DSU student Dejanae Carter-Montaque selected as Legislative Fellow
Dejanae Carter-Montaque, a senior political science student at Delaware State University, has been selected as a Legislative Fellow with the Delaware General Assembly for the 2025 legislative session. The competitive program allows students to actively participate in the legislative process by working with state lawmakers and their staff.
A native of New York City, the Alice L. Benekin scholarship award winner has always been passionate about law, policy, and building a career in public service. “I have always wanted to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process and understand how policies are crafted and implemented at the state level,” said Carter-Montaque. “This led me to pursue a political science degree at Delaware State University—to get a more hands-on look at how laws affect people daily.”
Before her time as a legislative fellow, Carter-Montaque worked to expand her knowledge and skills by completing an internship with the New York State Unified Court System. “That experience cemented my desire to pursue policy-making outside of the courtroom,” she said. “It deepened my interest in how laws shape communities, particularly in areas like crime, public safety, and economic development. I wanted to take that knowledge beyond the courtroom and explore policy-making in action”.
When it came time to decide the next step in her career, Carter-Montaque applied for the legislative fellows program with the hopes of working on healthcare, education, and criminal justice reform policies. “I would like to address important issues concerning access to healthcare, mental health treatment, and economic inequality. These are problems that plague so many people, and I know I could make a difference through this fellowship.”
In her new role, Carter-Montaque will spend three days a week in Dover at Legislative Hall, where she will assist with numerous tasks, including legislative research, taking notes at committee hearings, and various media and communications duties. “I look forward to learning how to disseminate information to the public while actively participating in the legislative process,” she said.
Carter-Montaque credits Delaware State University for helping her prepare for this opportunity. “The courses and professors here have given me a solid foundation in understanding state government,” said Carter-Montaque. “My coursework has sharpened my ability to examine legislation critically, interpret legal texts, and understand the broader implications of policy decisions.”
“Ms. Carter-Montaque will undoubtedly learn a great deal through the program and will build a network that will prove fruitful throughout her career,” said Jason Bourke, an assistant professor of political science at the University. I’m so glad she’s having this experience. I highly encourage others to apply.”
Looking ahead to the next chapter, Carter-Montaque plans to take a gap year after graduation to study for the LSAT and gain more exposure to government or law. She explained, “I want to continue working in public policy, possibly in a legislative setting, before law school. This fellowship is a big step in helping me achieve those goals.”
Written by Devin Bonner