4:24 p.m., Dec. 18, 2007--UD's 2007-08 legislative fellows begin their six-month apprenticeships with the Delaware General Assembly on Jan. 8.

Legislative fellows are selected through the Legislative Fellows Program, jointly sponsored by the state legislature and UD's Institute for Public Administration. The 12 graduate and undergraduate students selected as 2007-08 fellows will get on-the-job experience by combining their academic research with the research needs of the General Assembly.

Legislative fellows work in Dover 20 hours a week from January through June. While they work for the legislature, they earn a stipend and take a three-credit graduate seminar, "State and Local Government: Management and Policy.”

Students are selected through a University-wide competition. Those selected have the opportunity to observe and contribute to the political decision-making process and the General Assembly gets the benefit of the research skills of the fellows and University resources.

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

The 2008 fellows are:

Jared C. Bass of Philadelphia

A graduate of the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts who will graduate from UD in 2009 with a master's degree in urban affairs and public policy, Bass will work for the house minority caucus.

Marlon Brown of Warren, Mich.

A graduate of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy who will receive a master's degree in public administration with a specialization in state and local management from UD in May, Brown will work for the senate majority caucus.

Katherine Caudle of Wilmington, Del.

A graduate of John Dickinson High School, in Wilmington, Del., who will graduate from UD in 2009 with a master's degree in public administration with a specialization in state and local management, Caudle will work for the senate majority caucus.

Jon Contant of Dover, Del.

A graduate of Dover High School who will graduate from UD in 2009 with bachelor's degrees in philosophy and public law, Contant will work for the senate minority caucus.

Kiersten Joesten of Salt Lake City

A graduate of Rowland Hall-St. Marks High School who will graduate from UD in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in international relations and Spanish, Joesten will work for the house majority caucus.

Megan Dively Lehman of Imler, Pa.

A graduate of Claysburg-Kimmel High School and of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Lehman will receive a master's degree in urban affairs and public policy with a concentration in urban and regional planning in May. She will work for the house majority caucus.

William Rivers of Wilmington, Del.

A graduate of the Salesianum School, who will graduate from UD in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in international relations with a specialization in American foreign policy, Rivers will work for the house majority caucus.

Brittney Russell of Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

A graduate of Roslyn High School, who will earn a bachelor's degree in political science and history from UD in May, Russell will work for the house majority caucus.

Victor Santos of New Castle, Del.

A graduate of Christiana High School, who will get a master's degree in public administration from UD in May, Santos will work for the house minority caucus.

Timothy Soper of Wilmington, Del.

A graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, who will earn a master's degree in public administration with a specialization in state and local management from UD in 2009, Soper will work for the house minority caucus.

Mark D. Stevens of Upper Marlboro, Md.

A graduate of Charles H. Flowers High School, who will earn a master's degree in public administration with a specialization in financial management from UD in 2009, Stevens will work for the house majority caucus.

Kelly Wolfe of Smyrna, Del.

A graduate of The Charter School of Wilmington, who will receive a master's degree in urban affairs and public policy with a concentration in energy, environment and equity from UD in 2009, Wolfe will work for the house majority caucus.

Article by Barbara Garrison