2019 Fellows on Women & Public Policy

Center for Women in Government & Civil Society 2019 Fellows on Women & Public Policy Standing (L-R): Laura Kipper, Christina Romeo, Hilary Vandenbark, Trudy Morgan Dadzie, Phung Nguyen, Shannon Connolly, Essence Parker, Shanleigh Corrallo Sitting (L-R): Sarah Whitehouse, Adesimisola (Lizzy) Tijani, Aloaye Tisor, Natanaelle Germain, Kate Neifeld, Jennifer L DeMarco, Anna Tokareva Sponsored by NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence NYS Department of Environmental Conservation NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services NYS Department of Labor NYS Network for Youth Success NYS Office of Children & Family Services NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence NYS Office of State Comptroller NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance NYS Senate, Office of Senator Velmanette Montgomery SHANNON CONNOLLY MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Urban Studies and Sociology from the SUNY Geneseo in May 2016 During her time at Geneseo, Shannon completed an internship with the Rochester Urban Fellows, studying urban social policies in the City of Rochester She credits this experience with sparking her passion for urban policy After completing her undergraduate degree, she relocated to the Capital District to serve with AmeriCorps VISTA While serving with AmeriCorps, Shannon felt a strong connection to the Albany community and started pursuing a Master in Regional Planning program in Albany She is interested in the intersection of urban planning and public policy Shannon focused her coursework on community planning and local economic development Most recently, Shannon interned with the City of Albany Planning Department, examining affordable housing within the City Shannon’s Fellowship with the Office of Children and Family Services, Child Care Services Division is solidifying her experience in understanding policy implementation and the budgeting process SHANLEIGH CORRALO PH.D HISTORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE Shanleigh Corrallo is pursuing a Ph.D in History with foci in African American and Urban History at the University at Buffalo Her dissertation focuses on Black Power organizations in Rustbelt cities Shanleigh holds a profound conviction that without centering historical knowledge and sharing historical narratives with the public, we miss an opportunity to improve existing community organizations and social justice movements Her work with the federal government, private foundations and non-profit organizations cultivated a deep passion for social justice and humanitarian service As an intern with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, she spearheaded a project on community gardens in urban areas and analyzed refugee resettlement policies As a Policy Fellow with the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York, she examined the potential implications of changes to Medicaid and Medicare on local populations She integrated her policy and academic experiences when she served as adjunct instructor of American History for Houghton College Buffalo, an innovative campus in Buffalo's West and East side neighborhoods that provides refugee students and prison reentry candidates with opportunities to obtain associates degrees virtually debt-free Her ultimate goal is to contribute to the development and implementation of policies that remove social and economic barriers that underserved communities face, and that revitalize and strengthen communities Shanleigh is proud of her Buffalo roots and enjoys spending time with her beloved dachshund Franklin, traveling abroad and learning languages TRUDY MORGAN DADZIE MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS Trudy is currently an MPA candidate at SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College, concentrating in Nonprofit Management and Government Information Strategy and Management She holds a BA (Honor) in Public Policy Management with a concentration in global affairs and politics Before becoming a Women in Government fellow, Trudy was an intern at SUNY System Administration, where she revised the program proposal guide for the Office of Academic Affairs and conducted preliminary review of program proposals She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA fellow at Brown University, working as a coordinator with Generation Citizen— an action-civics, non-profit organization She is an alumnus of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) fellowship at Princeton University In the last five years, Trudy worked as a peer mentor and tutor at SUNY Albany’s Student Support Service office, providing academic support to underrepresented college and high school students She also held internships at NYC Mayor de Blasio's office and at Capitol Group LLC, a government relations firm Trudy also has significant research background, working as a researcher in the last four years on topics related to security, health, gender, law and human rights—mostly with a global focus She is a participant in the Common Purpose Global Leadership Experience, and a former diversity leader and organizer as an exchange student in Istanbul, Turkey Born and raised in Ghana, Trudy believes her calling is in Africa: She hopes to return to the continent as a good government advocate JENNIFER FEEL DEMARCO MASTER OF ARTS - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (HOMELAND SECURITY) SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY & MASTER OF ARTS - ART HISTORY PURCHASE COLLEGE, SUNY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE Jennifer has a cross-cultural background with experiences in the non-profit sector, higher education, and international adoption activism After living in South Korea for five years, she was drawn to public service after serving as an AmeriCorps National member at Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County She was the Family Services Coordinator where she assisted working class families interested in pursuing homeownership She received a Masters of Arts in Art History from SUNY Purchase and a Masters of Arts in International Relations with a concentration in Homeland Security from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a concentration in Art History and History from SUNY Cortland Her research interest includes urban geography, social justice, and community development NATANAELLE GERMAIN MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Natanaelle is completing a Master of Public Administration program with concentrations in Homeland Security and Policy Analysis Additionally, she will receive a Certificate in Emergency Preparedness in Cyber-Security upon graduating Having immigrated to the US with her family at a young age from Haiti, Natanaelle is passionate about public policy as a tool to address challenges facing marginalized, and vulnerable populations She tackled issues concerning homelessness/housing, food security, health, education, and international community development She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with concentrations in Multicultural and Internal Studies and well as a Certificate in Community Development from Siena College While at Siena, Natanaelle served as a peer advisor on diversity and inclusion, a Bonner Service Leader, and an intern in Bolivia at the Carmen Pampa Health Clinic Natanaelle also served on the executive board of Friends of Fontaine, an Albany based non-profit supporting community-based development through the St Gabriel’s School in Haiti where she has volunteered as an English teacher Natanaelle came to Rockefeller College in Fall of 2017 as a Carson Carr Scholar She has since completed an internship at the Schenectady County Manager’s Office and was recognized for exceptional academic achievement and passion for policy work by Duke University Natanaelle was named a Duke 2018 Global Policy Fellow and completed an internship in Geneva at the World Health Organization Her current goal is to gain the skills essential to be an effective policy maker and administrator LAURA KIPPER MASTER OF BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION AND POLICY SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Laura is pursuing a Master of Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy from University at Albany, SUNY, with concentrations in Urban Planning and Environmental Justice She holds a profound conviction that environmental problems are deeply connected to all social ills Laura received Bachelor degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Geosciences from the University at Buffalo, SUNY She has always been passionate about connecting communities to their environments and creating a sustainable future for generations to come Laura is extremely interested in focusing her career on air and water quality, resiliency planning and fresh food access in the face of climate change, especially for vulnerable and urban communities She is also an advocate for reducing the gender gap in STEM fields Through her professional experiences and academic research, Laura hopes to provide a voice for communities affected by environmental justice issues and to contribute to enacting positive change for those communities KATE NEIFELD MASTER OF URBAN POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT MILANO SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THE NEW SCHOOL POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES Kate is pursuing a Master of Science from The New School’s Milano School of Public Engagement in New York City After completing her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, Kate began work in the nonprofit sector, and became passionate about education policy Her professional background ranges from working in K-12 educational advocacy to higher education administration and fundraising, where she observed the inequities that families face in identifying quality educational opportunities In her most recent role at The State University of New York (SUNY) Impact Foundation, she participated in fund development and the creation of studentfocused programs across the State University of New York system At OCFS, Kate is developing her skills in policy analysis, contributing to positive social change for children and families in New York State, and strengthening her leadership skills Originally from Queensbury, NY, Kate is excited to be a member of the 2019 class of Women in Public Policy fellows and to spend time upstate, closer to family and the mountains PHUNG NGUYEN PH.D IN EDUCATION POLICY AND LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (SUNY) POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF STATE COMPTROLLER Phung Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and a Master of Public Policy from Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, a partnership between Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City Her early professional experience in project management, project appraisal, and policy assessment provided her with different knowledge and skills as a policy practitioner Determined to influence the improvement of efficiency in higher education system and public spending, Phung is pursuing a Ph.D in Educational Policy and Leadership, with an interest in higher education finance Phung was placed at the Office of Budget and Policy Analysis, Office of the State Comptroller, where she is learning the difficult process of making tradeoffs among different policy priorities Phung is diversifying her work experiences, enriching her knowledge base and building a solid foundation for effective advocacy for policy reforms ESSENCE PARKER MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF STATE COMPTROLLER Essence Parker is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in policy analysis at Rockefeller College, University at Albany She graduated from St Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Government Essence conducted research on the challenges facing women in balancing professional and personal responsibilities Essence was able to witness the first hand effects of her research when she traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, where she volunteered at the Autistic Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ASTT) and encountered many single mothers who were trying to balance caring for their children with the demands of a full time job Essence's experiences have contributed to her interests in economic security for women At her placement at the Office of NY State Comptroller (OSC), Essence is gaining experience in the audit process and deepening her understanding of the impact of state audits on legislation and the budget process Essence is strengthening her knowledge about the policy process, policy analysis and budgeting to position herself for a career in government following her graduation in 2020 CHRISTINA ROMEO MASTER OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NEW YORK STATE COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Christina Romeo graduated cum laude with a BA in English from The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY She is pursuing a Master of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy, and Political Theory at the Rockefeller College of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christina began her organizing and advocacy campaign career when she was nineteen years old when she was the lead campus organizer for the successful Save Our Saint Rose movement She served as Public Affairs and Political Research Intern at SKD Knickerbocker’s Albany where she worked on a congressional campaign in the North Country, participated in political advocacy and educational campaign in Central New York, and worked extensively on the mental health-focused, Bring It Home campaign Christina also worked on a congressional campaign in New York's 21st Congressional District Christina worked as a Research and Writing Assistant for J Strategies, an innovative woman-owned and operated government affairs and alliance development firm in Albany, NY and was the campaign manager of #bFair2DirectCare, a campaign focused on fighting for a living wage for direct support professionals Christina serves as the Public Policy Coordinator and the Social Media and Communications Director of the Capital Region's Chapter of GLSEN She is a member of a coalition of LGBTQIA advocates throughout the state and assists in the organizing the annual LGBTQ Day of Advocacy at the New York State Capital As a fellow, Christina participates in shaping the NYSCADV's public policy platform and legislative agenda, assists with organizing lobby days and advocacy events and serves as a public policy liaison between the NYSCADV's network of domestic violence shelters and agencies across the state ADESIMISOLA (LIZZY) TIJANY MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES Adesimisola graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice with a minor in Africana Studies from the University at Albany, SUNY She is currently pursing in the Master of Public Administration program at the University at Albany, SUNY with a focus on Education Policy and Policy Analysis Adesimisola has experience in advocacy, research, data analysis, program evaluation, and policy During her academic career, Adesimisola has spent her time researching criminal justice reform, the school to prison pipeline areas of education policy and the inequalities within American institutions During her senior year, Adesimisola wrote her honors thesis that focused on the racial and socioeconomic disparities within school disciplinary practices Adesimisola has always been heavily involved on campus and held various leadership roles For example, during her sophomore year, Adesimisola and fellow students founded the SUNY Albany Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women to combat the lack of inclusion, diversity and safe spaces for women of color on the University at Albany campus Following the mission of this nationwide organization, the National Congress of Black Women, SUNY Albany Chapter empowers Black women through education, political involvement and economic and cultural development Currently, Adesimisola serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within SUNY Student Assembly As Director, Adesimisola provides leadership and serves as an educator, trainer, liaison, advocate for over 465,000 SUNY students and oversees multiple SUNY-wide committees Upon graduation, Adesimisola would love to use her knowledge and passion to help advocate for marginalized communities and help to enforce equity in the criminal justice and education system ALOAYE TISOR MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: OFFICE OF NYS SENATOR VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY Aloaye was born and raised in the South Bronx to Nigerian-born parents Aloaye is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with concentrations in Homeland Security and Policy Analysis at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, University at Albany She is also a Candidate for the Graduate Certificate of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity Aloaye holds her B.A in Public Justice, with two minors: in Psychology and Computer Science from SUNY Oswego Aloaye has completed internships at key institutions including but not limited to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Chamber Aloaye has been in various leadership positions in campus organizations ranging from Committee Membership to Presidency Utilizing her background, education, leadership skills, and professional experience, Aloaye wants to dedicate her career to public service and the furthermost of public policy Aloaye is currently placed at the Office of New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery where she hopes to strengthen her knowledge of the legislature and the inner workings of New York State Government Aloaye will graduate from the University at Albany in May 2019 and hopes to continue to serve the people of New York State in a larger capacity ANNA TOKAREVA MASTER OF GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TOURO GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES Anna is currently pursuing a Master in General and Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education Anna is a passionate advocate for children with special needs and their families Her experiences as an early childhood educator exposed her to the challenges of working women, and inspired her to engage in public service Anna earned her undergraduate degree in International relations at the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) where she was involved in a debate club tackling a wide range of issues including issues facing professional women These experiences, along with her volunteer experience in South Korea further solidified her commitment to support the community of families who have special children HILARY VANDENBARK SUNY PH.D IN GLOBAL GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Hilary Vandenbark is a PhD candidate in Global Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University at Buffalo Her research examines state responses to sexual violence in the context of social movements, such as RISE and #MeToo Vandenbark has taught undergraduate courses on Gender-Based Violence, Feminist Theory, and Controlling Reproduction Previously, she worked with the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women to produce a report on local women in government as well as assist with events addressing domestic and teen dating violence As a Fellow, she is working with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence on the intersection of housing, long-term financial stability, and current program services Her long-term career goals include shaping state policies that respond to sexual and gender-based violence through insider advocacy as a public servant in state government and the legislature or outsider advocacy in the nonprofit sector SARAH WHITEHOUSE MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY POLICY FIELD PLACEMENT: NYS OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE Sarah was born and raised in the great city of Chicago, IL At age 10, Sarah sat down with her mother for an unexpected, yet memorable conversation about the women’s liberation movement and her own experiences as a young woman in the 1970s From that time on, Sarah has committed herself to become an agent of social justice She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 2013 with a BFA in Sculpture After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked for a youth development non-profit organization, and a social-emotional learning program at a community based organization in Syracuse, NY She is currently studying Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health, University at Albany During her time at UAlbany she has had the opportunity to work on the NYS Maternal Mortality Review, and Healthy Families New York Sarah hopes to use her education and experiences to advocate for improved access to care, long term paid family leave for new parents, and a national single-payer healthcare system Sponsored by: NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence NYS Department of Environmental Conservation NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services NYS Department of Labor NYS Network for Youth Success NYS Office of Children & Family Services NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence NYS Office of State Comptroller NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance NYS Senate, Office of Senator Velmanette Montgomery 10 ... coordinator with Generation Citizen— an action-civics, non-profit organization She is an alumnus of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) fellowship at Princeton University In the last... Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy from University at Albany, SUNY, with concentrations in Urban Planning and Environmental Justice She holds a profound conviction that environmental problems... of inclusion, diversity and safe spaces for women of color on the University at Albany campus Following the mission of this nationwide organization, the National Congress of Black Women, SUNY