During the COVID-19 pandemic, I served on the New Jersey Psychological Association’s Committee on Legislative Affairs (COLA) as Member-at-Large, contributing to legislative advocacy and policy review focused on protecting psychology graduate students, trainees, and the mental health workforce. This work reflects early hands-on experience with legislative processes and equity-centered advocacy within formal governance structures, informing my later work in education policy and AI governance.

Selected contributions:

• Reviewed proposed state and federal legislation affecting psychology education, training pathways, and public mental health access

• Provided policy feedback and recommendations to NJPA leadership on pending legislation

• Co-authored and submitted an official NJPAGS policy statement addressing equity, accessibility, and student protections during COVID-19

• Participated in federal legislative meetings with U.S. Senate and House offices advocating for student loan forgiveness and emergency protections for psychology trainees and frontline mental health workers

This work is supported by documentation and organizational references.