David Klasfeld Endowed Internship in Public Service

$50K Donated to Colin Powell School for Public Service Internship Fund 

A $50,000 donation to the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York, in conjunction with the Career and Professional Development Institute (CPDI), and The Foundation for City College will establish the David Klasfeld Endowed Internship in Public Service at City College. 

This fund is named for David Klasfeld, whose long career in public service included serving as counsel and then as chief of staff during the Koch, Dinkins and Giuliani Administrations, executive vice president of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, deputy chancellor of the New York City Board of Education.  

Klasfeld’s wife, Hila Richardson, and daughter, Rebecca Klasfeld, established this internship to recognize and honor his commitment to public service in general, and to New York City government in particular.   

“David believed that making the New York City government work better for the people of the city was a worthwhile and valuable career,” said Richardson. “His greatest satisfaction came from removing barriers and meeting the challenges in advancing economic development, the arts and cultural institutions, sports events and, finally, public education initiatives.” 

Funding will be awarded to a student enrolled in the master’s degree program in public administration at CCNY. The awardee must also be interning at a New York City government agency during the term of the award. If the internship fund award is paid for salary, the graduate student will receive an hourly wage between $20 and $25. 

All applicants must apply through the CPDI to be considered for the internship stipend. 

“My daughter and I selected the Colin Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership as the home for the David Klasfeld Endowed Internship in Public Service because we felt it was the school that attracted students who were inspired by Secretary Powell’s lifelong commitment to public service,” said Richardson. “We felt that the School honors his legacy in the selection of the students and in the creation of a curriculum that will create tomorrow's leaders in New York City government.” 

"As the city's (and nation's) first free institution of higher learning, City College holds a special place in the history of our city's public service landscape. 

We are honored to have been asked to partner on the launch of this new internship opportunity and are grateful to Mr. Klasfeld's family for entrusting City College with this important part of Mr. Klasfeld's legacy."

-Dee Dee Mozeleski,
AVP and Senior Advisor to the President
Executive Director to the Foundation for City College