Baruch College Alumna Wins New York State Senate Legislative Fellowship

November 10, 2022

Baruch College alumna Gail Fitzer (MPA ’22) recently won a New York Senate Graduate Fellowship and is now working in Albany, assigned to the office of State Senator John W. Mannion (D-50th District).

For Fitzer, who graduated from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs in September, this nine-month legislative fellowship is providing real-world experience that will advance her career goals.

“It was thrilling when I found out I was chosen as a Fellow,” Fitzer recalls. “Learning about how bills are written and legislation gets passed in our great state of New York, and being involved in that process is a fascinating experience. The New York State Capitol is definitely the most beautiful place I’ve had the privilege to call my workplace, and once the legislative session starts in January, my work is going to get even more interesting!”

According to Fitzer, her responsibilities include writing extensive research reports on policy, law, and proposed legislation in New York State, sponsorship memos for bills introduced by Senator Mannion, and letters to federal and state government agencies on behalf of the Senator. She also attends and reports on key meetings and events with policy experts, advocates, and constituents, and expects to draft bills and attend legislative sessions later in the fellowship.

Fitzer’s career goal is to work on urgent public policy problems including safeguarding democracy, climate change, and public health for government, a think tank, or foundation.

“I hope to do extensive policy research and analysis on these existential problems plaguing not just New York and the United States, but the entire world, and to propose innovative policy solutions that can eventually become bills that are passed into law,” explains Fitzer.

“I have already had the opportunity to work on climate change and health policy issues, and I am looking forward to working on legislation that helps safeguard our elections and other democratic institutions.”

Fitzer was selected for this fellowship because of her overall academic excellence and achievements. Recently, she won the Pi Alpha Alpha Master’s Manuscript Award from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) for her research paper “The Connection Between Climate Change, Covid-19, and Other Infectious Diseases.” Her graduate capstone project titled, “Combating the Social Media Disinformation Crisis: Why Reforming Section 230 is Not the Answer but Legislation Mandating Transparency Is,” will be published in Baruch’s The Lexington Review.

Prior to her MPA studies at Baruch, Fitzer worked a journalist for Reuters, AP, and The Hollywood Reporter, and was the founder and CEO of AWAKEN PR.

# # #