Hometown
Wausau, WI
Undergraduate education
Bachelor’s degrees in political science and history, UW–Madison
Employer
New York State Assembly
Job Title
Associate Counsel – Office of Majority Program and Counsel
Start Date
December 2022
Primary job responsibilities
- Budget policy negotiations.
- Legislation drafting and editing.
- Advising committee meetings.
- Assisting Assembly members during floor debates.
- Legal and policy research.
- Negotiating “chapter amendments” with the executive to avoid potential vetoes.
Describe a project that best illustrates your job
Negotiating the annual budget in New York. This begins with the Executive budget introduction in late January which includes both the fiscal and policy components. My role in the Assembly then requires me to summarize the policy provisions and formulate a response on behalf of all of the members of the Assembly. All the involved parties then exchange different drafts of the proposed language until a resolution is reached and the final budget can be enacted. My role also requires me to help advise members on the floor when debating the enactment of the budget.
How do you use what you learned at La Follette on the job?
Many of the courses I had regarding the development of state policy, including the class taught by former Governor Doyle, have helped hone a strong sense when reading through different legislative proposals and helping bills navigate the legislative process. Additionally, many of the La Follette courses would looked at the policies of a variety of different states, something I now do on a daily basis to see what is working well and what is not.
Which experiences and skills in particular helped you get your job?
Being a dual JD-MPA student was critical for my role. Having a policy background gave me a leg up on other applicants, as much of my role involves the intersection of law and policy and being able to work in both spaces has served me well.
Why the La Follette School?
I had initially started at the law school with the intent to join La Follette because I had only heard great things about the program. I was always interested in a technical perspective on the nuances of policy evaluation and cost-benefit analysis. I was also curious at the time to learn more about economics and develop a firmer understanding of the relevant basics.
What impact did your client-based projects have on your career?
I ended up doing a project with the Wisconsin PSC, and I currently work closely with the New York PSC. Having this background and detailed understanding of this very specialized area of law was huge and helped me be two steps ahead of others and get to a level where I needed to be.
Why would you recommend the La Follette School?
La Follette is a very reputable program with a great faculty that actually care about your success. The faculty each have their own research interests, but they are also normal humans and want to guide you as much as they can in your education. It is also a beautiful campus in an amazing city that is hard to find anywhere else in the country.
Favorite book?
Favorite policy/science book is Scale by Geoffrey West, but I love reading biographies and histories.
Anything else?
I live in Albany with my Partner, Sof, who is in a PhD program at SUNY-Albany. We have a Samoyed, which is a giant white fluffy dog, who loves to go hiking in the Catskills and Adirondacks.