Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Summer Internship Program
DREF collaboratively sponsors a summer internship program with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. In 2026, we are pleased to announce that our Stephanie Tubbs Jones Intern will again experience working in congressional offices in our nation’s capital for a traditional eight-week period.
The Stephanie Tubbs Jones (STJ) Summer Internship Program for women of color is a collaboration between the Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) Internship Program.
The Delta Research and Educational Foundation established the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Institute for Social Justice in 2008 under its Center for Research on African American Women to perpetuate the extraordinary life, leadership, and legacy of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member Congresswoman Tubbs Jones.
Established in 1986, the CBCF Congressional Internship Program answered the call to help diversify our democracy by increasing the pool of talented public servants. This intensive nine-week summer program offers the opportunity for college students from across the nation to learn about the legislative process, leadership, and careers in policymaking. Interns work in CBC member offices, attend professional development events, and participate in leadership development projects. The program prepares young people to become informed decision-makers and influential leaders who shape our world.
The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Intern will also attend select programs and events sponsored by DREF in addition to full participation in the CBCF Congressional Internship Program.
Benefits
- A $3,000 stipend
- Room and board at a local university
- Interns may be eligible to receive academic credit at their college or university for participating in the program
Qualifications
- U.S. citizen or permit to work in the U.S.
- Currently or recently enrolled in college full-time at the time of application
- Demonstrated interest in public service, governance, and policy-making process
Selection Process
The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Intern is selected based on the following criteria:
- Solid scholastic achievement
- Strong writing skills
- Community service contributions
- Evidence of leadership skills
- Quality of the application and, in some instances, interview performance
The 2026 Summer Internship Application Deadline has passed. The 2027 application period begins November 2026.
Questions? Send email to: STJInternship@deltafounation.net
This summer, I had the honor of serving as the Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) Stephanie Tubbs Jones Intern through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation(CBCF) in the office of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, representing Ohio’s 3rd District, and I’m still sitting with how much this experience has shaped me.
I walked in hoping to learn how policy gets made. I walked out with a deeper understanding of what it means to serve. Every casework file, every constituent phone call, every conversation in the halls of the Capitol reminded me that policy isn’t abstract. It’s someone’s rent, someone’s healthcare, someone’s neighborhood. Congresswoman Beatty and her team showed me what it looks like to carry a district’s hopes into rooms where decisions are made, and to never lose sight of the people back home while doing it.
Beyond the office, CBCF opened doors I’ll never forget. From visiting Comcast’s headquarters in Philadelphia and seeing how corporate leadership intersects with public policy, to volunteering at the Scholarship Classic, where I connected with stakeholders who are shaping our communities in ways I hope to one day. And through it all, the leadership sessions CBCF built into this program gave me tools I’ll carry into whatever policy path I choose, reminding me that this fellowship wasn’t just preparing me for a job, but for a career of service.
I’m endlessly grateful to CBCF for creating a pathway for young Black professionals to step into public service, and to Congresswoman Beatty’s office for trusting me with real responsibility from day one. This experience didn’t just teach me about policy — it confirmed why I want to spend my career in it.
Thank you to the Leadership Institute Team, DREF, Team Beatty, the Jones Family, and 311. Here’s to the next chapter, and bringing every community that raised me, with me.
#CBCF #PublicService #PolicyMatters #CommunityDevelopment #OH03