Excelsior Service Fellowship Program

Mark Jordan – 2022-2024 Fellow, State of New York Offices of the Inspector General

Post-Fellowship Employment: Investigative Counsel, State of New York Offices of the Inspector General

JD, Albany Law School

"The Excelsior Fellowship program has been instrumental in advancing my career in state government. The program's expert balance of challenging placements and comprehensive support has equipped me with the tools and skills necessary for leadership success. I am confident that the knowledge gained through this program will be invaluable throughout my career. I am deeply grateful for the program and the individuals who have played a pivotal role in my professional development."

Halima Begum – 2021-2023 Fellow, Department of State, Office of General Counsel - Licensing Enforcement

Post-Fellowship Employment: Assistant Counsel, New York State Homes and Community Renewal

JD, Albany Law School

“My fellowship experience showed me how lawyers can directly impact laws, policies, and social change in New York. As a fellow, I prosecuted and assisted in prosecuting housing discrimination cases involving individual real estate licensees — in doing so, I helped establish precedents that tackled outdated and unfair housing laws, policies, and private practices that continue to contribute to the housing crisis in America today. Additionally, I gained extensive experience in corporate compliance through audit and consumer complaint reviews against business licensees, imposing sanctions for non-compliance with laws and proposing corrective actions to ensure the safety of New Yorkers. Beyond compliance oversight, I contributed to policy development by drafting an administrative regulation, issuing an agency opinion, and engaging in high-level, time-sensitive policy decisions. My fellowship experience in advocating for housing justice and the protection of New Yorkers not only strengthened my skills in regulatory enforcement and risk management, but also safeguarded the legal integrity of individuals and businesses in New York while shaping policies that continue to influence the regulatory landscape and industry practices.”

Leandra Hernandez – 2022-2024 Fellow, Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection

Post-Fellowship Employment: Education and Policy Analyst, Division of Consumer Protection, New York Department of State

MPA, Rockefeller College, University at Albany, SUNY

“The Excelsior Fellowship provided me an excellent opportunity to grow in confidence and expertise working with public policy in New York. Before the Fellowship, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in public service and gain more hands-on experience with state government. Through this program, I was able to learn firsthand about how policymaking operates within a state agency and grew to love working in the realm of consumer protection. The Fellowship helped me meet my career goals all while contributing to my division’s mission of advocating for and empowering New York consumers.”

Aaron Schwartz - 2021-2023 Fellow, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Workforce Transformation

Post-Fellowship Employment: Equal Opportunity Specialist 2, Department of Public Service

MPA, Binghamton University

“In my time as a Fellow, I was called to help develop some genuinely incredible opportunities for people across the state. By applying everything that I’d learned and experienced throughout my various graduate programs and career thus far, I helped blend an array of unique fields’ strengths into those being implemented by New York State. My most notable achievement, the progress we have made towards integrating data-driven best practices, is going to benefit hundreds of thousands of New York State residents and businesses for years to come. If you’re a recent graduate or are looking for a change of pace in your career, make a difference. Be the catalyst. Apply for the Fellowship.”

Prospective fellows must be nominated for the Excelsior Service Fellowship program through their law, professional, or graduate school’s Career Services Office or Fellowship program liaison. Please see our list of partner schools to determine eligibility. To be nominated, fellows must receive their graduate degree (i.e. MPA, MA, MBA) or advanced degree (i.e. JD, PhD) during the academic year prior to starting the Fellowship program. There is no direct application process to the Excelsior Service Fellowship.

The selection process for the Fellowship consists of several steps, and may vary slightly by school. First, students submit their application materials to their school’s career services office or Fellowship program liaison. Next, the school’s Fellowship selection committee reviews the application materials, interviews the candidates, and selects a predetermined number of candidates for nomination to the Fellowship program. The school then forwards its nominees’ application materials to the NYS Department of Civil Service. Nominees are interviewed for placement by the staff from the Department of Civil Service, and are matched with a placement at a State Agency or Authority. Those Fellows who are matched will be notified of their final acceptance in May.

Who is eligible to apply for the Fellowship programs?

The Empire State Fellows program is designed to attract working professionals with demonstrated leadership capabilities who want to refocus their careers on public service. Applicants should have an advanced degree and at least five years of professional work experience, although an applicant with only a Bachelor’s degree may be considered if he or she has substantial professional achievements. 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 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons, are particularly encouraged to apply. Empire Fellows may come from a variety of professional arenas, including the nonprofit sector, the hard sciences, education or law. However, current New York State executive and legislative branch employees are ineligible for the Empire State Fellows program.

The Excelsior Service Fellowship is targeted towards recent graduates of New York State law, professional and graduate schools. Candidates must have received their graduate degree (i.e. MPA, MA, MBA) or advanced degree (i.e. JD, PhD) from one of the Fellowship program’s partner schools in the academic year prior to starting the Fellowship. Unlike the Empire State Fellows program, there is no direct application process for the Excelsior Service Fellowship. Instead, candidates are nominated by the partner schools for the program on an annual basis.

What is the compensation for the Fellowship programs?

Both fellowships are two-year, full-time programs with generous salary and benefit packages. Empire State Fellows receive an annual salary of $90,000. The salary structure for the Excelsior Service Fellowship is in three tiers:

Fellows’ salaries are based on academic degree and years of work experience after college:

• Fellows with a master’s degree and less than three years of full-time, post-collegiate work experience are paid $70,000 annually;
• Fellows with a master’s degree and three or more years of full-time, post-collegiate work experience are paid $75,000 annually;
• Fellows with a PhD or JD degree are paid $80,000 annually (only applicable to JD graduates pursuing a legal fellowship placement)
  

How do the Fellowship placements differ across the programs?

While Empire State Fellows and Excelsior Service Fellows may be placed at the same Executive branch agencies or offices, and may even work on the same policy initiatives, the level of work differs across the programs.

Given that Empire State Fellows generally have more professional experience, they work directly with Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner-level executives on pressing policy initiatives and projects. Excelsior Fellows generally work on the operational or legal aspects of important policy initiatives, reporting to directors of specific departments or managers of projects.

What is the application process for the Fellowship programs?

The application and selection processes for the Fellowship programs are separate and quite different. Applicants for the Empire State Fellows program apply directly to the program. Applications for the 2026-2028 Empire State Fellows Class will open April 1, 2025; application instructions can be found on the Empire State Fellows webpage. Applications are reviewed by the NYS Department of Civil Service and finalists are interviewed by a panel of judges convened by the Governor.

Prospective fellows must be nominated for the Excelsior Service Fellowship program through their law, professional, or graduate school’s Career Services Office or Fellowship program liaison. Please see our list of partner schools to determine eligibility. There is no direct application process to the Excelsior Service Fellowship. Detailed selection information can be found in the “How to Apply” section.

Nominated Fellows are placed in any number of Executive branch agencies, authorities, and the Executive Chamber. Placements may be in Albany, New York City, or elsewhere in the State; however, the majority of placements are in the Capital Region and nominated Fellows should be willing to move to Albany. The NYS Department of Civil Service works with nominated Fellows to determine their ideal placement based on their professional experiences, career goals, and areas of interest. Available positions vary from year to year based on agency needs and budget limitations.

Sample Fellowship Placements (May not be representative of future placements):

Policy/Management Placements:

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Construction and Development
• Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Bureau of Law Enforcement and Public Safety
• Executive Chamber, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• Division of Public Service, Office of Energy System Planning and Performance
• Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Disaster Recovery
• Division of Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Housing Preservation
• Office of Information Technology Services, Chief Data Office
• Department of Health, Office of Health Equity and Human Rights
• Education Department, Office of Education Policy
• Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Climate Change
• Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Women’s Affairs

Legal Placements (Law school graduates only):

• Division of Homes and Community Renewal, Tenant Protection Unit
• Justice Center for the Protection of people with Special Needs, Special Prosecutor
• Department of Health, Division of Legal Affairs, Bureau of Administrative Hearings
• Department of Financial Services, Cybersecurity Division
• Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Board of Parole
• Division of Human Rights, Prosecutions Unit
• Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Legal Affairs, Bureau of Child Care Services
• Department of State, Committee on Open Government
• Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 2
• Office of Information Technology Services, Enterprise Risk Bureau
• Department of Public Service, Office of General Counsel

Who is eligible for the Excelsior Service Fellowship?

Candidates must possess a graduate degree (i.e., MPA, MA, MBA) or an advanced degree (i.e., JD, PhD) from one of the Fellowship program’s partner schools. Prospective Fellows must receive their degree during the academic year prior to starting the Fellowship program (i.e. December or May/June graduation), and be nominated by the partner school for the program. All Fellows must be eligible to work for New York State without employer sponsorship.

How much does the Excelsior Service Fellowship pay?

The salary structure for the Excelsior Service Fellowship is in three tiers:

Fellows’ salaries are based on academic degree and years of work experience after college:

• Fellows with a master’s degree and less than three years of full-time, post-collegiate work experience are paid $70,000 annually;
• Fellows with a master’s degree and three or more years of full-time, post-collegiate work experience are paid $75,000 annually;
• Fellows with a PhD or JD degree are paid $80,000 annually (only applicable to JD graduates pursuing a legal fellowship placement)

Additionally, all fellows receive a comprehensive benefits package including paid leave, health, dental, vision, and other benefits. Fellows are also eligible for any annual salary increases provided for in the current negotiated Management/Confidential labor agreement.

Where and how are Fellows placed?

Fellows can be placed in any number of executive-branch agencies and authorities across state government. Placements may be in Albany, New York City, or elsewhere in the State; however, the majority of placements are in the Capital Region and nominated Fellows should be willing to move to Albany. The NYS Department of Civil Service works with nominated Fellows to determine their ideal placement based on their professional experiences, career goals, and areas of interest. Available positions vary from year to year based on budget considerations, agency needs and the Governor’s policy priorities. The Center for Recruitment and Public Services matches nominated Fellows with appropriate agency placements based on all of these factors.

How long is the Excelsior Service Fellowship?

The Fellowship is a two year program which begins in early September. Fellows are required to commit for the full two years once they accept their placement in the program.

What kind of work do Fellows do?

Fellows who possess a Juris Doctor degree and wish to pursue legal work are placed in legal positions within agency counsel’s offices or legal services departments. The actual type of legal projects vary by agency, but may include statutory interpretation, drafting contracts and memos, drafting policy guidelines, investigations and enforcement, and providing general legal advice to the agency or department.

All other Fellows have the opportunity to work on projects which advance the operational aspects of large policy initiatives within their assigned agency or department. Placements vary widely, but may include program implementation, drafting policy memos, data analysis, research and community outreach. Fellows are provided with a job description from their assigned agency along with their offer letter describing their expected responsibilities.

What is the timeline for applying to the Excelsior Service Fellowship?

While the application timeline may vary slightly by school, the following is a general outline of the nomination and acceptance process for the Fellowship program:

• Late January – early February: applications due to partner schools
• Mid to late February: interviews conducted by schools
• March 1: nominations from partner schools due to the NYS Department of Civil Service
• March: final interviews conducted by NYS Department of Civil Service
• Early April: nominees notified of whether they are moving forward as a finalist
• Mid-May: placements finalized and shared with selected Fellows

Will I get a full-time job after the Fellowship?

While there is no guarantee of employment after the two-year fellowship, exceptional Excelsior Service Fellows may continue to serve in an appointed or competitive role. Historically, more than 50% of Fellows who completed the fellowship were offered permanent positions with the State.

Are there opportunities for professional development during the program?

Yes. The Excelsior Service Fellowship includes a Professional Development component that spans the two years of the program and aims to provide training, networking and leadership development opportunities for Fellows. The curriculum includes approximately five Professional Development courses per year, covering a range of topics from an introduction to New York State government, to ethics, to teambuilding and facilitation. The Professional Development courses are mandatory for all Fellows.