Rockefeller College 2020 Alumni Award Recipients
Each year, Rockefeller College proudly bestows its highest honor on a number of distinguished individuals for their exemplary service to the public and to the College.
This year, Rockefeller College is delighted to present Alumni Awards to the following extraordinary individuals for their achievements in the areas of political science, public administration, criminal justice, leadership, and continuing professional development.
Please join us in congratulating the 2020 award winners!
Lifetime Achievement Award
Catherine Bertini, BA ’71
Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University; Chair of the Board, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition; Distinguished Fellow, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
An accomplished leader in international organization reform and a powerful advocate for women and girls, Catherine Bertini has a distinguished career improving the efficiency and operations of organizations serving poor and hungry people in the United States and around the world. She has highlighted and supported the roles of women and girls in influencing change.
She was named the 2003 World Food Prize Laureate for her transformational leadership at the World Food Programme (WFP), which she led for ten years, and for the positive impact she had on the lives of women. While in the US government, she expanded the electronic benefit transfer options for food stamp beneficiaries, created the food package for breast feeding mothers, presented the first effort to picture healthy diets, and expanded education and training opportunities for poor women.
More recently, she co-chaired a successful effort to impact American policy supporting poor farmers in the developing world. As a United Nations Under Secretary General, she initiated efforts to reform the global system for security of staff and for the recognition of all staff marriages. She interacted with all UN agencies and their leadership through a variety of UN bodies in humanitarian, development, nutrition, security and management roles, and led UN humanitarian missions to the Horn of Africa and to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. With her World Food Prize, she created the Catherine Bertini Trust Fund for Girls’ Education to support programs to increase opportunities for girls and women to attend school. Bertini’s career includes: Over twenty-five years in the private sector; thirteen years as a university professor; work with major foundations and think tanks; service in local, state and national governments; and board membership in a variety of organizations.
At the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where she is now professor emeritus, she taught graduate courses in humanitarian action, post conflict reconstruction, girls’ education, UN management, food security, international organizations, and leadership. She served as a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation early in its new agricultural development program, on the jury for the Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Prize, and as a Rockefeller Foundation fellow.
She has been honored by twelve universities in four countries with honorary degrees and by the Republics of Italy and Ireland. She has received multiple awards for her work to improve the lives of children, for her management of internal reform processes, and for her advocacy for women and girls. She was appointed to senior positions by three UN secretaries general and five US presidents.
Bertini is now the chair of the board of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Concurrently, she is Distinguished Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She has been named a Champion of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit. She is a professor emeritus at Syracuse University. She is an affiliated expert at the Lugar Center, a patron of Gender in Agricultural Partnership (GAP), a senior non-resident advisor to the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), an honorary advisor to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, an advisory board member of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School of Public Service at Texas A&M University, and a member of the Leadership Council of Compact 2025 of the International Food Policy Research Institute and of the ACIES End Hunger Sustainably Program advisory board. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Public Administration, and the International Union of Food Science and Technology, as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Distinguished Service to the College
Sheri Denkensohn-Trott, BS ’89
Co-Owner, Happy on Wheels
Sheri Denkensohn-Trott is a quadriplegic from a diving accident at 16. She’s an attorney, disability advocate, mentor, writer and speaker. Sheri graduated magna cum laude from UAlbany in 1989 with a BS in Business Administration and a minor in Political Science. As an undergrad, Sheri was Vice President of Disabled Students. Sheri attended law school at the Georgetown University Law Center and as a law student, assisted in the design of a new, accessible dormitory. Throughout her 25-year tenure as a lawyer in high-level positions for the Federal government, Sheri advocated for individuals with disabilities in the workplace, the community, and as a board member at her local Center for Independent Living. Sheri serves on the Rockefeller Advisory Board and thoroughly enjoys working with students, especially those participating in the Semester in Washington Program. Sheri is an Ambassador for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Ambassador for the American Cancer Association (she is a breast cancer survivor), and was named this year as a Woman’s Health Ambassador for the US Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health. Sheri and her husband Tony (who also has a disability) have their own company, Happy on Wheels, LLC. Their mission is to inspire people, with and without disabilities, to live happier lives. Sheri is currently working on a book. She resides in Arlington, Virginia. You can learn more at www.happyonwheels.com.
Distinguished Alumnus in Political Science
Lloyd C. Bishop, BA ’80
Senior Vice President, Greater New York Hospital Association
Lloyd C. Bishop joined the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) in 2001 after a career in government service. Starting as Associate Vice President for Government Affairs, Mr. Bishop now serves as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of GNYHA’s Center on Community Health Equity Policy and Services, providing policy analysis and technical assistance to member hospitals and health systems in New York City (NYC) and throughout New York State, and in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island on health equity, public health improvement, community health planning, patient’s rights, and health reform. Immediately prior to joining GNYHA, Mr. Bishop lived in Washington. D.C. and served as Director of Intergovernmental and Tribal Affairs for the Health Care Financing Administration (now CMS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the administration of President Bill Clinton, and as Legislative Assistant for Human Services, Labor, and Education to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Prior to living in D.C., Mr. Bishop served in the administration of Mayor David N. Dinkins as Deputy Administrator for Legislative Relations at the NYC Human Resources Administration, the City’s public welfare agency. Prior to living in NYC, Mr. Bishop lived in Albany, N.Y., serving as the Federal Liaison for the former New York State Department of Social Services during the administration of Governor Mario M. Cuomo and in legislative assistant roles on the Program and Counsel staff in the New York State Assembly. Mr. Bishop earned a BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany.
Distinguished Alumnus in Public Administration
Brad Wright, PhD ’01
Head of Department of Public Administration and Policy Professor of Public Administration and Policy, School of Public & International Affairs, University of Georgia
Bradley E. Wright, Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration and Policy (Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany, 2001), specializes in organizational behavior. Dr. Wright’s research focuses on how employee attitudes and behavior are influenced by an interaction between characteristics of employees and their organizational work environment. Much of his most recent research has focused on public service motivation, leadership and performance management. His work has been published in the top public administration and management journals, including Administration & Society, American Review of Public Administration, International Public Management Journal, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Public Administration Review. Dr. Wright is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and the former editor of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Prior to joining the University of Georgia, he was on the faculty at Georgia State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as several positions in public higher education administration in both Michigan and New York.
Young Alumna in Political Science
Alicia Tambe, BA ’11
Public Policy Manager – Global Connectivity & Access, Facebook
Alicia Tambe is a licensed attorney passionate about working at the intersection of law, policy, and sustainable global development. She is currently a Public Policy Manager for Global Connectivity and Access at Facebook where she works on connectivity policy issues across the globe and supports initiatives providing affordable and reliable internet access to underserved communities. Prior to joining Facebook, Alicia was Regulatory Counsel at SES, where she worked on global satellite and connectivity regulatory issues. Before SES, she served as Counsel and Regional Specialist for Africa in the International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission. Alicia has also served as a Legal Extern in the Office of the White House Counsel as well as Law Clerk to the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. She has received several awards and honors including the Young Leader of the Year award for the Women in IT International Award series.
Alicia holds a Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University, a Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany, where she currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
Alicia remains committed to using her voice and work to address global issues for underrepresented communities, including gender inequality for women and girls in STEM and racial disparities in global health. She recently co-founded Fight Through Flights, Inc., a non-profit organization which aims to address racial disparities faced by black women living with breast cancer by providing them with free wellness retreats and travel experiences as well as access to mental health, nutrition, and fitness resources.
Young Alumna in Public Administration
Aneela Salman, PhD ’13
Social Development Adviser, Department for International Development
Aneela Salman is a career civil servant in the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) with 20 years of experience as a public sector professional and a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York, USA a Masters from the London School of Economics, UK.
She has in-depth knowledge and expertise in Social Development, Governance, Public Management, Social Policy, Conflict and Stabilization, Gender Inequality issues, Public Sector Reforms, Education Policy, Public Private Partnership. Both as a Fulbright and Chevening scholar she has keen interest in research and has presented her work at many international conferences and forums. Her research is focused around Public Policy, Gender and Security, Conflict and Terrorism issues.
She worked as Managing Director at Punjab Education Foundation, a Punjab Government flagship program for Public Private Partnership with low cost private schools. Aneela has worked with several international organization and is working on projects to introduce technological solutions to social development problems.
School of Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumni
Giza Lopes, MA ’06, PhD ’13
Executive Director, New York State Youth Justice Institute
Dr. Giza Lopes is the Executive Director of the New York State Youth Justice Institute. Giza's scholarly work has investigated, among other topics, the collateral consequences of youth contact with criminal justice system as it relates to employment, education and interpersonal relationships. Her research into these and other criminal justice issues has appeared in top-ranked academic journals, such as Justice Quarterly and Crime and Delinquency, as well as in multiple edited volumes, encyclopedias, and media outlets. She has also published a book, Dying with Dignity: A Legal Approach to Assisted Death, which traces the origins of the debate surrounding the legalization of "assisted suicide" in the United States and Europe.
Prior to joining the Institute, Giza was a Senior Research Associate at the NYS Office of Indigent Legal Service, where she oversaw the implementation of data infrastructure in Public Defender programs statewide, and supported localities by providing training and technical assistance related to that implementation.
She received her PhD and MA from the School of Criminal Justice, State University of New York at Albany.
Sarah McLean, MA ’97, PhD ’03
Associate Director and Director of Research and Technical Assistance, John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety
Dr. McLean is the Associate Director and the Director of Research and Technical Assistance at the Finn Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University at Albany, with a specialization in policy and process. At the Institute she is involved in research that examines the effectiveness of strategic and programmatic crime reduction initiatives, such as gun interdiction patrols, wireless video surveillance, truancy abatement programs, and chronic offender initiatives.
Dr. McLean has formal training in qualitative techniques and extensive experience in engaging in qualitative research and analysis. Her research has been supported by the National Institute of Justice and state and local agencies.
Dr. McLean’s current research involves examination of the operation of organizational mechanisms that support performance measurement, administrative accountability, and organizational learning, such as Compstat and multi-agency systems of information sharing and crime intelligence analysis. She is the co-PI on a project supported with an award from the National Institute of Justice to examine how measures of procedural fairness can be incorporated into police accountability systems. In addition to her current work, Dr. McLean’s research has focused on domestic violence. She previously worked as a research associate at the Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center of the University at Albany, and prior to that as a research associate at the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ).
10 Under 10 Award
The 10 Under 10 Award recognizes and celebrates the great achievements of alumni who have graduated with a degree from Rockefeller College within the last 10 years. We are proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions during the early stages of their careers.
Kevin Bretscher, BA ’09, MPA ’11
Protective Intelligence Analyst at Facebook
Kevin Bretscher graduated from the University at Albany in 2009, where he was a double major in History and Political Science. He then graduated with his Masters in Public Administration from Rockefeller College at the University at Albany in 2011. Kevin joined the United States Air Force in 2012, where he currently serves as a Reserve Intelligence Officer and holds the rank of Captain. Kevin currently is a Protective Intelligence Analyst at Facebook, where he provides intelligence and security support for Company Executives. Kevin is married to his wife Jessica, who graduated from the University at Albany in 2010, and is the father of two children, Julianna (2) and Lucas (9 months).
Tina Chang, MA ’12, MPA ’14
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tina Chang has been an employee with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security since 2015. The agency's mission focuses on three core areas: impeding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and its missile delivery systems, thwarting diversion attempts of U.S. goods to terrorists or state sponsors of terror, and preventing commodities from being used for unauthorized military end-uses.
In her current capacity, Tina promotes both national security and foreign policy objectives. She recently traveled to the 2019 Nuclear Suppliers Group conference, hosted in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, as a USG delegate and presented commerce diversion trends to an international audience composed of regime members from 48 different countries.
That same year, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Tina and the members of her office with a Gold Medal in Leadership. The group was honored for their unique use of departmental resources and collaboration with other government agencies to identify, disrupt, and collect valuable information relating to the illicit procurement attempts of a State terrorism sponsor. As a team, they identified U.S.-origin commodities suspected of going directly to the leadership of a terrorism-sponsoring regime, and initiated actions that ultimately provided the USG with a first-of-its-kind opportunity to collect valuable information on illicit procurement routes and activities as well as potential insights into the regime leadership.
Prior to her role at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Tina was a Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Export Control Coordination, which is responsible for executing the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program - a position that she was recommended for by a professor at Rockefeller College! She conducted research and analysis to monitor all of the EXBS program’s capacity-building activities in over 64 different countries from inception to evaluation through three information management tools, two of which she conceptualized, developed, and implemented.
Tina has an MPA from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College, an MA from the University at Albany’s School of Criminal Justice, and a BA from UCLA. She is a 2015 Presidential Management Fellow and was one of three T-STeP Fellows at Rockefeller College in 2013, sponsored through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
David Galin, BA ’10
Chief Of Staff, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan
David Galin is Chief of Staff to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. As Chief of Staff, David serves as Mayor Sheehan’s intergovernmental liaison to City departments as well as local, state, and federal stakeholders – working collaboratively with both internal and external agencies to ensure successful implementation of the Mayor’s major initiatives and more recently, the City’s response to COVID-19. David also provides recommendations and drafts policies to help improve the quality of life within the City of Albany for Mayor Sheehan’s review and consideration, such as reaffirming Albany’s commitment to community policing and protecting immigrants and reducing the time provided for absentee landlords to clear snow and ice from sidewalks surrounding their properties. David has led several of the Mayor’s programming initiatives, including Albany’s Census 2020 Complete Count campaign. Additionally, David manages the City’s communications on behalf of the Mayor.
Prior to working for the City of Albany, David was a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and Program Director of the CA$H Coalition of the Greater Capital Region, a low-income free tax preparation initiative operated by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region. David has also served as an advisor to several local political campaigns.
David has been active in various civic and government entities, including as a member of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District Board of Directors. Prior to moving to Albany, David served on the Town of Hunter and Greene County Planning Boards. David continues to volunteer his time preparing tax returns for low-income individuals.
David is a graduate of Albany Law School (J.D. 2014) as well as the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY University at Albany (B.A., Political Science – 2010) and Columbia-Greene Community College (A.A. 2009). David has also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
David and his wife, Calee, and their Golden Retriever, Dunkin, live in Albany’s Helderberg neighborhood.
Brandon Hall, BA ’10
Associate Attorney, Armstrong Teasdale, LLP
Brandon Hall is an associate attorney at Armstrong Teasdale, LLP, in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is a member of the Corporate Service practice group, where he focuses on corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, as well as representation of health care systems, hospitals, and physicians. He also maintains an active Pro Bono litigation practice, having represented clients in both state and federal courts in employment law and civil rights disputes.
Brandon is a 2010 graduate from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY Albany, in which he obtained his degree in political science. While an undergraduate, he spent two years working for various members of the New York State legislature, handling a wide array of duties from research and drafting to constituent interaction and events coordination. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Brandon spent two years as a legal assistant and governmental affairs liaison at a private law firm in Albany, NY, before relocating to St. Louis, Missouri in 2013.
Once in St. Louis, and prior to law school, Brandon worked for a medical device startup company. That experience served as a catalyst for his decision to attend Saint Louis University School of Law (SLU Law), where he obtained concentrations from both the Center for Health Law Studies and from SLU’s Wefel Center for Employment Law. While in law school, he served as a Health Law and Policy Fellow, a Health and Disability Law Fellow, was a member of the ABA’s Journal on Labor and Employment Law, and was an active member of multiple student organizations. He also took SLU Law’s Grassroots Health Policy and Advocacy class, aimed at expanding access to healthcare for Missouri’s most vulnerable populations. He subsequently served as the teaching fellow for that same class, mentoring students on the legislative process, and attending meetings with numerous legislators and key players in the health care field.
Brandon has published articles on topics ranging from Workplace Wellness Plan compliance under the ADA and GINA; ERISA Preemption of state laws; and Rural Hospital Closures. He was the winner of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (ACEBC)’s 2019 Sidney M. Perlstadt Annual Writing Award.
Jayson Kratoville, BA ’10, MPA ’11
Interim Director, National Center for Security & Preparedness
Jayson Kratoville is the Interim Director of the National Center for Security & Preparedness (NCSP) at the University at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity. He leads a dedicated team working with people and organizations to adapt to emerging science, technology, and threats. He is a proud graduate of the Rockefeller College’s Political Science (BA ’10) and Public Administration (MPA ’11) programs.
Jayson joined the NCSP in 2011 as a graduate student working on projects related to critical energy infrastructure and complex coordinated terrorist attacks. From 2012 – 2016, he served as the NCSP’s Chief of Staff, where he established processes, systems, and structures to manage change and promote sustainable growth. During that time, the NCSP worked with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to build 20+ new emergency preparedness training courses and drive a 385% increase in enrollment at the State Preparedness Training Center. In 2016, Jayson was promoted to Associate Director, responsible for 100+ training deliveries per year and the development of new courses, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems, rescue task force, and law enforcement leadership.
As Interim Director since 2018, Jayson has been focused on the Center’s broader role in connecting the scientific and practitioner communities to tackle rapidly-evolving homeland security challenges. The NCSP has been working with researchers from UAlbany and partner institutions in the U.S. and Taiwan to improve risk-based decision-making in response to severe weather. Jayson and the NCSP team have also served as UAlbany’s Planning Section in response to COVID-19, facilitating exercises, advising on policy development, and leading the University’s interdisciplinary Student Support Team.
Colin Kutney, BA ’12
Senior Manager, State and Municipal Programs, Human Rights Campaign
Colin Kutney works for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, where he manages two nationwide assessments of law and policy. The Municipal Equality Index and State Equality Index evaluate municipalities and states on the LGBTQ-inclusive laws, policies, and services for the LGBTQ people who live and work there. He develops relationships with mayors, city managers, and municipal officials to advance non-discrimination protections, foster an inclusive workplace, and address inequities for vulnerable populations. Colin is a policy expert on transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits and works to remove barriers to gender-affirming care. He's developed comprehensive policy solutions to protect LGBTQ youth from bullying in city services, programs, and facilities. Colin has previously worked at the Democratic National Committee, LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and for the Obama for America campaign. He received a B.A. in political science magna cum laude from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy in 2012 and is currently attending George Washington University for a Master in Public Administration.
Amaury Munoz, BA ’13
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Amaury Munoz is a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. State Department currently training for his third overseas assignment to Morocco. Other assignments include U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan, and U.S. Consulate Guangzhou, China. Prior to becoming a U.S. diplomat, Amaury interned with the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, the State Department’s Office of Cuban Affairs, and multiple elected officials. Amaury is the recipient of the University of California, Berkeley’s Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship, and the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. In 2013, he was named a 40 Under 40 Rising Latino Star by the Hispanic Coalition of New York. Amaury holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy from the University at Albany, SUNY. Amaury is an avid linguist and has various degrees of fluency in English, Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, Urdu, and Arabic.
Kaitesi Munroe, MPA ’19
Government Affairs & Social Impact Associate, The Madison Square Garden Company
Kaitesi Munroe is a Government Affairs & Social Impact Associate at the Madison Square Garden Company; a world leader in live experiences with a portfolio of iconic venues and brands including the NY Knicks, Rangers, Radio City Music Hall, and The Chicago Theatre. In this role, she works to advance the Company’s legislative agenda on the local, state, and federal levels while ensuring the Company remains socially responsible in its surrounding communities. Previously, Kaitesi worked as a senior legislative staffer for Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow. In this role, Kaitesi facilitated the passing of a series of legislation that generates millions of dollars for state education and further promotes equity for marginalized communities in NY. Outside of her professional experience, Kaitesi is a founder of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators’ Young Professionals. This group has hosted over 1,000 community leaders in their annual networking events. She also enjoys experiencing different cultures through her international travels. Kaitesi holds an MPA from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY Albany and a BA in political science from the University at Buffalo. In her future advancements professionally and academically, Kaitesi intends to be an agent for positive change.
Jessica Waldorf, MPA ’09
Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy at the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Jessica Waldorf, MPA, CEM Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Jessica Waldorf is currently serving as Acting Secretary for Energy in the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo where she oversees operations for the energy agencies and authorities in the State of New York, including administrative, budget, legislative, program, and policy priorities. She works across this interagency portfolio to develop and implement policy and legislative initiatives to advance the Governor’s ambitious energy and environmental goals, with a focus on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. She has thirteen years of experience working on complex clean energy projects and initiatives across New York State. Focus areas for this work include affordable housing and benefits for low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals, development of innovative financing models, climate finance strategy, large-scale renewable technologies, clean energy workforce development, and building decarbonization and electrification. Prior to joining the Governor’s office, she served as a Lead Key Account Executive within the Clean Energy Solutions department in the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA’s) Albany office. In this role, Mrs. Waldorf served a trusted advisor to customers seeking assistance from NYPA to help meet their energy conservation and distributed energy generation needs in the Capital District, Mohawk Valley and North Country regions. Specific to local governments, Jessica has over seven years of experience helping them with the planning and implementation of clean energy projects, such as LED street lighting conversions, building energy retrofits, and large-scale renewable energy projects. Prior to joining NYPA, Jessica worked at NYSERDA for ten years in various roles and most recently served as a Project Manager on the Communities and Local Government team. In addition to working on NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, she managed the development and implementation of Phase II of Governor Cuomo's Cleaner Greener Communities Program and the implementation of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing in New York State. Mrs. Waldorf also managed the development of a new statewide Community Energy Engagement program for locally based organizations to drive energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to residential, multifamily, and small business customers, with a focus especially on low-to moderate income customers. Mrs. Waldorf received her Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany with a concentration in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on Environmental and Education Policy from the University at Albany.
Chantelle Wilkinson, BA ’13, MPA ’17
National Campaign Coordinator, Opportunity Starts at Home
Chantelle Wilkinson works at the National Low Income Housing Coalition on the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign as a Campaign Coordinator. The campaign is a multi-sector affordable housing initiative to bring sectors beyond housing into federal housing advocacy to expand resources for people with the lowest incomes. Prior to joining NLIHC, she worked as a budget analyst for the state legislature in New York State. There she assisted with enacting housing and transportation policies. In 2016, she worked on the Breathing Lights Campaign with the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society. The campaign highlighted the issues of dilapidated vacant housing in the capital region of New York State and spurred collaboration from many sectors including the arts, community organizations, neighborhood ambassadors, project administrators, and government officials. Chantelle received her BA in Political Science with minors in Latin American/ Caribbean Studies and Spanish, and her MA in Public Administration, both from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany.