For Kathryn Gioiosa, leadership isn’t a concept learned in a lecture hall — it is a practice born from the classroom floor. A Political Science major, Truman Scholar, and Udall Scholar, Kathryn has spent her time at the Colin Powell School building a resume that rivals seasoned professionals. Recently named to the Forbes 30-Under-30 list for Social Impact, Kathryn is proving that the next generation of leadership is already here.
A Lens on Inequity
Kathryn’s drive to serve began with a jarring realization. As a second-generation CCNY student — her mother graduated from the college with a Master’s in Education shortly after immigrating from Taiwan — Kathryn grew up with a front-row seat to the disparities within New York City’s school systems.
After spending her early years in the city’s most elite private schools, she transferred to a local public high school, where the contrast was immediate and sobering.
“I had heard countless abstract conversations about inequity, but it only became real when I saw deteriorating conditions normalized for my new peers,” Kathryn recalls. “These differences weren’t coincidental. They were preventable, designed to keep existing power structures intact, and sustained by decades of unjust policy.”
That realization became her “why.” She knew she wanted to address these inequities, but it was a summer studying sustainable development in Costa Rica that helped her find the “how.”
The Birth of TREEage
Upon returning to New York City, Kathryn channeled her energy into climate advocacy, co-founding TREEage, an influential student-led organization dedicated to winning transformative climate action. Taking a gap year to work on electoral campaigns for City Council and State Senate, Kathryn realized that if she wanted to change the world, she needed to be in an institution that truly reflected the city she fought for.
“I desired to be part of an institution that was diverse and truly reflected NYC, where I could receive an education that strengthened my work outside the classroom,” she says. “Through knowing many alumni I looked up to, I understood that CCNY fit that exact description.”
The Colin Powell School Edge
During her time at the Colin Powell School, Kathryn has been able to bridge the gap between her on-the-ground activism and academic theory. Through the school’s generous funding and career support, she has completed five high-profile internships — from the Center for Popular Democracy in D.C. to the Climate Advocacy Lab in San Francisco and Lambda Legal in NYC.
Her academic excellence and leadership have garnered national attention. Kathryn is the first student in CCNY history to win both the Truman Scholarship and the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, a testament to her dedication to public service and environmental justice.
Looking Ahead
After graduating, Kathryn will head to D.C. for the Truman Scholarship’s Summer Institute before returning to NYC to continue her full-time work with TREEage. With plans to eventually pursue a Master’s in City and Urban Planning and an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship, her goal remains clear: to build communities that are sustainable, equitable, and just.
For students currently walking the halls of the Colin Powell School, Kathryn offers this advice:
“Break out of your comfort zone and try new things, especially if you think you are set on a plan already. There are so many opportunities and possibilities out there that might only be available to you as a college student, and especially a Colin Powell School student… You can meet amazing new people doing really cool and interesting work who can turn into friends and lifelong collaborators.”
