The 2024 University at Albany FLIP Competition invited students participating in UAlbany’s Showcase Day to share policy implications of their research

Albany, NY — The Rockefeller Institute of Government is pleased to announce Nikaley Castillo and Marzuka Ahmad Radia as winners of the 2024 University at Albany Future Leaders in Policy (FLIP) Competition.

The Future Leaders in Policy (FLIP) Competition is an annual competition from the Rockefeller Institute that gives State University of New York (SUNY) undergraduate and graduate students a chance to share their public policy research with New York State leaders, publish with the Rockefeller Institute of Government, and win a cash prize.

This year’s competition invited students participating in UAlbany’s second annual Showcase Day—a full-day exhibition highlighting student research, academic work, experiential learning, and creative activities—to develop and share a presentation on the policy implications of their work to a panel of Rockefeller Institute scholars and experts.

“It’s wonderful to see such great scholarship from these students,” said Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna. “We want the Future Leaders in Policy Competition to encourage them to see their research through the lens of policy and practice. Congratulations to this year’s winners, Nikaley and Marzuka, for presenting their research with clarity and highlighting its implication for policymakers.”

Nikaley Castillo is the undergraduate winner with her presentation, “The Rise of AI in Healthcare;” Marzuka Ahmad Radia is the graduate winner with her presentation, “Role of the Student-Teacher Racial Match in Promoting Healthcare Careers: Influence of Racially Matched Teaching beyond School.”

More information about the Future Leaders in Policy Competition along with winners of prior years’ competitions can be found on the Rockefeller Institute website at rockinst.org/flip.