Fall 2018 Interns Will Study Reproductive Freedom as Questions Surround the Fate of Roe v. Wade

Albany, NY — Five University at Albany students have been named as research interns at the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Center for Law & Policy Solutions (CLPS) this fall, where they’ll work hand-in-hand with accomplished researchers to examine how law and public policy play out in the lives of ordinary people. 

With the recent announcement of the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy — often considered a “swing vote” on the court — and the likely confirmation of a more conservative justice, questions surround the fate of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that guarantees a woman’s right to choose. In this context of uncertainty, the fall 2018 cohort of Center for Law & Policy Solutions interns will spend the semester mapping existing legal protections in New York State, assessing the potential effects of a reversal of Roe v. Wade, and evaluating alternative policies to improve women’s access to reproductive healthcare services. The project will culminate with a report on their findings.
 
“This is an exciting new group of young researchers from the University at Albany tackling one of today’s most pressing issues: How could changes to Roe v. Wade affect the average person? And what else can be done to ensure access to reproductive healthcare at the state level?” said Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras. “With this new research focus, the Center for Law & Policy Solutions continues to bring evidence-based analysis to critical questions of law and policy. I look forward to the findings.”
 
“The potential reversal or weakening of Roe v. Wade would unquestionably touch the lives of countless American women, especially those in poor and vulnerable communities,” said CLPS Executive Director Katie Zuber. “It’s an urgent example of how decisions of law and policy made at the highest levels can affect people’s lives, for better or worse — and why it is so critical to understand the potential outcomes of those decisions. The Center for Law & Policy Solutions was founded to examine exactly this kind of scenario.”
 
The interns are:

Florencia Feleder, a senior majoring in political science with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean studies. Feleder has previously interned with the office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the Global Institute of Health and Human Rights. She participated in the NEW Leadership New York Women’s Leadership Academy through the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society. Interested in international relations and human rights, Feleder is currently working on her honors thesis regarding the variance in acceptance of refugees.

Katie Gowing, a sophomore at the University at Albany majoring in political science and public policy. Outside the classroom, Gowing is a member of the UAlbany Women’s Soccer Team, a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign, and a student of American civil rights law. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to go to law school to continue her work in civil rights advocacy.

Kaidy Mendez, a senior in the public policy and management program at the University at Albany, with concentrations in law and human rights, as well as gender, race, and society. Prior to joining the Center for Law & Policy Solutions, Mendez held a position in civil service as a proofreader for the New York State Legislative Bill Drafting Commission, which sparked her interest in the study of government and how policy affects diverse populations. This past summer, she interned with Policy Research Associates, a small women-owned business that provides technical assistance and collaborative support to meet behavioral and social needs of populations who are disadvantaged.

Vannessa Taylor, a senior majoring in Africana studies and public policy. Taylor has previously served as the secretary of the NAACP SUNY Albany Chapter and spent the spring 2018 semester interning for Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter of the 118th district of Syracuse. Taylor hopes to use her training in Africana studies and public policy to work for reform in the Juvenile Justice System and run for a position in the New York State Assembly.

Megan Weis, a senior majoring in political science with a global concentration and a minor in history. Weis is a transfer student from SUNY Adirondack and a member of Tau Sigma National Honor Society. She also participates in her family’s business, breeding German shepherds and working at the family marina on Sacandaga Lake. She seeks to end political corruption in national politics and commence change in Washington through her involvement in national politics.

The research interns, guided by faculty mentors from the University at Albany, will assist researchers in analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating their research findings to key stakeholders. They will conduct independent research, prepare a policy memo, and present their findings at a forum at the Rockefeller Institute.

The Center for Law & Policy Solutions is a partnership among the Rockefeller Institute, the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at the University at Albany, and the University at Buffalo School of Law. It aims to assist policymakers, community organizers, and the general public in identifying practical solutions to pressing problems at the intersection of law and policy.

Look for the Center’s findings at www.rockinst.org.