Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

Branson Bailey, a sophomore majoring in Legal Studies at St. John’s University, has been awarded the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship. The fellowship is a three-year international internship program funded by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation and is designed to provide internships, mentoring, and educational opportunities for selected undergraduates from 12 partner colleges and universities in New York City.

Bailey, originally from Atlanta and raised in Los Angeles, chose St. John’s University to experience a new environment and build his academic and professional identity in New York City. “Being from the other side of the country, I chose St. John’s to become independent, gain exposure to a different environment, and form a new professional and academic identity in New York City,” he said. “I loved the beautiful campus with direct access to the city. I also felt it was time to leave the nest and start anew for myself.”

During his freshman year, Bailey lived in Dasilva Hall on campus. He described this period as positive: “I loved the experience,” he explained, “I took extreme pride and joy in my suite and dorm room, and I bonded and connected with many friends. It was a great living community.”

Bailey is active on campus as a Student Ambassador leading tours for prospective students and families at various events both on- and off-campus. He views this role as an opportunity for service: “I consider it a service opportunity, since it’s a way of sharing hope with families and prospective students and giving them a glimpse of how bright of a future they can have at St. John’s,” he said. He also serves as Community Service Chair for the university's chapter of the NAACP.

The Watson Fellowship requires recipients to complete three paid summer internships: one based in New York City, another elsewhere in the United States or abroad, followed by an overseas placement.

This past summer Bailey completed his first internship through the program at the Office of the New York City Public Advocate where he worked on policy issues related to city government operations such as executive budget hearings for city council members as well as research projects including segregation within public schools: “My responsibilities consisted of summarizing and creating memos for high-level executive budget city council hearings, researching data and talking points for office reports and statements, and  drafting letters to city council members,” he said. “I even completed a personal report on a municipal issue of my own interest, which was segregation in the New York City Public School system.”

Reflecting on his experience working within city government Bailey said that it had been rewarding; looking ahead he remains open about where his next internship will take him either within or outside of United States borders: “My experience in city government was very enriching and fulfilling, so I want to explore politics on a larger scale,” he explained. “I don’t know exactly where I’ll go, but I'll be in another unique environment. The real question is whether I'll stay in the states or go overseas. Time will tell.”