‘The Tools to Thrive’: CSTEP Scholar Finds Community on Path to Law School
When Daniel Hart speaks about his accomplishments at Fordham—the dean’s list recognition, the awards, the internships—he’s quick to give credit to others.
Hart, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fordham College at Lincoln Center on May 18, thrived as a member of the University’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). For nearly 40 years, this New York state-funded program has been propelling minority and economically disadvantaged Fordham students to careers in STEM, law, and beyond through mentorship and other academic and career-oriented resources.
“From day one, CSTEP had my back,” Hart said.
He recalled the program’s summer session, held just weeks after his June 2020 high school graduation—a “car parade” put together as a makeshift celebration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hart said his worries about adjusting to a nontraditional college experience in his first year melted away when he met a supportive group of fellow students and mentors.
“They pushed me to do things I never dreamed of doing,” he said. “My counselors and peers … they gave me the tools to survive and thrive in such a rigorous setting.”
Internships in Public Health and Politics
Among Hart’s proudest achievements was interning at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens. The public medical facility had received national attention in spring 2020 as the epicenter of COVID-19 in New York City. Hart was there a year later, working with a group of graduate students to help increase vaccination rates in the local community.
“I am a cancer survivor, so I have always had an appreciation for doctors, nurses, and health care professionals,” he said.
Daniel and his father, fellow Fordham grad Leon Paul Hart
A Long Island native, Hart also came to Fordham with a strong interest in law and politics, which was born out of witnessing his father run for a New York State Assembly seat in 2010. With the help of the CSTEP program, Hart landed an internship there in May 2021, and since September, he’s been interning in the Long Island office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“I really enjoy the casework aspect of it, helping constituents with taxes, immigration, health care, etc.,” he said, noting that the experience has inspired him to apply to law school this year and pursue a career in health care or environmental law.
“Whichever path I end up choosing, I hope to make a difference in the world,” he said.
Achievement Is a Family Affair
A week before commencement, CSTEP honored Hart with its Scholar Award, given to graduating seniors in recognition of their scholarship and commitment to success. For him and his family, it was not just a proud individual achievement but the continuation of a deeply meaningful Fordham legacy.
Leon A. Hart, Fordham Class of 1949
After serving in World War II, Hart’s paternal grandfather, Leon A. Hart earned a bachelor’s degree from Fordham’s College of Pharmacy, where he was one of just a few Black students in the Class of 1949. Hart’s father, Leon Paul Hart, earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Fordham College at Rose Hill in 1985, before pursuing a career as a lawyer. And Hart’s aunt and several cousins are also proud Fordham alumni.
“He walks in the footsteps of my father every day,” Leon Hart said on May 18, as he prepared to watch his son become a third-generation Fordham graduate. “To see him carry on the legacy is just amazing.”