By Kevin Dugan, Senior Communications Associate, External Affairs
The sixth cohort of the Kriegel Fellowship welcomes 35 chiefs of staff from across all five boroughs. For the next few months, they will engage in discussions with policy experts, network, and build the skills to support them in their current roles and their future journeys in public service.
Working in an elected official’s office requires many different skills. Staffers, especially those in leadership positions, must be adept at communicating the official’s vision, understanding the needs of their constituents, and have a wide depth of knowledge about the functions of the office while also managing the team that makes the hard work of governing possible.
To support these unique yet critical roles in New York’s state and local governments, CUNY ISLG is proud to announce the 35 leaders from legislative and executive-level offices participating in the sixth cohort of the Kriegel Fellowship for Public Service Leaders. The Fellows will meet over the course of the coming months for professional development opportunities and to better connect with their peers.
“I continue to be inspired by our Kriegel Fellows as we move forward with the latest class of the program. Their experience, talent, and drive to do right for their constituents and all New Yorkers illustrates what is possible through working in service of the public.”
-Siobhán Carney, Policy Director at CUNY ISLG.
Seeing a gap in support for these key leaders in public service, we established the Kriegel Fellowship for Public Service Leaders in 2020 as a professional development and peer-to-peer learning opportunity for legislative chiefs of staff, which soon expanded to a wider range of office leaders. Fellowship sessions bring in outside experts as well as taps our in-house specialists to explore and discuss the policy issues and leadership strategies that better prepare the next generation of New York’s leaders. This Fellowship operates alongside CUNY ISLG’s Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice for newly elected New York City and State legislators, which began in 2017.
“I continue to be inspired by our Kriegel Fellows as we move forward with the latest class of the program. Their experience, talent, and drive to do right for their constituents and all New Yorkers illustrates what is possible through working in service of the public. I am excited to work with the Fellows on their development and ensure they can continue to grow as leaders for New York.” – Siobhan Carney, CUNY ISLG Policy Director
This cohort illustrates the diversity of experiences and talents that these positions require to best serve their communities.
The 2026 Kriegel Fellows are:
Miranda Augustine, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher
Anna Bessendorf, Advisor to the Special Counsel, New York City Council, Office of the Speaker Julie Menin
Jacob Bloomfield, Legislative Director/Budget Director, New York City Council, Council Member Carl Wilson
Marilyn Ceilema, Deputy Chief of Staff, New York State Senate, Senator Nathalia Fernandez
Jaqi Cohen, Chief of Staff, New York City Council, Council Member Tiffany Cabán
Michi Dinh, District Director, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Steven Raga
Joseph Dweck, Director of Policy, New York State Senate, Senator Sam Sutton
Hana Eidda, District Director, New York City Council, Council Member Lincoln Restler
Ellyze Francisco, District Director, New York City Council, Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry
Brandon Gonzalez, Legislative Associate, New York City Council, Council Member Althea Stevens
Denise N. Gray, Operations & Scheduling Manager, New York City Council, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers
Yael Heller, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Vanessa Aronson
Ryan Hickey, Chief of Staff, New York City Council, Council Member Sandy Nurse
Hiba Imad, Legislative Director/Budget Director, New York City Council, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa
Shantrise Keller, Director of Community Outreach, New York State Senate, Senator Leroy Comrie
Erica Landau, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Claire Valdez
Quintin Maidment, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Landon C. Dais
Juan Mayancela, Director of Community Organizing, New York City Council, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez
Rachel A. McNear, Community Liaison, New York State Assembly Speaker, Carl E. Heastie
Jenna Meehan, Legislative Director, New York City Council, Council Member Harvey Epstein
Emmitt Mendoza-Gaspar, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes
Alexander Merkert, Director, Scheduling & Operations, New York City Council, Council Member Carl Wilson
Whitney Mulzac, Chief of Staff, New York City Council, Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams
Anthony Orlando, Special Advisor, New York City Council, Council Member Justin Sanchez
Frank Perez, Deputy Director, New York City Council, Community Engagement Division
Ankeith Prince, Deputy Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi
Dylan Pyne, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member MaryJane Shimsky
Francisca Sanhueza, Deputy Chief of Staff, New York City Council, Council Member Sandy Nurse
Sophie Secor, Legislative Director/Budget Director, New York City Council, Council Member, Virginia Maloney
David Smalls, Community Liaison, New York State Assembly Speaker, Carl E. Heastie
Cierra Smith, Communications Director, New York City Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry
Priyanka Verma, Chief of Staff, New York City Council, Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams
Jachele M. Walker, Chief of Staff, New York State Assembly, Assembly Member Brian Cunningham
Lauren Walsh, Legislative Director, New York State Senate, Senator Roxanne J. Persaud
Katherine (Kat) Zapata, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards
ABOUT THE KRIEGEL FELLOWSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS
The Kriegel Fellowship for Public Service Leaders is a leadership and professional development program, designed for senior staff members of city and state legislators serving the New York City area. Since the Fellowship launched in 2022, its membership has expanded to include legislative staffers with role-adjacent positions to chiefs of staff, such as deputy chiefs of staff, district directors, and budget directors. Now, the Fellowship aims to support these leaders to excel in their current positions, network with other chiefs of staff and experts, and grow confidently into the next generation of elected officials and public service leaders.
The Kriegel Fellowship honors the legacy of Jay L. Kriegel, who served as chief of staff to New York City’s Mayor John Lindsay and was dedicated to mentoring chiefs of staff, legislators, and other public service leaders. The program was developed based on research and interviews with New York City and State legislators and chiefs of staff to understand the demands of the chief of staff position and corresponding needs for leadership development, learning community, and other support. The program builds on CUNY ISLG's experience running the Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice for city and state legislators.