Valedictorian: Macy Hayes, BA '22

Name: Macy Hayes
Hometown: Menands, NY
Major: Public Policy and Management with a concentration in Environmental Policy
Minor: Political Science
Awards: Valedictorian of the Department of Public Administration and Policy; Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research; Situation Prize for Research – Community, Cause and Advocacy; First Penguin Undergraduate Research Award for her honors thesis, “The Future of Climate Action: Evaluating Three Prospective Solutions to the Climate Crisis”; Mario M. Cuomo Scholarship recipient.

What activities were you involved in during your time at UAlbany?

After I first transferred to the University at Albany my freshman year, I became a Transfer Transition Leader for three semesters. I was also involved in the UAlbany College Democrats as a J-Board member, Secretary, and then Vice President. 

What were some highlight experiences of your undergraduate career?

Participating in the Semester in Washington program this Spring was the highlight of my undergraduate career. I had the privilege of interning in the House of Representatives and living in a new city with so many friends from UAlbany. It was amazing to be able to apply so much of what I've learned here at Rockefeller to my experience in the center of federal policymaking. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

One of my greatest accomplishments is my honors thesis, as I spent so much time and energy over the course of two semesters researching, reading, and writing for the project. With the help of my faculty mentor, Dr. Jennifer Dodge, I was able to take my initial interest in addressing climate change and turn it into an original research project where I evaluated prospective solutions and determined which one best anticipated the future.

What is next for you after graduation?

I am hoping to get more experience with an internship or job relating to environmental policy over the next year, and then I plan on attending a graduate school program for climate policy!