Jobany Osorio had never left California before he boarded a plane for a spring 2024 internship with the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. 

He’d been working two jobs, one off campus and one in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences advisement office. His supervisor there encouraged him to explore the CSUN in D.C. internship program, which offers students a chance to live, work and study in the nation’s capital. The sociology major never had considered a career in public service. 

But Osorio, then 20, thrived when he got to work in the Department of Labor’s Division of Indian and Native American Programs — writing reports, delivering presentations and working with people at many levels of government. 

“Now, any room I walk into, or anyone I talk to, I feel more comfortable,” he said. “I feel like I can speak what I want to say and not really get nervous.”

He made such an impression that the department asked him to stay on after his internship — he was able to work remotely while continuing his studies at CSUN. He’s on track to graduate in May 2025 and strongly considering a career in public service — in D.C., California or elsewhere.

The life-changing internship would have been, simply, out of reach — financially speaking — without significant philanthropic support for his housing, living expenses and cross-country flights. 

A new gift from longtime CSUN supporters Alan and Rose Jeffery ensures that more students like Osorio get these opportunities. The Jefferys donated $112,000 to create an endowment and support CSUN in D.C. students with internship-related expenses. 

“I’m always going to be thankful and appreciative. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the donors,” Osorio said. “If it weren’t for them, students like me wouldn’t get these opportunities, or it wouldn’t even cross their mind.”

Since 2013, more than 350 Matadors have participated in CSUN in D.C., where they’ve worked for members of Congress, advocacy groups, nonprofits, embassies, museums, private firms and other service-oriented organizations. Program alumni have gone on to work in government and politics in California and around the country. 

About 50 students from majors across campus participate each year, networking with each other and contacts across Washington. They also take night classes from on-site CSUN faculty in a classroom space near the Capitol.

Alan Jeffery ’65 (Experimental Psychology), whose own insurance career launched by chance after he spotted a job ad posted in the university’s employment office, gravitated to supporting the CSUN in D.C. program because it offers real-world career development experience. 

“It’s a transformative program for these students that otherwise would not have the experience nor the opportunity,” he said. “At this stage of our life, we wanted to do something a little more impactful, and so we decided to set up an endowment program that will help one or two students a year work in D.C.”

Today’s interns become tomorrow’s entry-level political staffers, eventually working their way up to positions of increasing influence, said Lawrence Becker, the political science professor who directs the program. Most internship sites in D.C. recruit from a small group of schools in D.C. and the northeast, Becker said, leaving talented students across the country as an untapped resource. CSUN students bring unique perspectives, talents and backgrounds that are attractive to CSUN’s internship partners. 

“If you want to change how government or business operates, you have to change the pipeline of interns,” Becker said. 

CSUN in D.C. alumni have gone on to work in Congressional offices, for the Human Rights Campaign and for political campaigns in California.

“Students will be listened to by their peers on how things work in government and what efforts it takes in order to make change,” Rose Jeffery said. 

In recognition of the Jefferys’ impactful gift, CSUN named Maple Hall classrooms 217 and 317 in their honor, the first naming gift in the impressive new classroom building. The Jefferys hope their donation inspires others to also make naming gifts. 

Nearly every CSUN in D.C. participant receives at least some funding, Becker said. Some support comes from the university’s Instructionally Related Activities Fund. And for students like Osorio, philanthropy creates incredible opportunities.

“It is the difference between a student being able to do this and not,” Becker said. 

This article first appeared in the spring 2025 issue of CSUN Magazine.

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The post Matadors Go to Washington: Couple’s Gift Boosts D.C. Internship Program first appeared on CSUN Newsroom.