Maria Holmes is a student at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York working on her associate’s degree in public administration. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Holmes plans to pursue an advanced degree in law in order to become a criminal defense attorney. Holmes is passionate about prison reform and developing pathways for formerly incarcerated people to reenter society, a topic she will study through her Center for Law and Policy Solutions internship.

Bethany Patterson is currently majoring in public affairs at SUNY Empire State College. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public administration at Buffalo State College or continue her education at SUNY Empire State College. Patterson was selected to participate in the China-U.S. Rising Star Program in May 2019, where she had the opportunity to spend 17 days in several Chinese cities serving as a liaison between Chinese and American students. As part of her Center for Law and Policy Solutions internship, Patterson is studying the correlates of mental health in adolescent refugees.

Mikayla Schneiter is an undergraduate student at SUNY Empire State College, where she is pursuing a degree in public affairs with a concentration in advocacy. Schneiter is a graduate of SUNY Erie Community College, where she earned a degree in paralegal studies. She works as a paralegal in the litigation department of a downtown Buffalo law firm which serves and advocates for people who are injured and disabled. As part of her Center for Law and Policy Solutions internship, she is studying the psychological sense of school belonging among immigrant and refugee adolescents with Dr. Dan Nyaronga. The subject of this microstudy serves Schneiter’s lifelong interest in social equality and sense of belonging within a community.

Carly Van Syckle is a junior at the University at Albany double majoring in psychology and political science with a concentration in equality and inequality studies. Van Syckle has presented research on “The Lasting Effects of Institutionalized Discrimination” at the Institutions and Societies Conference at Rockefeller College and the New York State Political Science Association Conference. She spent the past summer in Washington, D.C interning for the National Association of Home Builders where she lobbied members of Congress. Outside of the classroom, Van Syckle volunteers her time at the Center for Leadership and Service at the University at Albany. As part of her Center for Law and Policy Solutions internship, she will be researching the reentry of incarcerated people into higher education and diversity training in law enforcement.

Julie Varughese is currently a senior at the University at Albany majoring in English with a minor in sociology. With aspirations to pursue a career in law, Varughese is serving in multiple roles on campus to gain exposure to various law concentrations. She currently interns as a senior peer advisor at the Academic Support Center and participates in a variety of community service opportunities with organizations such as Presidential Honor Society, International Student and Scholar Services, and the Office of Sustainability. As part of her Center for Law and Policy Solutions internship, she is working alongside The Buffalo Project team to analyze data that can be used to conceptualize action-based diversity initiatives for a more culturally diverse community.