Internship Opportunities for National Review Institute

About National Review Institute

National Review Institute (NRI) was founded by William F. Buckley Jr. as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1991. NRI’s mission is to preserve and promote Buckley’s legacy and advance the principles of a free society through educational and outreach programs.

Bill Buckley sought to preserve and buttress the foundations of our free society and to conserve our inheritance from  America’s Founders. NRI supports conservative writers and their ideas on how to guard and build on our country’s strengths, core principles, and freedoms, how to revitalize and add vigor and practical application to our conservative convictions, and how to better influence our culture while opposing its determined foes.

NRI’s educational programs bring together leaders in business, philanthropy, media, and policy to help strengthen the broader conservative movement, while also educating emerging leaders and our fellow citizens on the principles of a free society. Our partnership programs send National Review’s top talent across the country, thereby amplifying and expanding the reach of the National Review mission.

National Review Institute offers paid internships, for students, located in the Manhattan office at 19 West 44th Street.

NRI Non-Profit Programs Internship

With openings during the fall, spring, and summer terms, NRI’s competitive internship program gives students hands-on experience in its unique journalistic think tank environment, allowing them to develop practical skills and gain valuable experience for future endeavors. Note this is not an internship with National Review. Fall and spring internships are a minimum of 20 hours per week, and summer internships are 40 hours per week. Interns’ responsibilities in the past have included:

• Organizing and growing an extensive archive of photos, film clips, quotations, and significant events in the life of William F. Buckley Jr.;
• Research ranging from general fact and data-finding to in-depth issue-specific projects for NRI programs and individual NRI Fellow’s work;
• Content creation and management for social media;
• Attending and/or watching events and taking notes for NRI Fellows;
• Providing administrative support to staff;
• Contributing to design projects and website maintenance. 

NRI is looking for: 

• A currently enrolled college student.
• An individual with strong research and writing skills.
• Someone to work full-time (summer) or at least 20 hours per week (spring and fall) for a minimum of 8 weeks, at the Manhattan office.
• Someone to work a support role to the NRI fellows and staff.
• Someone who successfully manages multiple projects simultaneously and is proficient with basic computer software programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with WordPress
• Social media experience – X and Instagram
• Familiarity with and interest in the life and legacy of William F. Buckley Jr.

How to Apply: Email a cover letter (why you & why National Review Institute), resume, unofficial transcript, and one letter of recommendation to info@nrinstitute.org. To be considered for the summer 2025 semester, submit the required materials by 11:59 PM EDT on March 31, 2025.

Current NRI Intern:

Jack Kontarinis is a fall intern for National Review Institute. He is currently pursuing a Master of History Degree at New York University. He intends to focus his research on contemporary American foreign and domestic policy issues through historical lenses. He earned his BA in History, with Latin Honors, from the University of Colorado Boulder. He published his first paper on the early history of English trade in Southeast Asia in the 17th century through CU Boulder’s Honors Journal. Jack lives in Manhattan and is from Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Prior to working with the NRI and studying at NYU, he bought, handled, and sold crabs and oysters on Tilghman Island, Maryland, during his gap year.

 

Former NRI Interns:

“My internship with NRI gave me exactly what I was looking for in a summer internship: an opportunity to be at the heart of a crucial part of the political process, the place where ideas are formulated and debated, giving me insight into how intellectual conversations are being shaped.” Rory Sateika | Summer 2024

“Interns at the National Review Institute are quickly welcomed and integrated into the NRI/NR family. It is a wonderful chance to explore the inner workings of the non-profit and assist in its success. The program not only welcomes curiosity and questions, but also promotes debates and deep conversations about conservatism, Bill Buckley, and current events. As an intern, you are given numerous opportunities to meet with NRI staff and NR writers to expand your understanding of the industry. You will leave the program with strong connections and strengthened knowledge that will help in all future endeavors.” Sarah Schuringa | Summer 2023

“NRI is an intellectually driven place, but also one filled with virtue and principle. I could not have asked for a better internship experience in the year before entering the working world.” – Matthew Malec | 2022

“This summer was not what was expected in many ways, but this internship was anything but disappointing, even though I was not in the office. I feel like I got to know several individuals at NRI and NR even though I’ve met most of them only virtually. I gained great work experience in so many ways, but what I was most impressed with was how much was offered to me by NRI, rather than just what I had to offer to you. The virtual lunches, workshops, and invitations to various events were a real treat and show how much you all want us college folk to learn and grow as thinking and acting individuals. It has been such a rich experience.” -Grace Maffucci | Summer 2020

“Working at NRI was a pleasure as my political interests and intellectual curiosity naturally aligned with an array of activities that directly contributed to NR’s broader mission of championing the conservative cause. Some of my favorite assignments included writing up a summary of an NRI Fellow’s recent book to assist with his nationwide tour, lending a hand at NRI’s stimulating salons in New York, and revisiting past NR articles in my archival work.” -Aidan Adams-Campeau | 2018-2019

Luiza Guimaraes interned for NRI in the fall of 2024. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she is currently living in New York City pursuing a dual major in Theatre and Performing Arts and Film and Media Studies at Columbia University. She has produced, directed, and edited digital content that increased visibility and engagement for various initiatives, including a Web Series for Northern Virginia Community College. Additionally, as an Afro-Brazilian immigrant, stand up comedian and military spouse, she brings a diverse perspective to her work. Through her studies, Luiza explores the intersection of storytelling, media production, and social change. Her work with the Armed Services Arts Partnership, where she assisted in leading improv classes for U.S. military veterans, reflects her commitment to using the arts to empower underrepresented communities and connect people. In her free time, she takes comedy classes at Upright Citizens Brigade, learns how to play video games with her husband, goes to the beach or complains she misses summer.

Anthony Di Mauro–Ayling interned for NRI in the summer of 2023. He attended Gonzaga University majoring in Public Relations and Journalism. Currently based in Spokane Washington, he is a pro-life activist, prayer warrior, and political mover and shaker in Spokane County. He has served various roles as founder and president of Spokane Community College’s Turning Point USA, College Republicans, and Students for Life of America. He has interned with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in 2018. He has canvassed nationwide for various political campaigns and organizations such as Susan B. Anthony List, Republican National Senate Committee, and Students for Life of America. At Gonzaga University, he is a prayerful Catholic Christian diligently working with the administration to make sure all conservatives and Christians feel safe and heard, free from bias and discrimination. He works part-time for Spokane United We Stand, a multicultural nonprofit which provides resources to low-income families. In his free time, Anthony volunteers with the Missionaries of Charity serving the homeless of his city and acts as an avid leader in the Catholic Young Adults of Spokane. He has four cats, a dog, and 55 indoor plants along with a vibrant backyard garden.

Lucia Hunt interned for NRI in the summer of 2023. She was a Theology and Pre-Law major at Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is actively involved in the ProLife movement. Her contributions and commentary have been featured on EWTN, Fox News, Students for Life, Franciscan Presents, The College Fix, Real America’s Voice, and Catholic News Agency. Most notably, Lucia curated the Stop Aborted Fetal Experiments National Conference at the University of Pittsburgh in November 2021 in response to their unethical abortive fetal cell research. She also recently spoke at Grove City College’s annual Faith and Freedom conference on abortion tourism within the United States. Lucia resides in Dallas, Texas, and works as an administrative and legal intern for First Liberty Institute. Lucia plans to attend law school next year to continue fighting for Christian values and the voices of unborn children. 

Sarah Schuringa interned for NRI in the summer of 2023. She studied political science and international studies with a minor in history at the University of Miami. She is a member of the UM Undergraduate Honor Council, as well as a member of Sigma Iota Rho, the collegiate honor society for international studies, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Sarah is the President of the University of Miami Sailing Team and had previously served as Vice President and Recruitment Director. During the summers Sarah has coached sailing at Southampton Yacht Club in New York and been the head instructor at Eau Gallie Yacht Club and Melbourne Yacht Club in Florida. In addition, Sarah has interned in the district office and on the 2022 gubernatorial campaign for Congressman Zeldin, for Congresswoman Salazar, and for previous Florida State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Mayfield. 

Claudia Tozzi interned for NRI in the summer of 2023. She studied International Relations and History at the University of St. Andrews. She was involved in Student Council, Model U.N., and peer tutoring in high school. She loves traveling, reading, and playing with her dog. 

 

Matthew Malec interned for NRI in the summer and fall of 2022 and spring of 2023. He graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He served on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL) and spent a summer interning at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). On campus, he served as Christian Life Community Leader and was a Public Service Fellow at Boston College’s Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy.

Bernadette Breslin interned for NRI in the Fall of 2021. Bernadette graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in political communication and a minor in music. Pursuing her interest in media, Bernadette has experience in digital news and conservative think tanks with past internships including the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) and the Heritage Foundation. Outside of work and classes, Bernadette enjoyed volunteering with Students for Life of America (SFLA) where she participated in door-knocking campaigns in the surrounding suburbs of Philadelphia.

Antonia Sylva interned for NRI in the summer and fall of 2020. “Nia” was a student at Notre Dame majoring in the university’s Program of Liberal Studies with minors in history and journalism, ethics, and democracy (JED). On campus, Nia wrote for both The Observer and The Irish Rover (Notre Dame’s Catholic newspaper). She copy edited for The Observer and was the co-editor of the Rover’s campus section. Nia is also involved in Notre Dame’s de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture as a Sorin fellow, and she teaches beginning Latin to 5th grade students through the Aequora program. In the summer of 2019, she worked to further develop her Catholic identity and her understanding of the relationship between culture and religion by attending the Catholic Worldview Fellowship. 

Justine Smykowski interned for NRI in the summer of 2019. She graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she was in the honors program studying political science with a minor in human life studies. Justine was involved in Young America’s Foundation (YAF), was part of the “IDEAS” team at the United Nations, and was in student government.

Daniel O’Keefe interned for NRI in the summer of 2019. He was a student at SUNY Binghamton, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL). His first interaction with the Institute was attending Buckley Legacy Project Advisory Committee members Matthew Continetti and Dr. Lee Edwards’ lecture on the Buckley Legacy at YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference (NCSC) in 2018. 

Aidan Adams-Campeau interned for NRI throughout the 2018/19 academic year. A student at New York University, Aidan studied interdisciplinary humanities, pursuing a joint major in Anthropology & Classical Civilization as well as a second major in Philosophy. In addition, Aidan is minoring in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. He is highly interested in foreign languages and cultures more broadly. He studied Russian language in St. Petersburg two summers ago and he spent this past summer as a conversational English tutor in Italy. Aidan finds the study of the humanities particularly enriching, and he gravitates toward conservative political philosophy in part due to its emphasis on time-honored wisdom and truths. Aidan greatly admires the eloquence, intelligence, and principled conviction that William F. Buckley Jr. displayed throughout his life, so he was eager and honored to help carry on WFB’s legacy through his work with NRI.

Catherine Francois interned at NRI during the summer of 2018. Catherine currently serves as Deputy Speechwriter for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. She has previously worked in legislative and research roles in the House of Representatives, the Joint Economic Committee, The Heritage Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. She has completed academic fellowships with the Hertog Foundation, the Public Interest Fellowship, Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and Catholic University of America’s Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship. Catherine holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from Benedictine College, and is working towards her MA in Government at Hillsdale College’s Van Andel School in Washington, DC. Her favorite Federalist Paper is Federalist No. 39 by James Madison.

Dominic Conoshenti interned with NRI through the Charles Koch Internship program in the summer of 2017. While working in the NYC office, Dominic spearheaded a social media strategy for NRI, created a digital archive of thousands of photographs from the life of William F. Buckley Jr. and his family, and gained valuable experience archiving pieces from the rich history of National Review magazine. After completing his internship, Dominic returned to George Washington University in Washington, DC where he was able to work with NRI On Campus to bring NRI speakers to his school. About his time with NRI, Dominic wrote “Working at NRI gave me invaluable professional skills and experiences. Through my work I was given the opportunity to rediscover elements of William F. Buckley Jr.’s life through archival research. There is no doubt that what I learned interning at NRI will stick with me for the rest of my college and professional career.”