Meet PAAIA’s 2015 Fall CHIP Fellow
Washington, D.C. – There will be a new Iranian American on Capitol Hill this fall. Shahriar Jahanbani is the recipient of the Akbar Ghahary Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP), working at the office of Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10th/VA).
Born and raised in Great Falls, Virginia, Shahriar is a senior at American University. He is studying in a multi-discipline major in Communications, Law, Economics, and Government (CLEG) and is expected to graduate in June of 2016.
The CHIP program recognizes that congressional internships are often the inspiration and launching point for the careers of some of the most distinguished public servants in the nation. Serving as a congressional intern gives Shahriar an important vantage point on American public life, valuable professional networking and communications skills, and an important credential to work full-time as a congressional staffer or elsewhere in federal or state government.
The purpose of the CHIP program is to promote increased civic participation among young Iranian Americans by offering college students or recent graduates of Iranian descent the opportunity to get a firsthand look at our nation’s legislative and political process. The program is enhanced by opportunities to network with and be mentored by Iranian American staff on Capitol Hill, in the administration, and in non-governmental organizations throughout Washington, D.C. In addition to providing interns with highly desired experience in the public sector, this opportunity also allows interns to identify and secure career opportunities in public service that may be otherwise difficult to find.
The CHIP program was founded by former PAAIA board member & trustee, the late Dr. Akbar Ghahary. The recipients who are successfully placed on Capitol Hill will receive a stipend of between $1,000 and $2,000 each.
Click here to learn more about PAAIA’s CHIP program.
