Legislative Fellowship Program
Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders: Hands-On Legislative Experience for Graduate Students
Arizona Legislative Fellowship Program Overview
Arizona’s Legislature begins its session on the second Monday of January and, as outlined in the state constitution, aims to conclude within 100 days. The Arizona House consists of 60 Representatives, while the Senate has 30 Senators. Due to the relatively short legislative session of less than six months, both chambers operate with lean staffing. The majority and minority caucuses each employ their own teams, with staff members supporting the entire caucus within specific issue areas. For example, the House Republicans rely on a single staffer to manage education issues for all 31 Representatives.
Recognizing the need for additional support, a legislator approached the University of Arizona to request assistance in recruiting graduate students as research fellows. In response, the UA Center for Philosophy of Freedom quickly developed a pilot fellowship program. Drawing inspiration from the long-standing Arizona Legislative Internship Program, established in the 1970s, the newly created graduate-level Legislative Fellowship Pilot Program launched with two fellows during the 2023 congressional session. This initiative provided much-needed expertise to support the legislative process while offering graduate students invaluable hands-on experience in public policy research and analysis.
Former AZ State Representative Daniel Hernandez with Legislative Fellows, 2024.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Legislative Fellowship Program provides graduate level students with real-world public policy research experience. These Fellows will support one legislator by providing research assistance, tracking legislation, summarizing bills, monitoring committee meetings, assisting with constituent services, preparing materials for hearings, and completing special projects that aid in the policy making process. The legislator will be the designated supervisor for the Fellow and will provide an end of year evaluation. Additional support will be provided by the UA Center for the Philosophy of Freedom Legislator Program Coordinator, Daniel Hernandez. Dan will offer a two day workshop for the Fellows before they begin their positions in order to provide information about the legislative process and also serve as a mentor given his experience in the legislature.
Other Details
- Expected days in session: 100
- 10-15 hours a week
- Hybrid format: remote and in-person
- Stipend provided by UA Center for the Philosophy of Freedom OR college credit
- Additional resources may be available for travel to Phoenix
Legislative Fellows 2025
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Major
Master of Legal Studies in Law & Economics
What I Enjoyed Most
The hands-on experience of being involved in the daily activities of a legislator made me feel like a real part of the process
The Most Impactful Lesson
Real change happens through collaboration, persistence, and being present in every step of the process.
Vanessa Larios
“It was an unforgettable experience that really strengthened my passion for public service.”
Paired with: Lydia Hernandez
Amy Muñoz
“This experience has deepened my commitment to civic engagement, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in meaningful, community-focused ways.”
Paired with: Selina Bliss
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Major
Master of Legal Studies in Law & Economics
What I Enjoyed Most
The opportunity to learn directly from my mentor, whose leadership and commitment to public service were truly inspiring.
The Most Impactful Lesson
Politics is often driven by a deep commitment to public service rather than financial reward…Lawmakers and their teams work incredibly hard.
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Major
Master of Public Administration
What I Enjoyed Most
It was exciting to be part of a team where my work had a clear purpose and could help inform important decisions.
The Most Impactful Lesson
Even strong ideas need solid research and clear communication to gain support and move – clear, accurate information is key to good policymaking.
Kudiret Anuar
“Being part of this legislative process and contributing research that could directly impact public safety was meaningful and rewarding.”
Paired with: Theresa Martinez
Angel Nyarko
“Knowing that my work could contribute to meaningful legal change was incredibly rewarding.”
Paired with: Alma Hernandez
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Major
PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law)
What I Enjoyed Most
I truly enjoyed getting to know my legislator and seeing how she excelled in everything she set her mind to.
The Most Impactful Lesson
It was crucial to focus on one task at a time and to continually remind myself of the importance of the work we were contributing to, and the impact it has on communities across Arizona.
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Major
Master of Public Administration
What I Enjoyed Most
One of the most rewarding aspects of my time in the Legislative Fellows Program was sitting in on constituent meetings and gaining firsthand insight into the issues that matter most to the community.
The Most Impactful Lesson
The most valuable lesson I gained from the Legislative Fellows Program was the importance of adaptability and staying open to unexpected opportunities as they arise.
Olivia Luttinger
“I was especially proud of creating a comprehensive document featuring bill summaries and key highlights from the Education Committee.”
Paired with: Matt Gress
Monserrat Aparicio
“This program taught me the process of the legislative branch and how important it is to have outreach from the community. This showed me that our voices do truly matter.”
Paired with: Consuelo Hernandez
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Major
Bachelor of Arts, Spanish
What I Enjoyed Most
I enjoyed and am most proud of the work I did this legislative session researching certain bills and helping my representative with a bi-weekly newsletter.
The Most Impactful Lesson
The most significant lesson I learned while in this Program was the importance of taking initiative and presenting possible solutions for potential problems.
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Major
Master of Legal Studies in Law & Economics
What I Enjoyed Most
I enjoyed being physically present in the capitol and working alongside my legislator. Being present in-person allowed me to learn much more about the mechanisms of political intrigue than I could otherwise.
The Most Impactful Lesson
The most significant lesson I learned, to borrow from Rep. Gress’ words, is “nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
William Wimmer
“This experience challenged my existing ideas of what I thought Democrats and Republicans stood for, and made me realize just how much both parties are aligned on numerous issues, despite what the parties may say otherwise.”
Paired with: Leo Biasucci
