Jennifer Tamay ’22 has always wanted to help uplift immigrant families, so when Professor of Sociology Maria Volpe, Ph.D., told her about a virtual internship opportunity with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, she jumped at the chance—and it led to a job offer.

“The internship with Catholic Charities was the perfect opportunity for me to practice my dispute resolution skills, gain more experience in the legal profession, and really help immigrants,” says the International Criminal Justice major from Sunnyside, New York. “The organization works in many different areas and one of them is providing free legal services to immigrant and refugee families.”

For Tamay, who has a Dispute Resolution Certificate and hopes to become a lawyer, the internship was profoundly meaningful and personal. “I come from immigrant parents, so I understand the struggles and difficulties many immigrants face in the United States. From a very young age, I had a passion for working with immigrant families and I knew I wanted to have a career in the legal field so that I could help them thrive.”

Gaining Skills at John Jay
Tamay grew up not only determined to support the immigrant community, but she also knew exactly how she would help uplift the group. “My parents came to the United States from Ecuador and they had a lawyer who helped them with their paperwork. I was so fascinated by her and what she was doing to help them that I began asking her all these questions,” recalls Tamay. “She told me about her career path and how she had studied criminal justice and it gave me a sort of blueprint to follow in my own life. I did my research, looked at colleges that offered a criminal justice major, and that’s when I came across John Jay. Instantly, I felt it was the right college for me.” 

Not only was John Jay College’s focus on justice issues impressive to Tamay, she also loved the College’s diversity. “I knew that at John Jay I would meet classmates and professors, like Professor Volpe, who cared for underserved and underrepresented communities. And, I knew that they would share their experiences and knowledge with me, giving me insight on different communities, justice issues, the criminal justice field, and the law. I truly believe that John Jay College has put me on the path to making my legal professional dreams come true.”

Interning at Catholic Charities
At Catholic Charities Tamay was thrilled to see how inclusive, supportive, and welcoming everyone was. “From the start, my supervisors were so wonderfully motivating. They really encouraged me to ask questions and wanted to see me succeed. Also, the fact that they offered a virtual internship option was a complete blessing,” says the graduating senior. “It meant I could continue to go to John Jay full time, work a full-time job, and do the internship three days a week—all while truly giving my best in each role.”

During the internship, Tamay regularly engaged with lawyers at the organization, deepening her knowledge of immigration rights and the different processes the community encounters. “It was such a rewarding experience because I had the chance to learn so much about how the immigration system works. My supervisors, coworkers, and the legal professionals I worked with provided me all the information I needed to make the most of my experience and help these families,” she says. “I had the chance to work with immigrants and their families directly. I listened to their moving and at times heartbreaking stories. I learned why they came to the United States, and I heard about their fears and concerns. It felt good helping these families, informing them of their rights and options, and providing them with some guidance.”

Looking ahead, Tamay is excited that she can continue this life-changing work. Earlier this year, after three months as an intern, she proudly accepted a full-time position with Catholic Charities as a migration counselor, where she meets with clients, preps documents for different immigration cases, and performs weekly legal consultations. “Everyone at Catholic Charities loves their job. They enjoy helping people and do the best they can to help all the people they can. That’s always really inspiring for me because their passion for the work is clear and infectious. It’s a passion I share,” says Tamay.

“John Jay and Catholic Charities gave me an incredible opportunity to kick off my career right away through this internship. I’ll always be grateful to them for their guidance, support, and the chance to start off my post-John Jay life on the right foot. It’s a place that is filled with a lot of heart.”