Heather Escalona Benitez
Assistant Director, Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship Program
As Assistant Director of the RSSI Program, Heather oversees university-wide programming that provides students with paid, meaningful internship experiences in public service while expanding students' knowledge and skills to engage as active citizens.
Before joining Rutgers, Heather worked in the nonprofit domestic violence field for over six years in internship program development, human resource management, and program coordination. She has also worked in state-level policy advocacy.
She received her Master's of Social Work degree from Rutgers in 2020, with a focus on Management and Policy. She also graduated from Pace University-NYC with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Studies.
"I encourage students to explore anything that excites them! Maybe it's through a course, a club, an internship, or a volunteer opportunity. You might be surprised to learn something new about yourself... like a new interest, passion, or career path."