Cardinal Careers Current Fellow Spotlight: Nicole Domingo, '24
Nicole Domingo, '24, was a sociology major and a political science minor at Stanford. She is currently a Gardner Fellow working at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She spoke about her experience in the fellowship so far, why she is passionate about the work she is doing, and what advice she would give to students who are considering applying for the fellowship.
What organization are you working for and what kind of work are you doing there?
Through the Gardner fellowship, I started working at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in mid-September. I actually just completed my first two months, which is exciting. I’m based in their multi-country office in Washington, D.C. In my work, I'm getting a wide exposure to a variety of spaces in the office. Specifically, I work in their Protection and Solutions Unit. Throughout the Gardner Fellowship placement process, I was looking for a workspace where I would get a good amount of exposure to the legal side, but also policy. I feel very happy with how my placement process turned out because I can attest now, two months in, that it's going exactly how I dreamed of it going. I'll touch a bit on my work so far.
Our office does not provide direct legal representation, but I've been supporting our individual case team – which includes referring individuals to pro bono services in their communities, and in certain cases, providing advisory opinions or letters of support. Being involved in this work has been incredible because you get to witness how a small assistance can make a big impact. On the policy end, I'm specifically focusing on our regional portfolio, keeping an eye on the policy changes and mixed movements in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Why did you decide to work with UNHCR?
I had, of course, heard of UNHCR before as a student. I quoted them and used their data in a lot of the papers that I wrote while I was at Stanford, so when they reached out to ask if I would be interested in working with them during my fellowship year, I was super excited. It felt like a dream to see a name that has such a big reputation and that does such incredible work.
What made you interested in doing this work?
My parents are immigrants, so my passion for this work comes from seeing them navigate the U.S. immigration system, which is very complex. At Stanford, I was able to do research related to immigration through the sociology department, so that interest grew throughout my time there. Looking at post grad, I really wanted an experience where I got to look at these issues and be involved in both policy and law. I plan on going to law school, so I want to make sure that the legal side is something that I really want to work in long-term. I am also very passionate about policy surrounding refugees and asylum seekers.
What advice do you have for students who want to apply for the Gardner Fellowship?
It's pretty cliché, but be very genuine. The panel and fellowship program want passionate people. You probably will not be as successful if you're trying to convey a very tailored message that isn't true to you. If you're applying to the Gardner Fellowship, I'm sure you are passionate about the topic and the area that you want to work in. But if you don't know exactly what that area is, that's also completely fine. The Cardinal Careers team at the Haas Center is incredible. They are there throughout every step of the process, even before you submit your application. Don’t be discouraged if you don't know exactly what you're looking for. Just having the passion and the interest in wanting to work in public service is the biggest step.
Once you get the fellowship, it can be a long process to find your placement unless you come in with a lot of solid ideas and established connections. But just having access to the Gardner network is one of the most surprising and incredible components of the fellowship. The fellowship is hitting their 40th year, so that's over 200 incredible alums that are at different points in their careers. We have a conference coming up in March, where all the current fellows are going to be there as well as former fellows. Having a strong community once you graduate college becomes more difficult, so that's been quite a treat and I feel lucky to be a part of it.
Why should students consider the Gardner Fellowship?
The Gardner Fellowship is so incredibly unique, and it's not talked about enough on Stanford's campus. If this interview serves any purpose, I hope it gets the fellowship on people's radars. The workforce is intimidating. Having that title as a fellow goes a long way. I have great supervisors, but am also paired with a mentor throughout the Gardner process. There's a really strong effort to find a good match. It feels genuine that my presence is wanted here. You also have a lot of support and people looking out for you both in your workplace and with the Cardinal Careers team.
