.
Jaela Parrone
Jaela Parrone is a senior studying criminology and general psychology. She has been involved in the Pre-Legal Honors Society and mock trial. After graduation, she plans to study law in hopes of being involved in an area of international law or criminal law.
She has been placed with the Alachua County Clerk of Court.
Julia Kereyeva
Julia Kereyeva is double majoring in economics and political science within UF’s Honors Program, and also pursuing a certificate in international relations. She aims to graduate in 2027 with the goal of pursuing a law degree in the near future. She has recently complemented her academic work with global experience through a study abroad program focused on international and global studies in London. As a trilingual first-generation student involved in pre-law and economic organizations, she is focused on developing and applying strong analytical skills and cultural fluency to tackle complex challenges in policy-making spheres.
She has been placed with Alachua County as a community support service intern.
Justine Asman
Justine is a fourth-year student majoring in information systems with a minor in classics on the pre-law track, preparing to attend law school after graduation. She is a member of the UF Litigators mock trial team, where she develops her skills in advocacy and legal argumentation. Alongside her academic and extracurricular work, Justine works at a law firm focusing on social media addiction cases, gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of law, technology, and society.
She has been placed with Alachua County as a housing development Intern.
Karen Gomes Velasquez
Karen is a senior majoring in political science with minors in economics and educational studies. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, she interned this summer on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Kathy Castor. At UF, she served as assistant director of transfer affairs in Student Government and aspires to attend law school and continue a career in public service.
She has been placed with the City of Gainesville in the Office of Environmental Resiliency.
Katelyn Green
Katelyn is a junior studying family, youth, and community sciences in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, with a minor in nonprofit organizational leadership. She is a member of the CALS honors program. She aims to raise awareness of educational inequity and inaccessibility toward individuals of varying abilities, genders and ethnic backgrounds. With a strong passion for quality and accessible education for all individuals, she hopes to study educational law and policy upon graduation.
She has been placed with the City of Gainesville as an executive intern.
Kylie Moylan
Kylie is a sophomore studying political science on the pre-law track. She has previously interned with the 7th Circuit State Attorney’s Office in both criminal and misdemeanor offices. She serves as a director of programming for the Freshman Leadership Council and as a CLAS ambassador. She also volunteers her time through Special Olympics cheerleading, and hopes to further her education in disability studies.
She has been placed with Marion County as a legislative affairs intern.
Paityn Hider
Paityn is a junior political science major, with minors in family, youth, and community sciences and Spanish. While at UF, Paityn has taken roles in multiple Student Government branches, worked as a research lead studying dating and marriage practices worldwide, provided literacy tutoring at a local elementary school, and been active in Phi Mu fraternity. In the future, Paityn hopes to work in foreign diplomacy, with an emphasis on humanitarian aid.
Paityn is interning with the Alachua County Department of Community Support Services in the Metamorphosis treatment program.
Parisa Rijal
Parisa Rijal is a third year political science student on the pre-law track. She is pursuing a minor in public service and a certificate in international relations. Recently, she has had the opportunity to both work and volunteer in the civil and family law sector, within which she has a passion for making legal processes and legalese more digestible to all citizens. She hopes to go to law school, and practice international law in the future.
She has been placed with the Alachua County Clerk of Court.
Reagan Lowe
Reagan Lowe is a sophomore studying economics as well as the philosophy, politics, economics, and law major. She serves as treasurer of the European Union club and the Florida Student Policy Forum, where she combines her interests in governance, policy, and international affairs. Reagan previously completed an internship with the Broward County Public Defender’s Office, gaining valuable experience in the legal field. She aspires to attend law school with a focus on corporate law and music intellectual property law.
She has been placed with the Alachua County Clerk of Court.