The Victory Congressional Internship (VCI) is developing the next generation of out public leaders. In addition to a Congressional internship, this eight-week program includes a rigorous weekly leadership development series, a community service requirement, and a formal mentorship program. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is proud of our continued and growing partnership with the Congressional Equality Caucus, its members, and other LGBTQ+-friendly members of Congress.
We are excited to welcome our class of Summer 2025 interns!
Willow Albano (he/they/she)
Hometown: Pevely, Missouri
School: Macalester College
Placement: Senator Murray
Willow Albano is a junior from rural Missouri majoring in Political Science & Women’s, Gender, Sexuality Studies concentrating in Human Rights at Macalester College. Willow worked as a Chuck Green Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of MN, drafting policy aimed at protecting and empowering transgender students and surveying 20+ school districts to create talking points. They supported the ACLU-MO Policy & Campaigns team in putting Amendment 3 on Missouri’s ballot which constitutionalized abortion & overturned the previous ban. Willow’s experiences formed their intersectional mindset to policymaking, emphasizing identifying the indirect effects of regulatory policy and compensating for them by empowering community voices. On-campus, they are the President of Macalester Moot Court, wherein Willow manages and instructs a team of around 10 competitors in simulated appellate litigation. Furthermore, they serve as the Belonging & Accessibility Liaison of their college’s Student Government, focused on student outreach to solve issues and connect resources to those in need. They hope to unite their diverse legal and public policy backgrounds by implementing top-down and bottom-up approaches to law. Upon returning from study abroad conducting research in the Hague, Netherlands, they currently work with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Cole Baerlocher (he/him)
Hometown: Colfax, Washington
School: Texas A&M University
Placement: Representative Sorensen
Cole Baerlocher is a junior at Texas A&M University majoring in Agricultural Communications & Journalism with a minor in International Agricultural Development. Having been raised in a rural community in Washington State, Cole is motivated by his passion for further developing rural America and increasing access to crucial resources for LGBTQ+ Americans. Cole served as the 2021-2022 National FFA President, where he took a gap year to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within agricultural education. As a Texas A&M Aggie, Cole strives to foster welcoming environments in his community by volunteering through student organizations and serving as a student ambassador for his college. Upon graduating, Cole aspires to remain dedicated to public service by entering a career as a staff member on Capitol Hill.
Anika Dua (she/her)
Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
School: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Placement: Representative Pappas
Anika Dua is a rising junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, majoring in Political Science. Through her courses and activities on campus, she has dedicated herself to fostering and participating in diverse spaces that are committed to social justice and learning about the impacts of various political institutions on civil rights. In the past year, she has served as vice president of her university’s Asian Pre-Law Association and has worked on an education campaign on student protest for a chapter of Amnesty International. In the future, she aspires to go to law school and become a civil rights attorney, fighting for those who have faced discrimination at the hands of social, political, and legal processes.
Luke Duffy (he/him)
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
School: University of Missouri-Columbia
Placement: Representative Davids
Luke Duffy is a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Columbia double-majoring in Strategic Communication and Economics. With a passion for social advocacy and community engagement, he has worked on various political campaigns in Missouri to help elect progressive leaders. He has also gotten involved on campus and in the Columbia community, working with the Associated Students of the University of Missouri on election engagement projects and interning at City of Refuge, an organization that supports refugee families in Columbia. After graduating, he hopes to spend two years doing international volunteer work before pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. In his free time, Luke loves to cook, play guitar, and go on hikes.
Josephine “Josey” Gerrard (they/she)
Hometown: Batavia, Ohio
School: Smith College
Placement: Representative Takano
Josephine “Josey” Gerrard (They/she), originally hailing from Ohio, is a current Junior at Smith College, pursuing degrees in Statistical and Data Science and Government (with a concentration in American politics). Josey’s academic and professional work has focused on this intersection of data and public policy. As a Research Assistant in the State Politics Research Lab at Smith, they have worked with peers to create a substantiate database on policies affecting LGBTQ+ individuals. This database has been used as the foundation for research papers, culminating in a presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Inspired to contribute to liberal politics, Josey honed their data skills during an internship with the Biden-Harris campaign in the Analytics department’s Targeting Team, where they used coding and analytical tools to analyze voter behavior and demographic trends in battleground states. Josey is passionate about grassroots organizing and community leadership. They serve their residential community as a House Community Advisor and actively participate in campus initiatives with their chapter MASSPIRG. Post-graduation, Josey aspires to work in political research and analytics, leveraging their skills to influence progressive change. In their free time, Josey enjoys reading, playing guitar, and staying active at the gym.
Esther Lau (she/her)
Hometown: Fremont, California
School: Barnard College of Columbia University
Placement: Representative
Esther Lau is a rising junior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Political Science and Urban Studies. Born in Hong Kong, she is a first-generation immigrant and now proudly calls the SF Bay Area home. Driven by her experiences as a former public benefits recipient, Esther is a fervent advocate for economic justice in her academic and professional endeavors. Most notably, she is the Co-Executive Director of What We All Deserve (WWAD), a youth-led movement for economic justice and basic needs access. Through WWAD, she’s led efforts supporting menstrual equity, food justice, and higher education accessibility. Beyond WWAD, Esther is highly involved in NYC urban policy, working with esteemed firms and research institutions like New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for PERIOD., an international menstrual equity organization. Esther envisions a career that bridges policy research, philanthropy, and social impact to further community-centered urban policy.
Quinn Manzo (she/they)
Hometown: South Pasadena, California
School: Boston University
Placement: Congressional Equality Caucus
Quinn Manzo (she/they) is a junior at Boston University, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Psychology with a minor in Film and Television Studies. Quinn is motivated by the support of her big family and the vibrancy of Greater Los Angeles, and hopes to have a career pursuing intersectional justice in her community through law and policy advocacy. Quinn has been fortunate to have past experiences of advocacy, including working with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, and Teen Line. These experiences deepened her understanding of the complex network of systemic, institutional, and cultural patterns that discriminate against marginalized groups, affecting both their livelihoods and mental health. Most importantly, she learned from the positive outlooks of those around her, and empowered her to lead with pride in her identity and background. At Boston University, Quinn enjoys working as a Career Ambassador for the Center for Career Development, acting as a bridge for identity-based resources to support queer and BIPOC career aspirations. In their free time, Quinn can be found practicing and performing with their competitive dance team, hosting dinner parties for their friends, or watching films at Coolidge Corner Theater.
Harshman Sihra (he/they)
Hometown: Brookfield, Wisconsin
School: University of Cincinnati
Placement: Senator Schiff
Harshman is a dedicated champion for reproductive rights and public health policy student at the University of Cincinnati. Their commitment began with personal experiences related to their mom, leading them to roles as a Planned Parenthood volunteer and Field Organizing Fellow. They have also worked for Mayor Aftab Pureval in Cincinnati, and contribute to research efforts surrounding access to healthcare. In addition to their advocacy work, Harshman is an active abortion doula at the Mt. Auburn Health Center. As a South Asian immigrant to the US, Harshman brings a unique perspective to their work and aspires to become a gender-affirming OB-GYN.
