March 2024 Alumni Spotlight

We speak to MPA student Christopher Blackwell about his internship with the New York State Assembly, his interest in government and public policy, and more in this spotlight.

Can you tell us about your NYS Assembly’s Graduate Scholar Internship in Albany?
Interning for the New York State Assembly was one of the best experiences I could have ever had in my career. I was working for Assemblymember Kimberly Jean Pierre, chair of the Veteran Affairs committee in the Assembly. Part of my job was to analyze and track legislative bills, participate in committee hearings, and engage with a diverse group of stakeholders within the NYS Department of Veteran Services. In addition, I learned about the budgetary process for NYS, analyzing budget bills and memos for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The highlights of the internship that I found most rewarding were the Assembly’s annual Mock budget and legislative hearings. These hearings were a culmination for both undergraduate and graduate students in that we were allowed to simulate actual hearings that go on within the Assembly. Working with colleagues that I still talk to was an experience I will never forget. Anyone interested in state government would benefit from the program.

What has your time as an MPA student at Marxe been like thus far? Any favorite classes or professors?
My time as an MPA student has been a whirlwind to say the least. Coming into Baruch during the height of the pandemic and being thrust into the world of online learning was quite a shock to me. While learning online was a challenge during my first year, I still learned about how to navigate the online world in terms of working with Zoom and participating in class discussions. I was happy that I was able to finish my Baruch years in person, making connections with Baruch students and faculty. There were a plethora of classes that I still remember as being the best, but two classes that stick out for me are Communication in Public Settings with Tiffany Lewis and Race, Inequality, and Public Policy with Sonia Jarvis. Both professors have a passion in their respective fields, and that zeal is evident through their teachings. I learned so much from both of them and they always kept class engaging and fun. I hope that the future students of Baruch can have a great experience with both of them.

How did you get interested in government and public policy?
My passion for government and public policy goes back to when I was in high school. I always had a love for history, learning about the different parts of the world and how government has been an integral part of society’s culture and norms. Eventually, I fell in love with American history. I started to read more about the foundations of American government (thanks to my Baruch classes) such as The Federalist Papers and the Constitution. I began to understand the tumultuous tides of our democratic republic and the importance of the people in American society. Fast forward to 2016 during Donald Trump’s election; seeing the political divides that came out of that election, as well as seeing how public policy impacts different parts of government, influenced me to pursue government affairs as a future career.

What other interests do you have and how do you plan to pursue them?
Besides my interest in being a bibliophilic, I have an interest in writing as well. I am toying with the idea of writing op-eds on various topics and posting them on my Linkedin page. It is in an effort to showcase my research skills and to always work on my writing skills for the future.