What is the governor's fellowship program?
The governor’s fellowship program is an opportunity for early career professionals to gain skills and experience in state government. The program is a partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Governor, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, Yale University Tobin Center for Economic Policy, and Social Impact Partners.
Each fellow is placed at an executive branch agency within Connecticut state government and will work on policy and strategic initiatives. Fellows have the opportunity to participate in professional development opportunities, including a weekly speaker series, fellows' day at the State Capitol, and opportunities to present to leadership within state government.
We are currently recruiting for the Fall 2024 cohort of fellows. The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 5pm EST. Please review the below resources for additional information:
- Fall 2024 OTG fellowship recruitment flyer
- Request for Qualifications (detailed information and instructions to apply)
Program background
The governor’s fellowship program started in 2020 to support Connecticut with its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was inspired by Louisiana's Governor's Fellows Program. The program has since developed into a program to support the governor’s office and executive branch agencies with strategic projects and initiatives. Here are examples of a few projects that previous fellows have accomplished:
- Drafted and led the passage of legislation including Public Act 22-49, An Act Reducing Lead Poisoning, which brings Connecticut in-line with CDC guidance on allowable lead levels in CT’s children and makes a $30 million investment in removing lead from homes in CT’s most vulnerable communities.
- Developed plans for the strategic allocation of over $3.9 billion in Federal COVID recovery dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act with a focus on: defeating COVID-19, investing in CT’s future, creating a more affordable Connecticut, inclusive economic growth, and modernizing state government.
- Led the design and stand-up of an Evaluation and Evidence-Building unit to facilitate the development of program evaluation plans and coordinate access to state data resources while focusing on providing ‘hands-on’ assistance to agencies as well as collecting and synthesizing evidence relating to program effectiveness.
- Founded and chaired the Governor’s Afghan Evacuee Taskforce, an interagency-public-private-nonprofit working group focused on bringing a coordinated approach to providing a safe haven and hope for all who are resettled in Connecticut.
- Developed and managed Connecticut Communities Challenge, a competitive grant program to spur investment in CT's main streets and vibrant neighborhoods through high- quality, transit-oriented development.
- Designed, developed, and launched the Connecticut Campus Mental Health Program, which allocated $2.7 million in federal funding to support Connecticut’s colleges and universities implement mental health programs and supports for students.
For questions on the program, please contact DASOTGfellows@ct.gov or Melissa.Conway@ct.gov
How to apply
We are currently recruiting for the Fall 2024 cohort of fellows. Applications are due on Tuesday, October 2, 2024 at 5pm EST. For detailed instructions on how to apply, please review the Request for Qualifications.
We anticipate selecting 6-7 fellows to participate in the fall cohort.
How it works
Fellows are contracted with the state for yearlong fellowships and are assigned to specific state agencies based on fellow skills and related experience. The state recruits for fellows approximately two times per year, usually in the spring and fall.How to sign up
Sign up for the governor’s fellowship program email list to hear the latest updates on recruitment and events.
2024 governor's fellow biographies
Daniel Curtis
Office of Workforce Strategy
Daniel Curtis is a Governor’s Fellow supporting the Office of Workforce Strategy in building career pathways from K‐12 to postsecondary to employment. Prior to joining the State, Daniel worked in education and workforce development policy for the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the executive offices of the Governor of Michigan and Mayor of Pittsburgh, and at Connecticut Voices for Children. He began his career as an English teacher at a high school in Richmond, CA. Daniel graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College and a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Philip Essienyi
Department of Social Services
Philip is a Governor‘s Fellow in the Department of Social Services and a recent Harvard Kennedy School (Master of Public Policy) graduate passionate about global health and technology. Prior to becoming a Connecticut Governor's Fellow, he interned at Novartis and Amazon Web Services where he supported pharmaceutical market access and cloud technology policy efforts, respectively. He also has experience delivering relief programs for Myanmar refugees in Thailand. Outside the civilian space, Philip is a former U.S. Navy medic and has also served in the U.S. Army National Guard where he focused on sustaining field artillery data capabilities and combat readiness. He holds a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University in New York, and a bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Ghana. Philip enjoys playing soccer and cycling with his family.
Wyatt Deihl
Office of Health Strategy
Wyatt focuses on enhancing the Certificate of Need program by identifying process improvements and driving advancements through legislation, regulation, and sub-regulatory guidance.
A dedicated public health professional and Truman Scholar, Wyatt is committed to advancing health equity through impactful policy and public service. He earned a Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in U.S. Health Justice from the Yale School of Public Health and a B.A. in Health, Medicine, and Society from Rollins College.
Eniola Fasola
Department of Economic and Community
Eniola was a lecturer at Eastern Connecticut State University and a Fellow at the World Bank Group and supported the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice in implementing activities and conducting impact evaluations for a program in Liberia designed to increase income-earning opportunities for vulnerable populations and expand livelihood support to poor and food-insecure households.Eniola holds a Doctorate in Agricultural and Resource Economics and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Connecticut, along with a First Class Honors Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Kevin Fitzgerald
Department of Economic and Community Development
Kevin Fitzgerald is a Governor's Fellow supporting the Department of Economic & Community Development, where he supports the agency’s Institute of Data & Economic Analysis (IDEA) economic strategy and policy research team. Prior to joining the State, Kevin was the American Rescue Plan Coordinator for the Town of Groton. In his role executing the town’s ARPA Allocation Strategy, he was charged with managing federal stimulus funds and leveraging strategic allocations to attract public & private community investment and deliver an equitable and transformative pandemic recovery. He has previously served in municipal roles for the towns of Stonington, Berlin and Bolton.
In previous roles, Kevin contributed to the City of Hartford’s Hartford400 City Plan and the inaugural year of the Connecticut Economic Development Association’s Best Practices in Land Use & Economic Development certification. He is a member of the American Planning Association, Government Finance Officers Association, a board member of the Connecticut Economic Development Association, and a participant in the National Academy of Public Administration’s Grand Challenges in Public Administration initiative.
Kevin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Connecticut. He holds a Master of Public Administration from UConn’s School of Public Policy with a certificate in Public Financial Management. Kevin lives in Mystic, Connecticut and is a UConn Huskies and Connecticut Sun superfan.
Lily Engbith
Office of Policy Management
Lily Engbith is a Governor's Fellow in the Office of Policy and Management, where she supports climate resiliency projects under the direction of Dr. Joanna Wozniak-Brown. Prior to joining the State, she spent three years researching, writing, and publishing case studies on government interventions implemented in response to financial crises. From 2018-2020, Lily taught literary analysis and composition to undergraduate English majors at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. A lifelong New Haven resident, Lily earned her MBA from the Yale School of Management and BA in political science from Yale College. She enjoys hiking, journaling, and horseback riding.
Sudiksha Mallick
Office of the Governor
Sudiksha served as a Racial Justice Data Analyst Intern at the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families, where she worked on analyzing disparity and disproportionality pathway data. She has also spent time working with different educational non-profits, as well as the Rhode Island Department of Education. She recently graduated from the UConn School of Public Policy MPP program and has a BA in political science and human rights.
Tazmaya Reid
Department of Social Services
Taz holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Human Rights as well as a Master of Business Administration candidate from the University of Connecticut. With a background deeply rooted in nonprofit work and a strong commitment to human rights, Taz has dedicated years to addressing health and educational disparities across the state. At Planned Parenthood, she collaborated closely with diverse community partners. Taz is eager to leverage her experiences to serve Connecticut with diligence, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to equity. Her dedication to a brighter, more equitable future is the foundation of her work.
Peter Simpson
Office of Workforce Strategy
Peter Simpson is a social policy researcher with experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research in education, labor, and workforce development. He brings experience working across the fields of research, evaluation, and technical assistance in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors. He collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, partners, and clients to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that address complex and pressing challenges at scale, as well as advance equity and innovation.
Laurence Spekterman
Department of Administrative Services
Laurence Spekterman is a Governor's Fellow supporting the Department of Administrative Services, where he works on policy improvement and data management initiatives supporting statewide priorities. Before joining the State, Laurence worked for the City of New Haven’s Economic Development Administration designing a local and diverse procurement pilot for large anchor institutions to promote inclusive growth. Laurence has also worked in nonprofit finance & accounting at KIPP DC and began his career as a middle school science teacher in Bridgeport, CT.
Laurence graduated with a BA from the University of Maryland and holds a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. Laurence enjoys long‐distance running, camping, and reality TV.
Katarina Rodriguez
Department of Aging and Disability Services
Katarina's previous roles include working for non-profit organizations, universities, and the State. Most recently, she served as the Program Manager of Performance & Quality Improvement at Child & Family Agency of SECT, Inc., where she deployed and maintained surveys; updated policies related to the security of protected health information; revitalized documentation to reflect the diverse client community and employee workforce; and oversaw the quality assurance department.The highlight of her career was helping develop the Department of Children & Family's ChildStat. This data management process system measures success and disparities in care, during her final year at UConn's School of Public Policy.
Sana Shaikh
Commission for Educational Technology
Dr. Sana Shaikh is an expert in K-12 education with an extensive career in education policy, organizational change, and program management and operations.She began her career as a Teach for America corps member and staff member. Previously, she was a fellow at the Aspen Institute, the Harvard Kennedy School Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Achievement First, Leadership for Educational Equity, Senator Mike Johnson, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and 50 Can.
She holds two bachelor's from the University of California, Berkeley, in Political Science and Near Eastern Studies—Islamic Civilizations, with a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. She has two master's, one in Urban Studies from Johns Hopkins and one in Social Policy and Management from Brandeis University. Her Ph.D. is in Social Policy and Management from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management.
Carrie Titolo
Department of Transportation
Carrie is a Communications professional with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and corporate community relations. Her expertise includes public relations, brand strategy, fundraising and crisis communications. She has worked with a variety of nonprofits in the Greater Hartford area including Connecticut Foodshare, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Carrie holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from UConn and is currently an Office of the Governor Fellow at the Connecticut Department of Transportation. In her free time, Carrie enjoys cooking, baking and reading. She is an avid runner and loves spending time with her husband, twin boys and their rescue dog, Maya.
