FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UAlbany Students Selected as Research Interns at the Center for Law and Policy Solutions at the Rockefeller Institute of Government
Research Will Focus on Drug Treatment Courts in Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties
Albany, NY — The Center for Law and Policy Solutions (CLPS) at the Rockefeller Institute Government is proud to announce its spring 2018 student interns from the University at Albany. Beginning in January, these up-and-coming researchers will partner with CLPS staff to research the evolving landscape of New York’s drug treatment courts, gaining valuable hands-on experience in public policy research and implementation along the way.
Under the leadership of the Center’s expert researchers and staff, the spring 2018 internship cohort will study the operations and local perceptions of drug treatment courts in New York’s Third Judicial District, which encompasses Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Through direct observation, interviews, and other methods, the students will research how the courts are administered, how people experience them, and how they differ from courts in general.
The interns include:
Hannah Riegel, a sophomore majoring in political science and women, gender and sexuality studies. Riegel serves as the secretary of Albany’s chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, where she is active in raising money for Project Safe Point, a needle exchange organization. She is interested in criminal justice reform and opioid harm reduction.
Maria Segura, a sophomore majoring in political science and linguistics. Segura has volunteered with Albany Law Clinic and Justice Center, where she helped law students communicate with young immigrants, and interned with Exodus Transitional Community, which helps rehabilitate inmates after incarceration. She is interested in federal and state public policy.
Prijenett Flores, a sophomore majoring in political science. Flores previously served as a volunteer at Changing the Odds, a youth development program in the Bronx. She is interested in public policy, particularly where it intersects with the experience of immigrants.
Joel Lopez, a sophomore majoring in political science. Lopez has served as treasurer of ASPIRA of New York, an organization that serves Hispanic youth and families, and as a legal assistant in the law firm Kramer & Dunleavy, LLP.
“Thanks to UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez and the Rockefeller College for developing this important partnership, these students will have an excellent opportunity to learn at the side of renowned researchers and advance public policy proposals that could bring about meaningful change,” said Jim Malatras, president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. “New York’s drug treatment courts are an excellent place to start. These courts stand at the intersection of law, public policy, and the lives of ordinary citizens — and they get little public attention. I look forward to the findings.”
“This internship is an example of UAlbany’s commitment to meaningful experiential education, which contributes to student success,” said University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez. “These students have an extraordinary opportunity to work in a world-class research institute while applying their skills to address a critical societal issue.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome these talented young researchers to the Center for Law and Policy Solutions,” said Katie Zuber, executive director of CLPS and assistant director for policy and research at the Rockefeller Institute. “In addition to bringing diverse backgrounds and perspectives to our work, they’ll gain practical experience in analyzing data and communicating their findings to the right audience.”
The student interns, guided by faculty mentors from the University at Albany, will assist researchers in analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating research findings to key stakeholders. They will conduct independent research, prepare a policy memo, and potentially present their findings at a policy roundtable at the Rockefeller Institute.
The Center for Law and 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.
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About the Rockefeller Institute of Government
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. The Institute conducts fiscal and programmatic research on American state and local governments.