CMA Internship Wrap-Up: Leilany Rodriguez Reflects on a Summer of Advocacy
For over three decades, the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA) has hosted summer interns from Tulane University School of Law. This summer, CMA was pleased to welcome Leilany Rodriguez to this longstanding program. During her time with CMA, Leilany made meaningful contributions across a range of advocacy, research, and outreach initiatives:
- Developed training materials for U.S. Port State Control Officers to enhance inspections for seafarer rights, focusing on principles of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
- Verified and updated SCI’s flag state contact database to support the advocacy work of Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy, ensuring accurate and current resources for assisting mariners.
- Contributed to SCI’s joint research project with Yale University, “Perceived Effectiveness of Recommended and Implemented Interventions to Improve U.S. Brown and Coastal Water Mariner Wellness,” by reviewing and editing content for clarity and impact.
- Participated in a field visit to New York City, meeting with the American P&I Club, Liberian Ship Registry, SCI Chaplains at the International Seafarers’ Center, seafarers aboard ships at Port Newark, and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Port State Control Division.
- Attended and observed Port Welfare Committee meetings along the Lower Mississippi River, engaging with U.S. Coast Guard, Customs & Border Protection, maritime professionals, union representatives, and chaplains to understand collaborative efforts addressing real-time mariner welfare concerns.
Before returning to Tulane for the fall semester, Leilany will participate in The Berlin Program, a joint initiative between Tulane Law School and Berlin’s Humboldt University that focuses on alternative dispute resolution in cross-cultural contexts. Building on the skills and insight gained during her internship with CMA, Leilany will further her experience in the maritime industry next summer as a Summer Associate in Holland & Knight’s Corporate – Trade Regulation (Maritime) Practice Group in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting on her time at SCI, Leilany shared:
“This internship has truly changed my life. Having the opportunity to be mentored by Phil Schifflin made this experience especially meaningful. His guidance, trust, and support shaped not only the work I did this summer, but also the way I see myself as a future maritime professional. Being introduced to individuals across the maritime industry at different stages in their careers gave me invaluable insight, and I now feel confident entering a field filled with hardworking, kind, and passionate people.
I also want to extend a special thank you to Doug Stevenson for making my visit to New York such an unforgettable experience. From visiting the American P&I Club and Liberian Ship Registry to joining chaplains on ship visits and observing U.S. Coast Guard inspections, I gained insight that no textbook could ever provide. I could not feel more thankful to have been part of CMA’s work this summer, and I am especially grateful to Phil for making it all possible.”
