RTA welcomes summer 2026 interns

June 11, 2026

The RTA has welcomed its 2026 summer internship cohort. Interns will help support operations in a variety of departments including Communications, Capital Planning, IT, and Regional Planning.

This group comes as the agency is transitioning to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) and will support its commitment to adequate, accessible, and equitable public transportation service across the region.

Meet the 2026 class of interns:

Jaden Howard (aka Jay) hails from Dyer, Indiana, and is entering his senior year at Ball State University. He is majoring in computer and information technology with a minor in computer science. Jay is always reading up on the latest technology news to understand how it’s shaping the world around us. He will be bringing this passion for tech to the IT department this summer.

Jay loves to stay active both at the gym and by playing football. When relaxing he can be found spending time with his family and girlfriend.

One of his favorite travel memories was his first plane ride to Disney World Florida in 2015. His family still laughs recalling their fond memories from the trip.

Oladayo Ayorinde (aka David) is from Camby, Indiana, and is also a senior at Ball State, where he is studying computer science. David is proud to be joining RTA’s IT department since the smooth operation of the agency’s technology can impact millions of people across the region every day.

David enjoys exploring new cities, working out, and is a big fan of automotive culture. He even runs his own social media page all about cars.

David and his family recently took a long road trip to Atlanta (eight hours each way). On the drive, the journey became the destination as the family explored new cuisine, the city of Atlanta, and took time to connect.

Abbie Hamilton is a Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) student at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), specializing in environmental planning. Abbie grew up in the western Illinois town of Galesburg and has made a home in Chicago over the last 15 years.

As an avid transit user, Abbie knows that robust networks connect communities and help protect our climate. Abbie is excited to help RTA do just that in her role on the Capital Projects team.

Outside of work, Abbie loves to travel to new countries/cities and try out their transit networks. She can also be found taking hiking trips outside Chicago to reconnect with nature.

Recently, Abbie took the Amtrak route that passes by her childhood home. It reminded her of the trains that first inspired her interest in transportation.

Nathan Melia Is originally from Fort Worth, Texas, but now calls the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago home. Nathan also at UIC’s MUPP program specializing in spatial planning.

Nathan joins the Regional Planning team and looks forward to making the system more intuitive for riders by improving signage and wayfinding.

Nathan is an artist in his free time. Lately he has been creating transit and city-themed posters. He hopes to one day illustrate innovative planning proposals.

When he first moved to Chicago, Nathan got to know the city by taking random transit routes and walking back home. The variety of scenery and walkable communities sold him on the value of transit and urban living.

Graham Swaney is another MUPP student specializing in transportation. Coming from the small town of Jericho, Vermont (which does not have transit), Graham appreciates how RTA empowers residents and anchors world class neighborhoods.

He’s excited to work with the communications team this summer to help the public understand the changes happening at RTA as the agency transitions to NITA.

On his days off you can find Graham spending time by the lake in his adopted home of Rogers Park or finding new spots around Chicago to skateboard.

Graham loves exploring Chicagoland via transit and recently took the Metra to St. Charles to see where a close friend of his grew up.

The RTA is thrilled to welcome interns who recognize the critical role of public transit in stewarding safe, reliable, accessible public transportation that connects people to opportunity and advances equity.