Empire State Fellows Program

Applications for the 2026-2028 Empire State Fellows Class will open April 1, 2025.

The Empire State Fellows Program is designed to attract talented professionals from outside of State government with demonstrated leadership potential who want to refocus their careers on public service. Candidates will be selected on the basis of their academic and professional experience, demonstrated leadership potential, and commitment to public service.

To Apply:

Applicants must use the online application form to apply. A complete application will include:

1. Professional Resume or CV
2. Personal statement explaining your interest in the Empire State Fellows Program and why you should be selected (no more than two pages)
3. Two letters of recommendation which speak directly to your leadership capabilities and professional preparation for the program (a link will be provided to you to share with your recommenders once you submit your online application. The letters of recommendation must be submitted by June 8, 2025 or within one week of submission of your online application).

Resume and personal statement must be uploaded into the online application before submission. All application materials must be received before 11:59 p.m. on June 1, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should possess the following qualifications:

Professionalism:

• Creativity and strong leadership potential
• Excellent analytical and evaluative skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills, efficiency and flexibility
• Ability to establish priorities, plan, coordinate and monitor work
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating with a team
• Ability to identify issues, recognize best practices, formulate options and make recommendations

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of full-time professional experience
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Managerial experience is a plus
• Applicants may come from all professional backgrounds

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master's degree, JD, PhD or equivalent) is desirable, but a candidate with only a Bachelor’s degree may be considered if he/she has substantial professional experience
• Applicants may come from all academic disciplines

Additional requirements:

• Candidates must be eligible to work for New York State without employer sponsorship
• Candidates must be available to work in Albany, New York throughout the two-year program
• Current New York State executive and legislative branch employees are ineligible for the Empire State Fellows Program

What qualities are the Empire State Fellows Program looking for in applicants?

The Empire State Fellows Program is designed to attract talented professionals with demonstrated leadership potential who want to refocus their careers on public service. Applicants who are members of groups underrepresented in policy-making roles in New York State government, which include but are not limited to Black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander persons; women; persons with disabilities; and members of the LGBTQIA community, are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants should have an advanced degree and at least five years of professional work experience. An applicant with only a Bachelors degree may be considered if they have substantial professional achievements.

Fellows may have a variety of educational and professional experience. For example, a social justice advocate working at a nonprofit organization, a lawyer with experience at a large law firm, and an environmental scientist with experience working on climate policy, could all be strong candidates if they demonstrate superior academic and professional credentials and a strong interest in public service. Of course, applicants who have studied public administration, political science, or public policy would also be competitive. All competitive applicants will demonstrate a strong interest in a career in public policy, substantial accomplishments in a professional environment, and notable academic achievement.

The diversity of applicant qualifications reflects the needs of our state government, which seeks talented leadership for agencies as varied as the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Children and Family Services. Once Fellows are selected, their skills, interests and experiences will inform their assigned role in New York State government.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Empire State Fellows Program?

Individuals who are eligible to work for New York State without employer sponsorship, residing anywhere in the world, are eligible to serve as Empire Fellows, so long as they can work in Albany, New York throughout the two-year Fellowship. Individuals currently employed in the legislative or executive branches of the New York State government are not eligible to apply. Empire State Fellows must have a minimum of five (5) years of full time professional experience. The most competitive applicants will have an advanced university degree (master's degree, JD, PhD or equivalent); however, a Bachelor's degree in combination with other relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Is a candidate’s political affiliation a consideration in selecting Empire State Fellows?

No. Empire State Fellows are selected on a non-partisan basis.

How do I apply for the Empire State Fellows Program?

Applications for the 2026-2028 Empire State Fellows Class will open April 1, 2025. Applicants must use the online application form to apply. A complete application will include:

1. Professional Resume or CV
2. Personal statement explaining your interest in the Empire State Fellows Program and why you should be selected (no more than two pages)
3. Two letters of recommendation which speak directly to your leadership capabilities and professional preparation for the program (a link will be provided to you to share with your recommenders once you submit your online application. The letters of recommendation must be submitted by June 8, 2025 or within one week of submission of your online application).

Resume and personal statement must be uploaded into the online application before submission. All application materials must be received before 11:59 p.m. on June 1, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

What is the best approach for handling recommendation letters?

Applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters from individuals they know well who can describe their background and achievements

• At least one recommendation should come from an individual who has supervised you in a professional environment and can speak to your work experience and accomplishments
• All recommendation letters should address the question of why the applicant would be a strong addition to the Empire State Fellows Program and how the applicant’s personal, educational and/or professional experience prepares him or her to confront the increasingly complex policy challenges facing the New York State government
• Recommenders should be identified in the online application; once you submit your application, a link will be provided to you to share with your recommenders. They will use that link to submit their letter of recommendation electronically.

Who will review applications and select Empire State Fellows?

All applications will be reviewed by the New York State Department of Civil Service. A panel of judges will interview the most promising applicants, and finalists will have a second interview with selected senior executives at the Department of Civil Service.

What is the Empire State Fellows Program schedule and selection timeline?

Applications for the 2026-2028 Empire State Fellows Class will open April 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed in June and preliminary interviews will be conducted in July. Finalist interviews will be conducted in August. Candidates selected for placement in the Empire State Fellows program will receive offer letters in September, which will be contingent on the applicant completing a full background check.

Applicants will have one week to confirm their participation in the program and to complete the paperwork required for the background check. Background checks should be completed by the start of the program.

Empire State Fellows will begin work in Albany, New York in January 2026. The first several weeks of work will consist of an intensive orientation seminar, which will introduce Fellows to state government operations and current policy issues. After this orienation, Fellows will resume full-time work in their assigned roles.

Empire State Fellows commit to serving in their roles for the duration of the two-year Fellowship program. Empire State Fellows will participate in the educational program throughout the first year of the Fellowship. Fellows will participate in professional development events throughout the two-year Fellowship.

What is the Empire State Fellows Educational Program?

The educational component of the Empire State Fellows program opens with a week-long session that introduces Fellows to New York State government. Some topics to be covered may include:

• Constitutional and Legal Context of New York State Government
• State Agency Operations and Intergovernmental Relations
• Budget Policy and Budget Process
• State-Local Relationship
• Communications and Press
• Ethics

After completing orientation, Fellows will begin full-time work. Throughout the first year of the Empire State Fellows Program, Fellows will attend semi-monthly seminars on weekday evenings. In between class sessions, Fellows will dedicate between one and two hours per week to academic reading and exercises. The semi-monthly classes cover topics relevant to the policy process and State operations.

How are Empire Fellows assigned to state agencies and can I pick the department or agency to which I am assigned?

Upon reviewing applicant skills and agency needs, the panel of judges will recommend that each fellow be appointed to work closely with a particular policymaker within the New York State executive branch. Final placement decisions will be determined by senior executives at the Department of Civil Service. If the applicant accepts the recommended placement, the applicant will be appointed to serve in that role. Although agency needs will ultimately determine fellow placement, the panel of judges will duly consider each applicant’s preferences, experience, and skills in determining how they could best serve our state.

Are Empire Fellows provided compensation and benefits during the Fellowship?

Yes. Empire State Fellows are full-time, non-competitive, New York State employees. Fellows will receive an annual salary of $90,000, plus a generous benefits package.

Does the Empire State Fellows Program provide housing during the Fellowship?

No. Fellows are responsible for their housing arrangements.

Are applicants required to undergo a security and background investigation?

All accepted Empire State Fellows must submit to a prospective employee background investigation conducted by the New York State Police and the NYS Center for Recruitment and Public Service. All Fellows' appointment and continued employment in the Fellowship is contingent upon this background investigation.

Can an Empire Fellow remain in their placement after the Fellowship?

The role of Empire Fellow lasts only two years. However, upon completion of the two-year Fellowship, each Empire State Fellow’s performance will be evaluated with the expectation that successful Fellows will continue to serve in a full-time role within New York State government.

Where can I direct additional questions?

If you have additional questions, please email us at [email protected].

Applications for the 2026-2028 Carey Gabay Fellowship will open in May 2025.

Carey Gabay Fellowship Program

The Carey Gabay Fellowship is a paid two-year, full-time legal Fellowship program created in honor of Carey Gabay, a former assistant counsel in the Governor's Office who was killed in 2015 by an act of gun violence.

The Carey Gabay Fellow is appointed every two years to work in the Governor’s Counsel’s Office. The selected Fellow works directly with the Counsel to the Governor and their staff on issues such as violence prevention, economic equality, and community development – policy areas that Gabay championed throughout his career.

The incoming Carey Gabay Fellow will serve from January 2026 to January 2028 (specific dates dependent on selection timeline and completion of background check) and will earn a salary of $85,000 per year plus a generous benefits package. The Fellow also participates in an educational program along with participants in the Empire State Fellows program throughout the first year of their Fellowship, including bi-weekly evening classes and other career development sessions.

The successful applicant should be a bar-admitted attorney who, like Gabay, is committed to public service, hails from an economically disadvantaged background, and most importantly, embodies the integrity and kind-heartedness that distinguished Gabay personally.

How To Apply

A complete application requires the following:

1. Professional Resume or CV

2. Personal statement explaining your interest in the Carey Gabay Fellowship and how you embody the characteristics Gabay portrayed during his career.

3. Two references (name, title and phone number), who can speak to your leadership skills, leadership capabilities and professional preparation for the program.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The selected candidate must submit to a background investigation conducted by the New York State Police and the NYS Center for Recruitment and Public Service. Fellowship appointment is contingent upon this background check.

Applications for the 2026-2028 LGBTQ+ Fellowship will open in May 2025.

Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor LGBTQ+ Fellowship: The New York State LGBTQ+ Fellowship was established to support the ongoing efforts in the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer. The LGBTQ+ Fellow is awarded every two years to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, a track record of working on LGBTQ+ equality, civil rights and diversity, equity and inclusion issues, and a strong interest in a career in public service.

The Fellow serves in the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer in the Governor’s Executive Chamber and assists the Chief Diversity Officer in optimizing New York State agency diversity and inclusion goals, increasing BIPOC representation across New York State agencies, and continuing to build the State's leadership as a model employer for New Yorkers of all gender identities and sexual orientations. In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the Fellow also works to advance LGBTQ+ equity across New York State government, including providing policy and content expertise, project management, community engagement, event planning, strategic communications, and legislative tracking.

The fellowship is named after LGBTQ+ leaders who have—with their courage, tenacity and perseverance—raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and made a lasting difference in the LGBTQ+ community. The fellowship lasts for two years and is named in recognition of three New York leaders: Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera for their movement leading advocacy on behalf of the transgender community in New York and Edie Windsor for her advocacy and groundbreaking work in successfully challenging the federal defense of marriage act.

The Fellow has the opportunity to network across New York State agencies, with elected officials and industry partners and to participate as an Empire State Fellow in educational and professional development programs, including a week-long orientation session and biweekly evening classes that will help them to serve as an effective government leader and strengthen the network of LGBTQ+ policymakers and leaders in New York State. The salary for the LGBTQ+ Fellowship is $85,000 plus a generous benefits package.

2024-2026 Empire Fellows

Andrea Fairbank Biffle

Andrea Fairbank Biffle (she/her/hers) is placed at the Office of Children and Family Services. As an Empire State Fellow she supports programs related to youth with high acuity/complex needs and their family systems. Andrea has a history of providing evidence based mental health services, to both children and families, that has spanned over 30 years. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has been both a former foster parent and family advocate. Her areas of clinical specialization include services to pre-school aged children, youth in foster care, and the effects of trauma/loss on the individual. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of North Carolina and a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Andy Blancero

Andy Blancero (he/him) is a Staten Islander first and foremost. His placement is in the Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, where he gets to work toward the goals of assessing and addressing climate risk at parks throughout New York State. Andy’s varied work and volunteer history has throughlines of nature-based solutions and community development, having both office and field experience across diverse disciplines such as urban planning, solid waste management, restoration ecology, green stormwater infrastructure, and nonprofit development. He earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and has completed significant coursework at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, with a focus on environmental planning.

Heather Burgess

Heather Burgess (she/her) is placed at the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. Working under the Bureau of Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Programming, Heather utilizes policy, research, and program development skills to advance culturally responsive services within the gender-based violence response system. Before the Fellowship, Heather worked at the NYC Board of Correction monitoring the NYC Department of Correction’s adherence to PREA Standards. She was also the BOC representative on the NYC TGNCNBI Task Force, a collaborative group that works to improve the treatment and housing of transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and intersex people in custody through policy and practice development. Heather holds BAs in Sociology and Criminology & Law from the University of Florida and an MSW from the University of Pittsburgh.

Maribel Espinosa-Hernandez

Maribel Espinosa-Hernandez (she/her) is placed at The Department of Labor, Office of Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions. She brings a wealth of professional experience that includes higher education leadership and community engagement. Throughout her career, Maribel has worked with low-income, undocumented, and marginalized populations, including those affected by mental health issues, substance use disorders, and victims of crime. She has played a pivotal role in coordinating trainings on immigration fraud, labor trafficking, and wage theft. Her participation in the Wage Theft Task Force, a collaboration of several city, state and federal agencies, highlights her commitment to protecting workers’ rights. As an Empire State Fellow, Maribel is dedicated to leveraging her extensive experience to support the Department of Labor’s initiatives, with a continued focus on inclusivity within underserved communities.

Omar Cyrille

Omar Cyrille (he/him) is placed in the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)within the Office of Youth Justice. He shares an expertise in Restorative Justice practices. Prior to becoming an Empire Fellow, Omar was a Men of Color Victim Services Advocate in the New York County District Attorney’s Office starting in 2021. Omar was tasked with serving victims and witnesses of crime while implementing a public safety model. He developed a keen understanding of how violence can impede the progress of an entire community by utilizing restorative justice processes such as circles, and dialogues between victims, offenders, and community members. He is a co-founder of the Brotherhood program, formed while in high school, which seeks to encourage, support, and develop young men with a determination of success in both academia and society. His work at the Center for Justice Innovation as an Engagement Specialist resulted in the publishing of an implementation guide, Restorative Justice In Schools: A Whole-School Implementation Process. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Medgar Evers College.

Pardeep Singh

Pardeep Singh is placed within the Executive Chamber supporting AI and Emerging Technology Policy. A Brooklyn-native and research scientist by training, Pardeep brings a diverse set of experiences from scientific, legislative and diplomatic environments. Prior to joining the Empire Fellows Program, Pardeep was a Science and Innovation Officer within the British Consulate in Los Angeles where he led the deliverance of US/UK science policy interests in the southwest US through facilitating high-level coordination of matrixed stakeholders related to Engineering Biology, Quantum, AI, Semiconductors and Energy Transition. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, Pardeep and a small team of scientists opened a COVID-19 testing lab in Brooklyn and secured enough testing probes to test 25,000 people for free. This experience led to his recruitment into the New York State Senate with the Chair of the Health committee, Gustavo Rivera. Having attended Binghamton University and City University of New York, Pardeep started his research career studying risk factors of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease in both academic and industry environments. Having visited multiple innovation hubs across the US and the world. Pardeep is keen on nurturing New York’s emerging technology ecosystem at the state, federal and NGO levels during often rapidly changing and uncertain global affairs.

Dr. Ryane McAuliffe Straus

Dr. Ryane McAuliffe Straus (she/her/hers) is placed at the New York State Education Department in the office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR). Ryane was previously a Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Rose, where she taught courses in American Politics. She has presented her research, which examines how schools of choice impact racial integration in public education, at regional and national conferences and published in several peer-reviewed journals. Her book about Albany charter schools, Divided By Choice: How Charter Schools Diminish Democracy, will be published by NYU Press in 2025. Ryane has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in Social Science and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. Ryane’s goal as an Empire Fellow is to apply her broad academic knowledge about public policy to better understand and improve policy development in New York State.

Will McKenna

Will McKenna (he/him) is placed with the Department of Health within the Office of the Commissioner. Will is a licensed Social Worker by trade, receiving his MSW from CUNY Hunter- Silberman School of Social Work, beginning his career in foster and preventive care. He spent a majority of his career managing the Project IMPACT program, an HIV Care/Prevention program, at Mount Sinai’s Adolescent Health Center, providing medical and mental health care to young people ages 13-24. Before joining the DOH as an Empire Fellow, Will pursued more clinical opportunities through the opening of his private practice to provide therapeutic care for LGBTQ+ identifying adolescents and young adults. A native New Yorker, Will and his family moved back to NY (after spending a few years in Charleston, SC) for this fellowship.

Samantha K. Slusher

Samantha K. Slusher (she/her/hers), a Long Island native, serves in the Office of Customer Experience within the Executive Chamber. In this role, she is dedicated to refining and enhancing services to better meet the needs of all New Yorkers. Prior to entering state service, Samantha served as the Director of the Equity in Infrastructure Project, where she engaged with efforts to promote economic opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses and communities. With a background in public affairs and communications, Samantha brings a wealth of expertise to her current position. Her career is distinguished by her advocacy with a diverse range of organizations, including non-profits, labor unions, employee associations, and private entities. Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Art History from the College of William & Mary and a Master’s degree in History and Literature from Columbia University.

2023-2025 Empire Fellows

Daniel Glenn Dobies

Daniel Glenn Dobies (we/us/ours) is the Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor Fellow placed in the Executive Chamber with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, where we further the diversity and inclusion efforts of New York State. A New Yorker through and through, Daniel was born and raised in Buffalo, and had called New York City home for the last 15 years until moving to the Capital Region for this opportunity. Prior to state service, Daniel was a lawyer specializing in criminal law, which most recently included working with the transgender community residing in DOCCS facilities. After over a decade in the law, Daniel went back to school in the deep pandemic to pursue an MSW and worked with the queer community through Callen-Lorde. Daniel holds a Juris Doctor from Berkeley Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

Angela West

Dr. Angela A. West is placed at The Department of Civil Service, Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management. Angela brings a wealth of professional and personal experience that includes nearly 15 years in higher education leadership and classroom instruction, dedication to multiple civic service organizations, grant and budget management, and over 25 years’ experience working with diverse populations in for-profit and non-profit organizations, and state, local and federal agencies. Angela is passionate about diversity and inclusion initiatives and is a strong advocate for services provided to under-represented and vulnerable populations. As an Empire State Fellow, Angela aims to assist New York State Government with continuing to move the needle on Diversity and Inclusion efforts. Angela earned a Master of Social Work from SUNY Albany, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University School of Theology, and a Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration from University of Maryland University College with a dissertate focus on the under representation of African American Leadership in the Community College. Angela is a former Rockefeller College Center for Women in Government, Women in Public Policy Fellow, and a current adjunct professor at SUNY Schenectady County Community College.

Charles Hailer

Charles Hailer is placed in Empire State Development in the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI). Charles brings a mix of communications and international experience to his transition to state service. Prior to joining the Empire State Fellows program, Charles completed his Master’s of International Affairs from Rockefeller College at UAlbany and was named a 2022 David L. Boren Fellow through the National Security Education Program. He has worked, studied, and travelled extensively throughout Turkey and parts of the South Caucasus and is an advanced Turkish speaker, his writing on Turkish politics has been published by E-International Relations. Charles started his career after graduating from Fordham University in New York City where he spent over a decade working in marketing and communications roles at firms like the Tribeca Film Festival and Viacom as well as non-profits like BRIC Arts Media. Outside of his professional and academic life, Charles has extensive volunteer experience working with new Americans as an adult literacy tutor at the Brooklyn Public Library and had an op-ed on upstate refugee resettlement and economic development published in the Albany Times Union. In 2019, Charles moved to the Capital Region where he currently represents his community on his local library’s Board of Trustees. He is passionate about equitable and inclusive economic development and is excited to help bring opportunities to New Yorkers and help the Empire State become a global leader in the semiconductor industry.

Ocesa Keaton

Ocesa Keaton is placed in the Council on Children and Families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clark-Atlanta University and obtained her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University. She is a licensed social worker that has over twelve years of experience advocating for and alongside communities that have been historically underserved to advance equitable policies and programs. Prior to becoming an Empire State Fellow, Ocesa led several important initiatives, including a New York State anti-poverty initiative that worked with community members, grassroot organizations and policy officials to form collaborative partnerships to center neighborhood voices in the creation of community centered programs. Ocesa is deeply committed to equity work, and she believes policy can be a tool for advancing social justice and equity.

Kassiana Parris

Kassiana Parris is placed at the New York State Department of Health working with the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She is driven by her faith and most passionate about advancing health equity initiatives and utilizing research and data driven results making health equity a strategic priority. As a first generation American, Kassiana is committed to addressing health inequities involving racial and ethnic communities who are disproportionately burdened by chronic illness. Kassiana has years of experience in the non-profit sector serving high risk communities and previously served as the Program Director for Bowery Residents Committee (BRC) Care Coordination Mental Health Specialty program in New York City. Kassiana is also committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace which has led her to present a research proposal at the Northeastern Conference for Public Administration ‘Increasing employee morale, motivation and job satisfaction’. She was awarded the Non- Profit, Policy, Practice and Partnership award and The Walt Family Constructive Action Grant at Metropolitan College of NY to support this initiative. Kassiana is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor society, and she re-established the Metropolitan College of NY (MCNY) Alumni network serving two terms as the President of the MPA alumni network. She has also served as a member of the MCNY advisory council identifying ways to advance the college’s social justice mission. Kassiana has a NYS Credentialed Alcohol Substance and Addiction Counselor certification and holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs and Administration from Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) and a BS in Psychology from Old Westbury University.

Cassandra Klewicki

Cassandra Klewicki is placed in the Department of Labor in their Policy, Research, and Strategy division. She is a journeywoman carpenter, and a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (Local 290) where she served as a shop steward. She is a co-founder of Tradeswomen Building Bridges, an organization with the mission of building North American representation in the global network of tradeswomen advocating for themselves. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY Buffalo and a master’s degree in Labor Studies from CUNY School of Labor and Urban studies. In her spare time, she serves on the board of directors for the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund, an organization she has 6 years of advocacy experience with.

Alexandra Alam El Din-Meeks

Alexandra Alam El Din-Meeks is placed within the Executive Chamber of New York State, she rotates between the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Health, and the Office of General Services. Her primary focus is on aligning food and nutrition accessibility efforts/initiatives across all state agencies, with a particular emphasis on emergency feeding and Food as Medicine. Alex has over a decade of experience working in food and nutrition access at various points along the food system. She is passionate about getting healthy food into our community and equipping our most vulnerable populations with knowledge and resources they need to make healthy choices and lead wholesome lives. Alex’s skill set is broad and includes proficiency in food policy and systems, fund development, nutrition education, program development and evaluation, and nonprofit leadership. She holds a strong commitment to improving food equity and fostering healthier communities. When she is not creating fun recipes in the kitchen, Alex loves to hike, backpack and snowboard. She holds a B.S. in Dietetics, Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Vermont and a MPH in Social Behavior and Community Health from the State University of New York at Albany.

Kennetha Glover

Kennetha Glover is placed with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) in the Child Welfare and Community Services Division (CWCS). Kennetha is a lifelong advocate for marginalized and underserved populations and is committed to serving them through her work with local grassroots and national organizations. This duty significantly impacted her role as a Senior Project Manager, where she managed large-scale COVID-19 CARES Act projects. Kennetha is passionate about minorities and women in business and worked in a compliance capacity providing community outreach on projects, including a federal aviation project, to ensure contract goals. Kennetha enters public service with a portfolio of over 100 successfully managed projects. She hopes to use her knowledge to develop, support, and implement inclusive policies that strengthen the quality of life for communities throughout the State. Kennetha earned a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Binghamton and a Master of Science from SUNY Albany. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her community service and academic and professional achievement, including the Albert Tillman Award, the Attorney General's Triple C Award for Character, Commitment, and Community Concern, the James C. Hackett Award, and the McNair Scholar Award.

Ezra P. Scott Jr.

Ezra P. Scott Jr. is a Niagara Falls, NY, native serving the Department of Public Service within the Executive Office, focusing on stakeholder outreach, diversity initiatives, and community engagement. Mr. Scott has vast experience as a front-line implementer and service provider in education, health and human services, workforce development, criminal justice, city government, and is a 2013 New York State Golden Gloves champion. In 2015, he was elected Niagara Falls City Councilman. Subsequently, he founded the Niagara Falls Peacemakers chapter, a coalition of community volunteers focused on community relations and violence prevention. Mr. Scott currently serves as the vice president of Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH), an organization that amplifies the voices of the unheard in unjust circumstances. Mr. Scott earned an Associate of Arts in liberal arts and sciences: humanities and social science from Niagara County Community College, a Bachelor of Science in sociology from the State University of New York at Cortland, an MBA in human resource management and strategic management, and a Master of Science in early childhood education from Niagara University.

Emilio Tavarez

Emilio Tavarez is a queer immigrant from the Dominican Republic, an experienced social worker specialized in macro-practice, and an award-winning author for his contribution in Latinx in Social Work Vol. II. He previously served as the Director of Advocacy, Policy, and Research at Hunger Free America, where he lead a team of advocates and organizers in support of federal public policies that would end domestic food insecurity. Emilio received a work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program established by President Obama though executive order, and since then Emilio spent over a decade providing casework services to low-income, immigrant, and LGBT communities through the non-profit sector. He also serves as board president for the National Association of Social Workers, NYC Chapter (NASW-NYC) with the goal of inspiring more social workers to consider careers in management and policy advocacy. As a new Empire Fellow at the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), Emilio hopes to help NYS create the most compassionate social services system in the US.

Nancy Holt

Nancy Holt is placed at the Department of Environmental Conservation. She has over 15 years of experience working on issues at the intersection of science and policy. This includes experience working for the federal government, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she focused on ways to help scientists lend their skills to key challenges facing New York City. Born and raised in The Bronx, Nancy holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.