Undergraduate research interns spend semester analyzing New York State’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law
CLPS program includes opportunities for professional development and networking with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers
Albany, NY — The Rockefeller Institute of Government is pleased to announce the arrival of its new cohort of undergraduate research interns for the fall 2025 semester, as part of the Center for Law & Policy Solutions (CLPS). This group of outstanding students will contribute to the Institute’s mission of giving citizens and governments reliable facts and tools to understand public problems and inform public decisions.
The fall 2025 CLPS research interns will focus on a critical public policy issue, conducting a county-by-county assessment of the use of Extreme Risk Protection Orders in New York State. This hands-on experience will allow the students to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis, develop professional skills, and produce research deliverables, preparing them for work in the public policy space.
“The CLPS internship program is a cornerstone of our work, providing students with the opportunity to engage directly with pressing policy challenges,” said CLPS Director Zan Strumfeld. “We are excited to see the contributions this new cohort will make as they examine the use New York State’s ‘red flag’ law and advance the public discourse on this important issue.”
The new cohort of interns includes:
- Zeinab Toure, a senior at the University at Albany, double-majoring in political science and economics.
- Andrea Trifunovic, a junior at the University at Albany, double-majoring in political science and history with a minor in English.
- Sanaa Woodley, a senior at the University at Albany, a senior at the University at Albany double-majoring in political science and sociology, alongside a minor in Africana studies.
- Tenzin Yingsal, a junior at the University at Albany, double-majoring in political science and communications.
The CLPS program is a collaboration among the Rockefeller Institute of Government and several academic partners. It provides students with hands-on exposure to policy and practice in a professional environment.
Meet the fall 2025 CLPS undergraduate research interns.
About the Center for Law & Policy Solutions (CLPS)
Focusing on a single topic each semester, the Center for Law & Policy Solutions’ undergraduate internship program seeks to help policymakers, community organizers, and the public develop practical solutions to pressing public policy issues. Learn more at rockinst.org/clps.