Ask the Intern: Isabela Kassabian at the American Red Cross

While studying global public health, applied psychology, and public policy, the NYU Steinhardt undergraduate student is gaining real-world experience in disaster relief services.

Isabela sits at her Red Cross desk — Photo by Tracey Friedman

Isabela Kassabian, born and raised in Los Angeles, was one of many NYU students who felt the effects of the Palisades and Altadena fires. “While my immediate family was not displaced, many friends and extended family members lost their homes,” Isabela says. The double major in public policy and global public health/applied psychology at NYU Steinhardt took an interest in observing exactly what relief organizations did in the aftermath. “During that time, it was clear that the Red Cross was a unifying and uplifting force, playing a critical role in providing immediate relief and support to those in crisis,” she says.

Now, Isabela is spending her summer serving a different branch of the same nonprofit that helped her home community. As an intern at the American Red Cross of Greater New York, she works with the Disaster Cycle Services department as a Disaster Response Development Coordinator to improve efficiency across teams and provide support directly to impacted residents.

NYU News stopped by Isabela’s office in Hell’s Kitchen to chat more about how she’s drawing on her course work in her internship and what she finds most inspiring about the work.

People in Red Cross jackets talk around a table — Photo courtesy of Isabela Kassabian

THE GIG: I am interning at the American Red Cross of Greater New York within the Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) department as a Disaster Response Development Coordinator. I build and develop cross-departmental projects to enhance operational efficiency and inter-team communication for the DCS. Every week, I am introduced to a new team member to assist in developing new systems and organization across the Greater New York chapter.

This internship allowed me to contribute to implementation development while directly supporting the Red Cross mission in the field. In my role, I also serve on the Disaster Action Team, where I provide on-site resident intake and emergency relief assistance to individuals and families affected by vacates enforced by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Department of Buildings, as well as to those displaced by home fires and floods. Working directly with impacted residents and collaborating with various city agencies has given me a deeper understanding of New York City’s emergency management network and the importance of coordinated response efforts in supporting communities during crises.

SECURING THE ROLE: I discovered this internship opportunity through a posting on Handshake. After expressing interest and reaching out to the recruiter, I went through a series of screening questions and interviews that ultimately led to securing the position.

While interviewing for the Red Cross, I also applied for and was accepted to the NYU Social Impact Changemaker Fellowship, which supports students who devote their summer to internships related to public service, social impact, and racial inequality. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities the fellowship has provided, including professional development, mentorship, and financial support. To NYU students interested in similar paths, I recommend exploring the various scholarships and fellowships offered through NYU Wasserman Center.

Isabela sits with her Red Cross jacket and hard hat — Photo by Tracey Friedman

CULTIVATING COMFORT: A skill I am excited to be developing further is person-centered response and communication. While I have been able to draw on and apply many concepts and methods of consoling I’ve learned in my applied psychology courses when interacting with residents dealing with tragedy, the experience I’m gaining in the field is deepening my understanding of empathy and professionalism. I am learning that, although there are methods to follow, each case and individual’s response is unique, meaning I must adapt accordingly.

BUILDING A NETWORK: The American Red Cross of Greater New York team includes paid staff and volunteers, and I have learned so much from everyone I have had the chance to interact with. I’ve especially appreciated the opportunity to connect with long-time volunteers, many of whom are retired professionals. Hearing their stories and learning about their career journeys has been inspiring. Their insights have taught me the importance of hard work and maintaining meaningful connections. Additionally, because my role allows me to collaborate across multiple departments, I have been able to speak with a wide range of leaders interested in multiple aspects of global and community health policy.

LUNCH BREAK: Some days, I join a team member in grabbing a bodega breakfast sandwich in between cases. If there are no active cases, the whole team gathers in the kitchen area to eat together and catch up. Every time I meet a new team member at the Red Cross, we ask each other why we joined. I find it inspiring that we all care to ask each other. On my own, I’ve also been enjoying exploring different coffee shops within a few-block radius of the office. It is a great way to get some fresh air and discover Hell’s Kitchen.

A PERSONAL CONNECTION: The Red Cross to me is one of the most respected humanitarian organizations in the world, and especially in connection to two groups deeply connected to my identity. Aside from their part in the Palisades fire relief, the Red Cross has also made a profound impact on my ethnic community of Armenians. Just a few years ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) assisted Armenians in a blockaded enclave when no other aid or supplies were being distributed to them. The ICRC was an exceptional force. They were the only party able to send vehicles through the border, delivering food and medicine for residents, and transporting individuals across the border to safety. While the scope of my work here in New York does not directly resemble that kind of effort, I am extremely proud to contribute to the mission we all work toward.

Related Programs

Applied Psychology

The interdisciplinary Applied Psychology program develops students who can bridge psychological theory, research, and practice in a multicultural world.