Ryan Ashe, Political Science Major and an intern in the Assembly Internship Program,who served as Majority Leader at the Mock Session of the Assembly, coached and praised by the real Majority Leader, Ron Canestrari.  He's pictured with Nicole Miklos, a UAlbany Communications Major, who served as Speaker of the Assembly.

The New York State Assembly Internship Program accepts 150 students each spring.  In 2007, 40% of these students were enrolled at the University at Albany (SUNY), and the largest proportion of these was Political Science majors.   The interns receive a stipend of $4140 from the Assembly, and work approximately 30 hours per week in the office of an Assembly member.  The students also receive academic credit from their home institution.  For the academic credit, they are enrolled in a course on “Policy and Politics in the New York State Legislative Process,” taught by two Professors-in-Residence at the New York State Assembly:  Dr. Helen R. Desfosses, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at Rockefeller College, and Dr. Dennis Smith from the Robert Wagner School of Public Service at NYU.  The students also participate in a weekly Issue Forum, write several papers and a major research paper, and stage a Mock Session of the New York State Assembly.

There is also a graduate internship program in the New York State Assembly, which enrolls 10 students and pays $11,500 for the Spring semester.  Several graduate students from Rockefeller College participated in the 2007 program.

For additional  information on the New York State Assembly Internship Program, go to www.assembly.state.ny.us/internship/   or contact Dr. Helen R. Desfosses at H.desfosses@albany.edu.