Shaquan Huntt ’20 has been awarded the Carey Gabay Fellowship in the New York State Governor’s Counsel’s Office. The Carey Gabay Fellowship is a paid two-year, full-time legal fellowship program created in honor of Carey Gabay, a former assistant counsel in the Governor’s Office and First Deputy Counsel to Empire State Development who was killed in 2015 by an act of gun violence.
When he learned about the program, Huntt was immediately drawn to the inspiring life of Gabay as well as the opportunity to work on policy issues that would better serve communities like the one he grew up in.
“I grew up in the South Bronx raised by a single mother of six children. I know firsthand the hardships economically disadvantaged communities can face,” Huntt said. “Since entering law school, I have desired to use my legal degree to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living in these communities.”
Huntt hopes to honor Gabay’s legacy as a Carey Gabay fellow by doing meaningful work in policy areas that Gabay championed throughout his career—violence prevention, economic equality, and community development.
“Jesus taught and demonstrated that true greatness lies in serving people who have the least and are treated as if they are lesser than others,” Huntt said. “An opportunity like this helps me grow in greatness, as I learn how to better serve and love others—especially people trapped in environments that are most disadvantaged and impoverished.”
From the Big Apple to Albany
Huntt credits Fordham Law School’s curriculum and clinics for training him to both think and write like a lawyer. He honed effective oral advocacy skills as a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Team and learned how to negotiate and mediate commercial and personal disputes through the Law School’s Mediation Clinic. He also learned how to write legislative bills and create policy through an externship with the New York City Council’s Office during his 2L year.
As a Carey Gabay fellow, Huntt will be working directly with the Counsel to the Governor and their staff in Albany on issues ranging from violence prevention to economic equality to community development. He will also take part in an educational program alongside participants in New York State’s Empire State Fellows program throughout the first year of their fellowship, including biweekly evening classes and other career development sessions.
“I’m excited to get to work every day on addressing issues that interest me and helping solve problems that will improve people’s lives,” Huntt said. “I’m also excited to be in a fast-paced environment where I will constantly learn new things about the government, the law, the people, and the State of New York.”