Rockefeller Election Series: Your Vote Rocks

Election Series

Leading up to the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and in the weeks following, the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy hosted a series of virtual events, covering a range of topics impacting the election and future of the nation. Throughout the series, over 400 participants joined the interactive discussions led by UAlbany and Rockefeller College faculty and alumni experts. Matthew Kirk, a fourth-year political science PhD student served as the moderator for the events. 


Monday, October 5th

Justice Ginsburg: Her Legacy and the Future of the Federal Courts

A discussion led by Julie Novkov, Professor and Collins Fellow, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy followed by a free streaming of the film “RBG” (copyright courtesy of UAlbany Votes)


Wednesday, October 7th

Demystifying Presidential Campaigns: True Stories from Former Campaign Staffers

Jasmine Clemons, MPA ’16, Senior Policy Manager, Office of Baltimore County Executive Johnny Oslewski
Joseph N. Garba, BA ’02, MPA ’05, Secretary to the Speaker for Intergovernmental Affairs, NYS Assembly
Peter Ragone, BA ’93, President, PWR, LLC


Thursday, October 8th

Ensuring All Voices are Heard: Social Justice and the 2020 Election

Jose Cruz, Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Sheila Healy, Government Relations Consultant, Public Strategies LLC
Stephan Stohler, Associate Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy


Wednesday, October 14th

Shaping the Narrative: Media and the 2020 Election

Bruce Gyory, Government and Regulatory Senior Advisor, Manatt & Adjunct Instructor, Department of Political Science
Joey Jackson, MPA ’92, Legal Analyst, CNN
Libby Post, MA ’84, Adjunct Professor, University at Albany


Monday, October 19th

The U.S. and the World: International Relations and Foreign Policy in the 2020 Election

Catherine Bertini, BA ’71, Distinguished Fellow, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Ryan Irwin, Associate Professor, Department of History
Rey Koslowski, Professor and Director of the Master of International Affairs Program, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Niloufer Siddiqui, Assistant Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy


Wednesday, October 21st

The Impact of Environmental Policy on the 2020 Election: The Issues and Platforms

Brian Greenhill, Associate Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Keith Kinch, General Manager and co-founder, BlocPower
Mary Ellen Mallia, Director, Office for Environmental Sustainability, University at Albany
Curt Spalding, MPA ’84, Professor of Practice, Environment and Society, Brown University


Monday, October 26th

Health Policy and Politics: COVID-19 and the 2020 Presidential Election

Carl Bon Tempo, Associate Professor, History
Ashley Fox, Associate Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Julia Hastings, Associate Professor, School of Public Health
Erika Martin, Associate Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy


Wednesday, October 28th

The Final Countdown: The Major Issues of the 2020 Election and What You (Still) Need to Know

A discussion of battleground states, money, election tactics, voting rights, constitutional structure/electoral college, and/or implications of the election for the federal courts.

Michael Malbin, Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Julie Novkov, Professor and Collins Fellow, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy


Tuesday, November 3rd

Election Day Watch Party

A discussion of election results as they come in and interactive election trivia.


Friday, November 6th

Where has the Pandemic Election Finally Brought the Nation?

Bruce Miroff, Professor and Collins Fellow, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy


Tuesday, November 10th

Unpacking the Results

Jose Cruz, Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Michael Malbin, Professor, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy
Oscar R. Williams, Associate Professor, Africana Studies
Gwen Wright, Former Executive Director, NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, CWGCS Board Member


Wednesday, December 9th

On the Frontline of Political Transformation: Black Women's Power

Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, Chief Auditor, City of Albany, CWGCS Board Member
Dr. Shai Butler, Current Vice President for Student Development & Former Chief Diversity Officer, College of Saint Rose, CWGCS Board Member
Nantasha Williams, Founder and President, New York City Black Women's Political Club
Moderator: Gwen Wright, Former Executive Director, NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, CWGCS Board Member

Sponsored by: Center for Women in Government & Civil Society, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, New York State Academy for Public Administration, New York League of Women Voters