Center for Women in Government and Civil Service Fellows Pave the Way for Social Change

The 2026 Center for Women in Government Fellows take a group photo.
2026 Center for Women in Government Fellows. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

By Sophie Coker, Class of ’26 

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 9, 2026) — In the heart of the capital of New York, University at Albany students are pursuing careers in public service, soaking in the knowledge and skills needed to become policy and social change agents and paving the way for future leaders.

With values of equity, inclusion, diversity, integrity and equality, the Center for Women in Government and Civil Service (CWGCS) has been expanding opportunities for students for 45 years. The program operates through UAlbany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, but opens its doors to students from all disciplines and backgrounds. 

CGWCS’s Fellowship on Women & Public Policy is a six-month, rigorous development program for graduate students. Students in the highly competitive fellowship gain hands-on experience in policy-related roles working with state agencies in Albany. They work 25 hours a week and receive a stipend. More than 300 fellows have been through the program, including New York State Sen. Patricia Fahy and Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs.

“I am continuously impressed by the civil servants I have met through the fellowship and the work they do to contribute to New York State,” said Dalila Oliver, an Urban and Regional Planning master’s student at UAlbany. 

Oliver was placed with the Office of the New York State Comptroller in the Division of State Government Accountability, where she works on the community engagement side of city planning.

“Combining the structure of the fellowship and my fieldwork has strengthened my passion for civil service and solidified my interest in continuing to work in this sector after the fellowship is complete.”

The fellowship program seeks to increase gender diversity in public service leadership and decision-making roles, strengthening democratic governance and expanding women’s representation in public life.

“Investing in women’s leadership is not optional — it is essential to building resilient, inclusive and effective public systems” said Dina Refki, executive director of the CWGCS.

For PhD candidate and fellow Amalini Fernando, inclusivity is a cornerstone of public policy. 

“When the policy-making process includes people with different lived experiences, it broadens the range of perspectives brought in to decision making," said Fernando, who was placed with Sen. Fahy’s office. “Representation is not just about better decisions in the present, but also about shaping the future of leadership.”

A core portion of the fellowship involves leadership seminars and experiential learning opportunities. Fellows attend co-curricular activities such as workshops, conferences, policy field trips and community service opportunities. 

In past years, fellows have traveled to New Orleans to provide disaster relief aid and Puerto Rico to volunteer with a community-based organization supporting underserved children.

“This fellowship has reshaped my definition of leadership and civil service," said Rachel Cavalier, a master's candidate in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy and a fellow in the government relations team at the Department of Transportation. 

“Pursuing public policy means I get to wear multiple hats, each aimed at improving the lives of others.”

The full list of University at Albany CWGCS fellows this semester:

The Center for Women in Government & Civil Society will be hosting a daylong conference to discuss women’s leadership in public service on Wednesday, April 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.