Alumni Return to Promote NY’s Empire State & Excelsior Fellows Programs

NYS Fellows: (l-r) Joshua Beams, Danny Friedman, Kendall Reed

Today, three years of alumni came back to campus to speak with current students about New York State’s Empire State & Excelsior Fellows programs. These Fellowship programs are two of our current governor’s initiatives to increase the number of well trained professionals in NYS government.  Joshua Beams (MPA’14), Danny Friedman (MPA ’15) and Kendall Reed (MPA ’13) held two sessions today on campus.  In the first – a PAIA department sponsored “Friday Session” – they spoke specifically to the challenging – yet rewarding – work they do in state government.  Each outlined the projects they are working on, the exciting and innovative initiatives that are happening in NYS government and how their backgrounds and study at Maxwell helped to prepare them for this work.  They offered constructive advice on how our students can make the most of their time at Maxwell, in the classes as well in engaging in their student, university and local communities.   Their combined excitement and commitment to their careers in NY State Government were apparent throughout the talk.

Later, the Office of Career Development, hosted a panel where the three alumni spoke specifically to the Empire State and Excelsior Fellowship programs. They reviewed the application and hiring processes and how students can best prepare.  They shared their insights as students who went through this process and were successful.  The New York State Empire and Excelsior Fellowship programs are a funded two-year fellowships offering talented individuals hands on training and experience in NYS government. Empire and Excelsior Fellows work full time at host executive-branch agencies, advancing the operational aspects of large policy initiatives.  Governor Cuomo welcomed the first class of Excelsior Fellows in 2013 (Kendall Reed’s class!) and viewed them as an integral part of his mission to advance the best and brightest who are called to public service.  More than 60% of Excelsior/Empire State Fellows have remained with NYS government post-fellowship.  The Empire Fellowship annual salary is $55,000 – $60,000 (plus benefits) depending on prior years of related experience.

Josh Beams has worked extensively on local government policy issues with the NYS Department of State and NYS Homes and Community Renewal. He has been one of the leading architects of the Governor’s Municipal Restructuring Fund, a local government efficiency program that has been touted as one of the most innovative programs of its kind in the country.

Daniel Friedman’s work is with the Empire State Development Corporation. His portfolio at Empire State Development includes transit and transportation infrastructure projects across NYS, including contracting, rail and bus supply chain management, and innovative project delivery.

Kendall Reed is assigned within the Information and Technology Services Office within NYS Government.

This session, as all Career Development Sessions are, was taped and is available on line for all students to review if they were not able to join in.