Where Are They Now? Maya Rudolph, 2018 Session Assistant

When did you participate in the Undergraduate Session Assistants Program or Senate Fellowship?

Undergraduate Session Assistants Program – 2018 Legislative Session

Which Senate office were you placed in during your internship?

Senator Phil Boyle, R-4

Briefly describe your responsibilities/day-to-day activities in your internship office placement.

In my office, I prepared the Senator for session by creating a brief of all the bills on the calendar that day. I also made sure the Senator had a copy of his schedule and knew where to be, and when. I supported the district office with constituent communication and had the privilege of meeting with various constituent and advocacy groups alongside Senator Boyle, taking minutes and sharing meeting summaries with the team. I enjoyed meeting passionate people who came to Albany to make a difference.

Where are you working now? Briefly describe your responsibilities/day-to-day activities in your current place of employment.

I am currently a Master of Public Administration candidate at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at UAlbany. I work as the Graduate Assistant at the SUNY SAIL Institute, a professional development organization that helps foster strategic, academic and innovative leadership among SUNY faculty and staff. In this role, I monitor and record financial transactions, develop project budgets, contribute to content creation for leadership development programming, and more.

What did you learn from participating in the New York State Senate internship programs that you have been able to carry over to your new position?

Participating in the NYS Senate internship program was my most valuable professional experience. I learned the ins and outs of New York State Government, how to carry myself in a professional way and how to operate in a small team environment but still work as a part of a larger organization, which has helped me in my role at SUNY. I also improved my networking skills and learned that a career in legislative affairs is what I want to pursue!