P.A.L.O.M.A. Fellowship

Public Administration & Leadership Opportunities for Meaningful Action

Program Overview

The Office of Supervisor Paloma Aguirre offers a paid fellowship for currently enrolled college students interested in public service, policy, communications, and community engagement.

San Diego County’s First Supervisorial District covers approximately 256 square miles and is celebrated for its vibrant cultural and binational connections. The district includes both urban and rural areas, with significant portions of coastline and unincorporated regions, and serves 641,435 people.

Our work starts with addressing our district’s needs, creating policies and programs through an equity lens so all San Diegans can thrive. We will focus on three key issues, including housing affordability and homelessness, healthcare access- including behavioral health & social services that support the high cost of living for the most vulnerable and economic development.

This fellowship runs from mid-March through the end of the calendar year (December), providing comprehensive learning experience that allows students to engage with a variety of office functions including constituent services, legislative process, event coordination, communications strategy, and multimedia content creation. Interns will gain a practical understanding of how local county government operates, how community engagement initiatives are developed and implemented, and how effective communications help foster transparency, trust, and civic participation. The rotational structure ensures exposure to multiple areas of professional practice, helping interns develop a broad skill set while applying academic knowledge to real-world projects.