ESU Names Representative Samuelson Legislative Fellow for 2014

Posted by: admin on September 19, 2014, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania announced the selection of its 2014 Legislative Fellow, State Representative Steve Samuelson (D –135th District) in a breakfast held in his honor on Friday, September 19. ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., introduced Rep. Samuelson at the event to university faculty, students, staff and special guests from the community.

The Legislative Fellow Program, established in 1999, is designed to bring state legislators to campus to participate in a variety of campus activities and to meet formally and informally with students, faculty and staff throughout the year. As part of the program, ESU Legislative Fellows may also request a student intern.

The program is co-sponsored by the university administration and the local chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) at ESU. Fellows are selected by a committee of faculty and administrators, and jointly appointed by the university president and the president of APSCUF at the beginning of each academic year.

Rep. Samuelson was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1998 and represents the House committee on Aging and Older Adult Services, for which he serves as the Democratic Chair. He has also served on a number of other House committees including: Appropriations, State Government, Children and Youth, Local Government, Intergovernmental Affairs, Tourism and Recreational Development and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.

Serving senior citizens has also been one of Rep. Samuelson’s top priorities. He has served on several commissions and committees studying the needs of senior citizens and their caregivers including the State Alzheimer’s Disease Planning Committee in 2013 and the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Commission in 2014.

Prior to serving in the House, he was a legislative aide and clerk to the board for the Lehigh County Commissioners from 1989 to 1998, an experience which provided him with a great understanding of the challenges facing local governments. Rep. Samuelson also served as a legislative assistant to state Reps. Paul McHale and Karen Ritter.

A graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa., Rep. Samuelson earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Lehigh University in 1986 and is also a graduate of Leadership Lehigh Valley. Throughout his career, he has served his community in many capacities including board membership of the PTA of Spring Garden Elementary School and Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, President of the Bethlehem Area Jaycees, Parent Volunteer for Freedom High School’s Theatre Company and Sunday School Teacher for the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. He and his wife, Tracy have two children: Molly and Michael.

For more information on the Legislative Fellow Program, contact Miguel Barbosa, chief of staff in ESU’s Office of the President at 570-422-3545.