2025 Intern: Ayanna Townsend

The Chuck Cooper Foundation is proud to announce the launch of our internship program, an evolution of our graduate-level scholarship initiative, designed to offer hands-on experience, professional development and mentorship. We are thrilled to welcome our first intern, Ayanna Townsend, a Pittsburgh native and graduate student at Duquesne University, studying occupational therapy. Ayanna is a former Division I student-athlete who played six years of collegiate basketball at Xavier University and Duquesne. She earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Xavier and excelled both on and off the court. Her many accolades include Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Big East Honor Roll, A-10 Postgraduate Award, Vice President of Athletics Honor Roll, and an impressive 12 consecutive semesters on the dean’s list. Beyond academics and athletics, Ayanna is a dedicated community leader. She has served as an afterschool tutor, summer camp counselor, training camp volunteer, and supplemental instruction leader for fellow university students. Her passion for uplifting youth is also reflected in her doctoral focus, which centers on equipping young people with the skills they need for successful futures. Ayanna embodies the values of excellence, service and leadership, and we are proud to recognize her as the Chuck Cooper Foundation’s first intern.