Politics & Public Policy: Young Alumni at Work

Jeff Coltin, FCRH '15 - Moderator

Jeff Coltin is a staff reporter with City & State NY, a weekly magazine covering local politics. He focuses mostly on City Hall and elections at all levels, and writes everything from in-depth profiles to pithy tweets. Jeff started at City & State in 2014 as an intern while attending Fordham. At Rose Hill, Jeff worked in the WFUV News department, wrote for the Fordham Ram, appeared on air with the Fordham Nightly News and represented his halls in RHA. He was a member of the Honors Program, majored in political science, minored in Theology. Jeff was born and raised in Phoenix, and now lives on the Upper West Side.

Ryan Adams, FCRH '11

As the Co-Founder of HZQ Consulting, Ryan Adams is proud to have played an instrumental role in the success of small businesses, new ventures, political campaigns, and non-profit organizations. Whether Ryan is helping to elect Jamal Bowman to Congress, working with Andrew Gounardes as he paves a new lane in the New York State Senate, or helping non-profits, unions, and grassroots organizations build people-powered momentum, he always remains focused on three key areas; adding great value, solving complex problems, and helping people grow in a big way.

Ramon Cabral, FCRH '14

Ramon Cabral is a first generation Dominican-American and a lifelong resident of Bronx, NY. Ramon graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelors in Political Science in 2014 and received a Masters of Public Administration at John Jay College in 2019. Ramon began as an intern for a local New York Assemblywoman. He was chosen as a 2013 Summer Intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, DC. There, Ramon had the distinct opportunity to work for Congressman Jose E. Serrano. Soon he returned to the Bronx district office of the Congressman as an intern and upon graduation from college, was offered the job of Community Liaison. In the summer of 2016, Ramon took a leave of absence to work on the 2016 Presidential Campaign in Iowa as a field organizer. After returning back from the campaign, he was promoted to Deputy District Director in December 2016 up until January 2021. Ramón was recently elected State Committeeman of the 87th Assembly district which covers Castle Hill, Parkchester, and West Farms in the Bronx. He started his political consulting company, Blue Lion Strategies, because he saw a need for more young Latinos and people of color to have a seat at the table and help influence how candidates should be addressing concerns in our communities. He most recently consulted on a Borough-wide campaign for Bronx Borough President. In 2021, he was also an Outreach Director for a NYC Mayoral Campaign where he led the Campaign’s coalition-building between the Candidate and various organizations, community leaders, and others, with a focus on Latinos and The Bronx.

Katie Dolan, FCRH '18

Katie Dolan graduated from Fordham College at Rose Hill with a dual degree in Physics and Political Science with a concentration in American Catholic Studies in 2018. As an undergraduate, Katie was very active in the theatre community, serving as President of the Mimes and Mummers and frequent collaborator with TOP and FET. After graduation, Katie worked in the tech industry, briefly, before crossing paths with Andrew Yang in 2018 at a conference on the future of work, and joining his campaign for president. Currently, Katie runs her own strategic communications firm, United Public Affairs, with colleagues from the Yang 2020 campaign. She spends her time doing everything from general strategizing to content writing (speeches, policies, op-eds, you name it) to media training for campaigns, PACs, non-profits, and the odd tech company. Katie and her firm specialize in taking obscure causes and candidates and connecting them with the audiences that need to hear their message. Katie spends her free time either pretending she can still do theatre or coaching a high school mock trial team in Philadelphia, depending on the day.

Justin Henry, FCRH '14

Justin Henry is an Associate Vice President at Fenton, where he manages media relations, brand management, and strategic communications campaigns to advance social justice. Justin brings years of experience in political communications and public affairs, as well as a passion for using media outreach and messaging to educate and empower communities. Prior to joining Fenton, he was Press Secretary to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., where he served as chief spokesperson on several high-profile criminal matters and coordinated media efforts around the District Attorney’s reform agenda and community programming. He also led government and community outreach on affordable housing, community development, and economic policy as a Project Manager at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. A proud Harlem resident, he is a 2014 graduate of Fordham University, where he double-majored in American Studies and Political Science, and a 2015 graduate of the New York City Urban Fellows program.

Rebecca Lamorte, FCLC '13

Growing up in a politically active family on Long Island, Rebecca learned early on how deliberate, bold action can change people’s lives for the better. She cut her teeth on progressive politics at Fordham University and, in 2011, began working on labor and workforce issues in New York. Rebecca has worked for some of New York’s most prominent labor unions, leading the charge on legislative and issue-based campaigns. After a 2013 subway accident left her partially disabled, she saw an intimate portrait of how New York can work better for all communities, and was inspired to grow her involvement in efforts to make New York City a place where everyone can thrive. In 2021, she ran for New York City Council in Manhattan coming in third place in a crowded seven person primary election. Rebecca calls the Upper East Side home and currently works for the Mason Tenders District Council of Greater New York as a lobbyist representing the needs of unionized construction and other workers before New York City, New York State, and the federal government.