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Student ambassadors from the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute with New York State Sen. Pat Fahy at the New York State Capitol in Albany. 
Student ambassadors from the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute with George R. Hearst III at Hearst Tower in New York City.
On September 16, 2026, 15 student ambassadors from the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute at Russell Sage College toured the New York State Capitol and met with New York State Sen. Pat Fahy, who shared her experience as a woman and leader, as well as her enthusiasm for service, with the ambassadors.
The ambassadors also met Russell Sage graduates Resa Ostrander ’04, ’09, and Mayleen Rivera-Burrell ’14, who spoke about their careers in public service. Ostrander is deputy director of employee engagement in the New York State Executive Chamber and Rivera-Burrell is deputy secretary of intergovernmental and external affairs for Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl Heastie.
The experiential learning continued over October 7 and 8, when four ambassadors travelled to New York City with Women’s Institute Executive Director Eileen Brownell, Ph.D.The students toured the James Beard Foundation with Tania Capaz Toppings ’09, the foundation’s director of institutional giving.
The students also visited Hearst Tower for a luncheon and presentation by Kimberly Gilmore, chief historian and senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at the History Channel/A+E Global Media. While there, students networked with Times Union Publisher and CEO George R. Hearst III and leaders from the Times Union’s Women@Work, a professional network.
Brownell said study-away experiences off campus reflect the mission of the Women’s Institute. Outside of the classroom, student ambassadors can apply their learning in real-world settings while connecting with accomplished Russell Sage alumnae and professional leaders.