A Summer of Service: Annie Zhan's Work Supporting Survivors through Womankind

Each summer, Community Impact selects a few undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard to participate in the annual George Van Amson (GVA) Fellowship, which has successfully aided non-profit organizations in the tri-state area for nearly 20 years. 

As part of the fellowship, recipients are provided with summer housing and a $5,000 stipend to support them in pursuing meaningful service within their areas of interest. These focuses can range anywhere from healthcare and food insecurity to social justice, and more.

This year, on Friday, September 25, the GVA Fellows gave presentations showcasing the work and the invaluable lessons they will carry forward in their academic and professional careers. Over 50 people attended this year’s celebration, including the program’s namesake, George Van Amson (CC’74), Columbia University Trustee Emeritus.

In this series, we’re hearing directly from the 2026 GVA Fellows about their summer experiences and the impact of their work. Our final Fellow, Annie Zhan (BC'26) reflects on her time at Womankind. 

Annie Zhan (BC’26): Womankind

As a political science and philosophy major at Barnard, Annie Zhan joined Womankind, an NYC-based non-profit that provides holistic support and services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).  

Zhan, a longtime volunteer with Community Impact, wanted to dive deeper into the realities of non-profit work through the GVA Fellowship. She considers this experience to be one of the most meaningful takeaways from her time at Columbia.

“I was first introduced to Womankind through Asian Youth Program (AYP), a student group under Community Impact that partners with Womankind to provide mentorship to children impacted by domestic violence,” Zhan said. “I have been a mentor and coordinator under AYP for the past three years. It has become one of my most meaningful college experiences, as I can see the valuable impact we have on the children we work with. This impact would not be possible without our partnership with Womankind, which is why I wanted to work more closely with the organization this summer to gain a deeper understanding of the work that they do.”

Over the summer, Zhan primarily worked on researching policies and ongoing legislation efforts surrounding gender-based violence. Using this research, she joined Womankind in meetings with elected officials in New York, including Senator Kristen Gonzales and New York City Assembly Member Diana Moreno, to share and advocate on behalf of survivors. 

“Throughout the course of my internship I was able to meet with five elected officials. In each of these meetings, we were able to discuss our mission, our needs, and any potential points of collaboration based on shared activities and interests,” Zhan said. “These meetings were extremely valuable in providing insight on how non-profit and social work fits into the space of political advocacy.”

In addition to research, Zhan also worked to improve communications within the non-profit through creating bimonthly advocacy newsletters and maintaining knowledge-bases of local elected officials. These administrative tasks gave Zhan a framework to operate within, making each secured meeting more meaningful than the last. 

“The most rewarding aspect of my experience was witnessing the small political wins from our advocacy efforts. While the journey of passing legislation is often a long and frustrating one, I found it rewarding and encouraging to celebrate our small wins, such as successfully booking a meeting with a significant elected official to discuss Womankind’s mission and put issues of GBV on their radar,” Zhan said. “[This] allows us to build these relationships with the elected officials to hopefully advocate for greater protections and rights for GBV survivors.” 

Part of the fellowship includes participating in weekly reflections with the GVA cohort. This set time offers space for the fellows to examine their weekly learnings together and thoughtfully explore the greater impacts of their service.

“I am very grateful that GVA, through providing me with summer housing and funding, allowed me the opportunity to work with Womankind. However, beyond financially supporting me in pursuing this internship opportunity, I am most grateful that the GVA fellowship provided a weekly space for me to reflect and discuss my thoughts and experience with my fellow cohort members,” Zhan said. “This reflection was incredibly valuable and informative of my experience, and I think I was able to make the most of my internship because of it.”

Throughout the course of Zhan’s time working alongside colleagues of all ages, she began to see public service as a lifelong commitment, something that requires immense persistence, courage, and tenacity. 

“I remember a conversation I had with my supervisor about her experience and work in the social sector. As the CEO of Womankind, she has faced a fair share of struggles, especially navigating the advocacy sphere as a woman-of-color. There were many times where her efforts felt futile and useless,” Zhan said. “However, one thing she said that stuck with me was that gender-based violence will forever be an issue. Therefore, the goal and mission of our organization is to continue providing as much support as we can to survivors, because if not us, then who?”

Working with Womankind over the summer reinforced and fulfilled Zhan’s aspiration to pursue a career in public interest and family law after graduation. 

“Especially given the nature of Womankind's work, I have seen how crucial it is to provide support, resources, and representation for those who are unable to speak for themselves due to their circumstances,” Zhan said. “Pursuing this internship with Womankind has helped me understand the inner workings of non-profits, providing me with valuable experience and [the] knowledge necessary to pursue a career of this nature.”