Isabella Torres recently gained hands-on experience in public service through an internship at the Jersey City district office of Andy Kim. Working in person twice a week, Isabella became closely involved in the day-to-day operations of a congressional office, supporting constituent services and learning how federal offices engage directly with the communities they represent.
A significant portion of her work focused on constituent communications. Isabella answered and logged phone calls, carefully documenting concerns, requests, and casework details in the office’s government case management system. Through this process, she learned how congressional offices track and respond to constituent issues while ensuring that inquiries are directed to the appropriate staff members. She also participated in weekly coordination meetings involving all three of the senator’s New Jersey offices, where staff discussed legislative updates, district priorities, and strategies for communicating with constituents.
Beyond daily office responsibilities, Isabella attended team meetings and larger cross-office discussions that provided insight into how congressional teams collaborate across locations. She also had the opportunity to attend public events and in-state meetings with Senator Kim, observing firsthand how elected officials engage with constituents and address community concerns.
During her internship, Isabella contributed to several research and data projects. She conducted policy research on the Gateway Program, examining the infrastructure initiative’s potential economic and transportation impacts across the region. She also created a Master Diaspora Map covering all 21 counties in New Jersey, developing a data formula to identify and analyze concentrations of ethnic and religious communities across the state. In addition, Isabella assisted the office with preparations during the October 2025 federal government shutdown by researching contingency planning strategies and potential operational impacts.
Isabella is currently a student in Seton Hall’s 3+2 Diplomacy program, where she is pursuing her undergraduate degree before continuing on to graduate school. Looking ahead, she hopes to build a career in international or human rights law, with the long-term goal of serving in diplomatic roles abroad. Her internship with Senator Kim, who himself has experience in both domestic government service and international policy work, provided valuable exposure to the intersection of public service, policy, and global engagement.
