Amani Edwards
Amani Edwards is a graduate student from Atlanta, GA pursuing a PhD in Public Administration and Policy at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages at Beloit College. Travel within and outside of the United States has given her the opportunity to interact with various groups and peoples. Alongside this experience, her academic career has showed her the necessity of diversity and inclusion within all aspects of academic life – from the classroom to extra-curricular activities. Amani’s interest are in representative bureaucracy, repressive policies, and marginalized groups. Though mainly focusing on international politics, she takes her knowledge and applies it to her personal experiences and domestic studies. Prior to coming to Rockefeller College, Amani received a Fulbright Award to teach English in the Russian Federation. Before this, she served an internship at the Garden of Hope Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan – an organization focused on women’s rights, specifically helping survivors of domestic violence. Currently, Amani focuses on her research and seeks other opportunities to become involved in the Albany community.
KlilNeori
I am a 5th Year PhD candidate in Physics. From October 2012 to May 2014, I was Vice President of the Physics RGSO, and a Department representative to the GSA Assembly. I served on the Constitutional, Wages and Benefits, and Student Debt Preliminary Planning Committees. I was appointed Senator in June 2014, and served in this capacity until late July, when I was promoted to acting Lead Senator. I am committed to graduate student representation in University policy making, to advocacy for graduate students, to engagement with the Albany community, and to good governance of our institutions.
Peatros Haile
Peatros Haile is a second year graduate student at the School of Public Health currently pursuing an MPH with a concentration in Health Policy & Management. Paetros was recently appointed senator to help represent and continue the evolution of the GSA. Paetros serves on the University Planning and Policy Council and is looking forward to meeting and interacting with everyone.
Ian Tucker
Ianis a first year graduate student at the Rockefeller College of Public Administration and Policy. He studies international economic and business development; specifically, what role international economic and business institutions play in the formation of democratic institutions in developing nations.Iangraduated Skidmore College in the Spring of 2014, with a Bachelors of Arts in International Economics. Throughout his time at Skidmore College,Ianled clubs dedicated to economics and business, as well as outdoor winter related activities.Ianheld a finance internship with Bank Hapoalim for three summers in Manhattan, NY. For funIanlikes to play trumpet in Orchestra, and spend time outdoors. He will graduate Rockefeller College in the spring of 2016.
Benjamin Mielenz
Benjamin started his Ph.D. program in Spanish Linguistics with the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department of SUNY Albany in August, 2014. In addition to his own courses, he is working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant/Spanish Instructor, developing his knowledge and experience of pedagogy, while honing his own unique teaching style. Fall 2014 is his first semester participating in UAlbany Student Government. He is sitting on the Graduate Academic Council, as well as the Education Policy and Procedure subcommittee.
He completed his BA here on campus in December of 2012, with a double major in Africana Studies and Spanish Literature. Since relocating to the Capital District Region in January of 2007 from Washington DC, he has lived abroad three times. He moved to Blantyre, Malawi, in 2007 to volunteer for 12 months with an HIV/AIDS social outreach project. He studied in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in 2010/2011 as a SUNY-CRUE scholarship recipient. And most recently, he worked as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant with La Universidad de La Guajira in Riohacha, Colombia, during the 2013/2014 academic year.
Thrilled to be home again in Albany, Benjamin is looking forward to more personal, academic, and professional growth and development. He is grateful for the opportunities he has been given to be of service to the community around him. He is convinced that respect and love for our global community must be cultivated at home. In his spare time, he likes to hike, swim, shoot pool, and play an acoustic guitar tuned like a violin.