MACON – Mercer University seniors Macire Aribot and Nassim Ashford were awarded Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Emerging Leaders Internships and will spend this semester working on Capitol Hill.
CBCF is a nonprofit nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute that focuses on advancing the global black community. Interns work in congressional offices and participate in professional development sessions.
Aribot and Ashford, both from Lithonia, completed the requirements for their Bachelor of Arts degrees a semester early and plan to participate in commencement in May.
Aribot, an international affairs and global development studies double-major, aspires to attend graduate school and ultimately pursue a career in public policy and international development. She hopes to use the CBCF Emerging Leaders Internship to better understand how to make a positive impact on her community.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill as a CBCF intern,” Aribot said. “I hope to gain a better understanding of the legislative and policymaking process and to fully understand the work that it takes to make a difference in our society. I am excited to be able to learn from and work closely with our nation’s leaders on policies that will make a difference in so many lives, and I hope to continue building relations with passionate individuals and professionals who have devoted their careers to public service.”
Aribot has served as president of the Mercer International Affairs Organization, a teaching assistant in international affairs and a member of the Leadership, Education, Awareness and Diversity Committee for QuadWorks student programming board.
She participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute Fellowship Program at Carnegie Mellon University and worked with Stacey Abrams’ campaign for governor of Georgia.
Additionally, she served as an ambassador and mentor for Mercer’s Opportunity Scholars program, treasurer of the Iota Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and social chair for the Caribbean Student Association.
She has participated in a Mercer On Mission trip to South Africa and interned with the Atlanta International Rescue Committee’s Economic Empowerment team.
Ashford, a global health studies and global development studies double-major, plans to attend graduate school and work domestically and internationally to improve healthcare practices and promote health equity for those in need. As a CBCF intern, he is eager to learn more about being an effective health advocate.
“I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be selected as a CBCF intern on Capitol Hill. Given my interest in global health, I have come to understand that a major component of raising awareness and invoking effective change of health issues involves the competency of health policies and regulations,” he said. “Through this internship, I hope to learn more about health policy and the legislative process so that I can be equipped to make effective change for generations to come.”
Ashford has served as president of the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., vice president of the Mercer National Pan-Hellenic Council, treasurer of the Caribbean Student Association, program chair of the Mercer International Affairs Organization and videographer and photographer for the QuadWorks Marketing Committee.
He was selected for the University of Michigan Future Public Health Leaders Program working as a CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholar to research how social determinants of health impact emergency preparedness. He also participated in the Nature Conservancy’s Growing Leaders on Behalf of the Environment program as an intern with Georgia Leaders for Environmental Action for the Future.
Additionally, Ashford was involved in a Mercer On Mission trip to Honduras, where he worked with three rural healthcare clinics to implement a new patient-record automation system.
