Legislative Fellows Program

The 2017 Legislative Fellows meet with Governor John Carney at his office in Dover

Go Inside the Political Decision-Making Process

Begun in 1982, the Legislative Fellows Program links the research capacity of the University of Delaware and Delaware State University with the research needs of the Delaware General Assembly. The experience offers students a valuable opportunity to observe and contribute to the governmental decision-making process.

Through their nonpartisan, in-depth research, Fellows assist legislators in addressing critical issues facing the state. In recent years, Fellows have worked on areas as diverse as land-use planning, education reform, and juvenile justice.

The Legislative Fellows Program is managed by the University of Delaware's Institute for Public AdministrationDr. Jerome Lewis is the director of the IPA;  Lisa Moreland Allred is the program manager for the Legislative Fellows Program.

Opportunity of a Lifetime

The Legislative Fellows Program offers students a remarkable range of opportunities to gain professional skills and experience. While not all Fellows may plan on careers in government, most expect to benefit from an insider's awareness of how the public sector functions.

Fellows will have the opportunity to:

  • Affect current legislation by providing timely, nonpartisan, in-depth information on critical issues

  • Become acquainted with many important state leaders in both the General Assembly and the executive branch

  • Develop an understanding of the legislative process that will be useful in a wide variety of careers in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors 

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION 

program Details

  • Legislative Fellows travel to Legislative Hall Dover three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) from January through June. Travel to Dover is by university carpool (subject to program funding)
  • Legislative Fellows receive a competitive stipend/scholarship
  • Legislative Fellows take a three-credit graduate seminar, State and Local Government Management and Policy, as an integral part of the program

Eligibility

All full-time graduate students and especially qualified junior or senior-level students of the University of Delaware and Delaware State University are eligible to apply for the Legislative Fellows Program. Applicants should possess a strong background in degree programs such as public administration, public policy, political science, sociology, urban affairs, communications, international relations, criminal justice, history, economics, or business administration.

Legislative Fellows are competitively selected each spring and fall for the next legislative session. All candidates are interviewed and must complete a timed-writing exercise on a current public policy issue. Applicants with an interest in the legislative process, government, or public policy analysis are preferred. Strong writing skills are required.

2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE

The deadline for submitting applications for the 2025​ Legislative Fellows Program is November 1​. View the 2025 Legislative Fellows Program flyer for more detailed information about the application process​.​

Four-Step Application Process

 

This one-hour timed-writing exercise is held virtually on the University of Delaware's Newark campus on the same day that applications are due and simulates a duty Fellows might have at Legislative Hall. Applicants will be given material to read and asked to write a sample memorandum to a Delaware state legislator. Please RSVP to Program Manager Lisa Moreland Allred prior to the day of the exercise.

This is an informal 30-minute interview with Institute for Public Administration director Dr. Jerome Lewis and program manager Lisa Moreland Allred. It is a way for the manager to get to know the applicants’ academic and professional backgrounds, as well as their interest in the program. Upon application receipt, the program manager will provide further details.

In this formal 15-minute panel interview, applicants will again see Dr. Jerome Lewis and Lisa Moreland Allred, but they will also meet a panel of legislative staff members who serve as the Fellows’ supervisors in Dover. Panel members will ask applicants about academics, professional experiences, knowledge of Delaware state government, and other interview-relevant information. Applicants are encouraged to ask questions of the panel. Upon initial interview completion, the program manager will provide further details.

Do you have more questions about the Legislative Fellows program?

Contact Lisa

Lisa Moreland Allred
Program Manager, Legislative Fellows Program
 302-831-4955

In Their Own Words...

past legislative fellows

Portrait of Justin Abreu

Justin Abreu

Senate Majority Caucus

​B.A. student double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and minoring in Legal Studies

Intern, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester
Intern, Biden Institute

Portrait of Kate Bowman

Kate Bowman

House Majority Caucus
M.P.P. student with an area of interest in Social Policy
B.A. in Sociology, Christopher Newport University​

Teaching Fellow, AmeriCorps

Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow, Christopher Newport University Center for Education Research and Policy

Portrait of Destiny Carmona

Destiny Carmona

Senate Minority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.A. and B.A. student double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy 
Undergraduate Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration

Administrative Intern, Town of Milton

Portrait of Emma Crowell

Emma Crowell

House Majority Caucus

​Honors B.A. student double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and minoring in Philosophy

Legislative Intern, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester 
Summer Undergraduate Biden School Fellow, Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Grace Donohue

Grace Donohue

Senate Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.A. student 
Honors B.A. in Public Policy, Political Science, and English, University of Delaware

Graduate Public Administration Fellow, Delaware Center for Civic Education, Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Justin Duca

Justin Duca

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.E.E.P. student 
Honors B.A. in Political Science with an American Politics Concentration and B.S. in Energy and Environmental Policy​, University of Delaware


Intern, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester ​

Former Daily Visit Coordinator for the Blue Hen Ambassador Tour Guide Program, University of Delaware Admissions Office​

Portrait of Rachel Gaebel

Rachel Gaebel

House Minority Caucus

​​​Honors B.A. student majoring in History and minoring in Public Policy

IPA City Management Fellow with the City of Milford

Undergraduate Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration

Community Engagement Scholar​

 

Portrait of Tyron Herring

Tyron Herring

House Majority Caucus

​M.P.A. student
B.A. in Government, Dartmouth College

Intern, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority 

Alumnus, Tuck Business Bridge Program, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College

Portrait of Angela Hoyle

Angela Hoyle

House Minority Caucus

​​4+1 M.P.A. student
B.A. in Public Policy, English, and Women & Gender Studies, University of Delaware

Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons

Intern, Office of Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long​

Portrait of Shubreet Kaur

Shubreet Kaur

Division of Research

​M.P.A. student
B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Statistics, University of Delaware

2023 Legislative Fellow
IPA Graduate Public Administration Fellow with the Delaware Division of Research

Portrait of Mary Ladely

Mary Ladely

Senate Majority Caucus

B.A. student double majoring in History and Political Science and minoring in Legal Studies and Philosophy

Intern, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester 

Campaign Manager, Vic Leonard, Sr. for Red Clay Consolidated School Board 

Portrait of Gabrielle Lane

Gabrielle Lane

Division of Research

​Honors B.A. student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Legal Studies and History

2023 IPA Legislative Researcher, Office of Government and Community​ Relations, University of Delaware

2022 Intern, Office of Governor John Carney

Portait of Wyatt Patterson

Wyatt Patterson

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.A. student specializing in Policy Analysis
Honors B.A. in Public Policy and Women & Gender Studies, University of Delaware

Former State Organizing Director, March For Our Lives

2022 & 2023 Legislative Fellow

Portrait of Hannah Rigoglioso

Hannah Rigoglioso

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.A. student
Honors B.A. in Public Policy, University of Delaware

Graduate Public Administration Fellow for the Senior Center Grant-in-Aid Funding​ Formula Project, Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Anna Squiers

Anna Squiers

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.P. and Honors B.A. student double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy

Intern, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor

2023 Summer Scholar, University of Delaware

Portrait of Meliha Tokay

Meliha Tokay

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in International Relations and minoring in History

President, Panhellenic Council, University of Delaware

Peer Mentor, Study of the U.S. Institutes’ Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program​

Portrait of Falah Al-Falahi

Falah Al-Falahi

House Majority Caucus

B.A. student double majoring in Public Policy and Political Science and minoring in Arabic

Intern, Biden Institute

Intern, Leo T. McCarthy Center​​

Portrait of Abdulrasheed Dawodu

Abdulrasheed Dawodu

Senate Majority Caucus

​M.A. student in Urban Affairs and Public Policy
M.B.A. with a specialization in Marketing, Bayero University Kano
B.A. in English Literature, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria

Part-time Lab Supervisor, Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research

Portrait of Justin Dougherty

Justin Dougherty

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Public Policy and History

Behavioral Health Crisis Care Task Force Staff and Legislative Page, Delaware General Assembly​

Portrait of Fiona Eramo

Fiona Eramo

Senate Majority Caucus

​4+1 M.P.A. student specializing in Policy Analysis 
Honors B.A. in Public Policy and Women & Gender Studies, University of Delaware

Women’s Leadership Initiative Gender Equity Award Winner 2022

Wilgen Award Winner 2022​

Portrait of Khazra Fatima

Khazra Fatima

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in International Relations and minoring in Political Science and Social Justice

President, March For Our Lives, UD Chapter

Portrait of Rachel Gaebel

Rachel Gaebel

House Minority Caucus

​Honors B.A. student majoring in History

Community Engagement Scholar

World Scholar

Delaware Diplomat

Study Abroad in Greece

Portrait of Margaret Karpinski

Margaret Karpinski

House Majority Caucus

B.A. student double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and minoring in Legal Studies

Legal Intern, WMNSB Law Firm

Vice President of Standards, UD Panhellenic Council​​

Portrait of Shubreet Kaur

Shubreet Kaur

Division of Research

​B.A./B.S. student double majoring in Psychology and Statistics and minoring in Computer Science 

Band Manager, UD Marching Band

Research Assistant, Educational Psychology Lab

Portrait of Sana Nangia

Sana Nangia

House Majority Caucus

​Honors B.A. student double majoring in International Relations and Economics

Summer Intern, Biden Institute 

Americorps Alumna

Social Justice Peer Educator​

Portrait of Abbey Negin

Abbey Negin

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student double majoring in International Relations and Public Policy and minoring in History and Jewish Studies

World Scholars Study Abroad in Greece

Intern, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State

Portrait of Nicole Neri

Nicole Neri

Division of Research

Honors B.A. student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies

Communications Intern, Majority Caucus, Delaware State Senate​

Portrait of Wyatt Patterson

Wyatt Patterson

House Majority Caucus

​Honors 4+1 B.A./M.P.A. student double majoring in Public Policy and Women & Gender Studies

Former State Director, March For Our Lives

2022 Legislative Fellow​

Portrait of Browyn Sherman

Browyn Sherman

Senate Minority Caucus

​M.P.A. student specializing in Nonprofit Management
B.A. in Theatre, Loyola University Chicago 

Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration 

Development Operations Manager, B Street Theatre, Sacramento, CA 

Portrait of Elijah Simmons

Elijah Simmons

House Minority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in Communications and minoring in Political Communications 

Intern, Office of Governor John Carney​

Portrait of Chase Barnes

Chase Barnes

House Minority Caucus

​M.P.A. student specializing in Health Policy
​B.A. in Political Science, Columbia College

2021 Local Government Management Fellow

Building Coordinator, Tower at STAR, University of Delaware

Portrait of Valeria Coverdale

Valeria Coverdale

House Majority Caucus

​M.P.A. student 
B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy, University of Delaware

2021 Legislative Fellow

Governmental Relations Fellow, Hamilton Goodman Partners 

Portrait of John Drummond

John Drummond

House Minority Caucus

​M.P.P. student
Dual B.S. in Accounting and Finance, Post University

2021 Legislative Fellow

Intern, RM Law, Colorado 

Portrait of Elliot Gray

Elliot Gray

Division of Research

​M.P.P. student
B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Economics, Temple University

2021 Legislative Fellow

Communication Intern, Pennsylvania Innocence Project 

Portrait of Areeba Khan

Areeba Khan

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student in International Relations

President, Muslim Student Association

Senator, Student Government Association

Summer Fellowship, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce 

Portrait of William Lescas

William Lescas

Senate Majority Caucus

​​M.P.A. student specializing in Public Management and Finance
M.S. in Political Science, Aarhus Universitet

Honors B.A. in International Relations with minors in Economics and English, University of Delaware

2021 Legislative Fellow 

Portrait of Alexander Makowski

Alexander Makowski

House Majority Caucus

​M.P.A. student
B.S. in Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Delaware 

Portrait of Hafsah Mansoori

Hafsah Mansoori

Division of Research

​B.A. student majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Public Health and Women and Gender Studies

2021 Legislative Fellow

Intern, Office of Governor John Carney 

Portrait of Devonna Marshall

Devonna Marshall

House Majority Caucus

​M.P.P. student specializing in Social and Education Policy
B.S. in Psychology, East Stroudsburg University

AmeriCorps Alumna 

Portrait of Madison Matera

Madison Matera

Senate Minority Caucus

​M.P.A. student specializing in Policy Analysis
B.A. in Public Policy and Political Science, University of Delaware

2021 Local Government Management Fellow

Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration 

Portrait of Wyatt Patterson

Wyatt Patterson

House Majority Caucus

​Honors B.A. student majoring in Public Policy and Women and Gender Studies and minoring in Journalism 

State Director, March For Our Lives Delaware 

Portrait of Hannah Rigoglioso

Hannah Rigoglioso

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 B.A./M.P.A. student majoring in Public Policy and minoring in History and Political Science

Development and Events Intern, Cancer Support Community

Undergraduate Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration 

Portrait of Rachel Widom

Rachel Widom

House Majority Caucus

​4+1 B.A./M.P.A. student majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Business Administration

Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration

2021 Local Government Management Fellow 

Portrait of Alexis Wrease

Alexis Wrease

Senate Majority Caucus

​​B.A. student majoring in Communication and Public Policy, with a minor in Spanish

Undergraduate Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Organizing Authority Citizenship Research Project 

Portrait of Abigail Armstrong

Abigail Armstrong

Senate Majority Caucus

M.P.A. student specializing in Public Policy​
B.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology, Mercyhurst University 

​2020 Local Government Management Fellow, Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Chelsea Chatterton

Chelsea Chatterton

House Majority Caucus

Honors Bachelor of Science (B.S.) student majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Public Health and Strength and Conditioning​

Undergraduate Research Summer Scholar

President, UD Student Alumni Ambassadors

Communications Coordinator, Blue Hen Ambassadors​​​

Portrait of Valeria Coverdale

Valeria Coverdale

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and minoring in Legal Studies and Latin and Iberian Studies

Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons 

Portrait of Justyn Cox

Justyn Cox

House Minority Caucus

​M.P.A. student specializing in Policy Analysis
B.A. in Political Science, Wesley College

2020 Legislative Fellow

Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper ​​​

Portrait of John Drummond

John Drummond

House Minority Caucus

​M.P.P. student

Dual B.S. in Accounting and Finance, Post University

Intern, RM Law, Colorado

Portrait of Cara Gannon

Cara Gannon

Office of the Controller General

​M.P.A. student
B.A. in Political Science

Paralegal Certificate

2020 Legislative Fellow

Intern, Senate Majority Caucus​

Portrait of Val Gould

Val Gould

House Majority Caucus

​M.E.E.P student
Master of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, Cabrini University

Bachelor of Music, University of Delaware

18-year veteran educator

Portrait of Drew Higgins

Drew Higgins

Senate Minority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Global Politics and minoring in International Business and Environmental and Energy Policy​

Intern, Office of U.S. Representative Bill Keating​​​​

Portrait of Elliot Gray

Elliot Gray

Division of Research

​M.P.P. student
B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Economics, Temple University

Communication Intern, Pennsylvania Innocence Project 

Portrait of Chelsea Jones

Chelsea Jones

House Majority Caucus

​B.A. student majoring in Political Science and Communications

Legislative Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons ​

Portrait of William Lescas

William Lescas

Senate Majority Caucus

​M.P.A. student
M.S. in Political Science, Aarhus Universitet

Honors B.A. in International Relations with minors in Economics and English, University of Delaware​

Fulbright Scholar to Denmark

Danish State Scholar

Portrait of Hafsah Mansoori

Hafsah Mansoori

Division of Research

​B.A. student ​majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Public Health and Disability Studies 

Intern, Office of Governor John Carney​

Portrait of A’lece Moore

A’lece Moore

House Majority Caucus

​M.E.E.P. student specializing in Environmental Justice 
B.S. in Biology with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, Iowa State University

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Myra Ray-Howett

Myra Ray-Howett

House Majority Caucus

M.P.A. student specializing in Public Policy Analysis
B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in History, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration​ 

Portrait of Alexandra Southerst

Alexandra Southerst

House Majority Caucus

​M.P.A. student specializing in Public Policy Analysis
B.A. in Public Policy and French Studies, University of Delaware

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration​

Portrait of Steven Mirsen

Steven Mirsen

House Majority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Public Policy and History

Student Intern, South Jersey Legal Services

Data Analysis and Entry Intern, Education Law Center

English/Linguistics Italy Study Abroad Program

Portrait of Nicholas Schrieber

Nicholas Schrieber

House Majority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Political Science and Public Policy

Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper 

Portrait of Anna Shields

Anna Shields

Senate Majority Caucus

4+1 B.A./M.P.A. student majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and specializing in Public Policy Analysis

Legislative Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper

Portrait of Reidel Vichot

Reidel Vichot

House Majority Caucus

M.P.A. student specializing in Nonprofit Management

Engineer in Telecommunications and Electronics, CUJAE (Cuba)

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Jason Wardrup

Jason Wardrup

Senate Minority Caucus

M.P.A. student specializing in Public Management
B.S. in Energy and Environmental Policy, University of Delaware

2019 Local Government Management Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

President, Blue Hen Veterans and Friends, Inc.

Portrait of Simone Adkins

Simone Adkins

House Majority Caucus

4+1 B.A./M.P.A. student majoring in Public Policy, minoring in Political Science, and specializing in Nonprofit Management

Legal Intern, Wanda Akin & Associates, Newark, N.J.

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Paul Ayala

Paul Ayala

House Majority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics

Policy Intern, Office of Governor John C. Carney

Intern, Diaspora Law: Immigration Lawyers

Portrait of Pepper Chesser

Pepper Chesser

House Majority Caucus

4+1 B.A. (Honors)/M.P.A. student majoring in Biological Sciences and Public Policy and specializing in Public Health

MPA Representative, Student Association of Public Administration

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Jeff Chubbs

Jeff Chubbs

Division of Research

M.S. student in Energy and Environmental Policy
B.S. in Natural Resource Management, University of Delaware

Research Intern, U.N., Copenhagen, Denmark

Portrait of Justyn Cox

Justyn Cox

House Minority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Political Science, Wesley College

Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper

Portrait of Cara Gannon

Cara Gannon

House Minority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Political Science

Intern, Federal District Court for the District of Delaware

Portrait of Jorge E. Hernandez-Limon

Jorge E. Hernandez-Limon

House Majority Caucus

Dual B.S./B.A. student majoring in Civil Engineering and Political Science

National Science Foundation—Funded Civil Engineering Research Assistant

Study Abroad in Australia

Portrait of Danielle Littmann

Danielle Littmann

Division of Research

M.P.A. student specializing in Quantitative Analysis
B.A. in Legal Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public Administration Fellow, UD Institute for Public Administration

Portrait of Alexa Adams

Alexa Adams

Senate Majority Caucus

B.A. student majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and minoring in Legal Studies

Intern, Office of Governor John C. Carney