Norman R. McConney, Jr.
Revson Fellow 2005-2006
Former Executive Director and Chief of Staff
Office of the Deputy Speaker, New York State Assembly
Norman R. McConney Jr. has cultivated a long-standing reputation as a community activist for African and Latino concerns. From 1971-1975, Mr. McConney was the Assistant Dean for special programs at the State University of New York. He then proceeded to serve as Executive Director at the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly. As Executive Director, Mr. McConney has successfully negotiated legislation to address the needs of economically disadvantaged and underrepresented populations of New York State. His achievements are evident in numerous state statutes, policies and budgets related to the area of economic development, youth programs, education, correction and health care. Mr. McConney was the prime architect of the New York State Science & Technology Program (STEP), which is one of the most successful programs in the country. This program prepares minority high school students for careers in science and medicine. He has also drafted legislation, currently in place for the Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarship Programs, which provides scholarships by minorities underrepresented in the licensed professions. Mr. McConney developed and was the lead negotiator for the passage of the bill to created Nurse Practitioners in New York State. Mr. McConney has taught classes at the Graduate School for Political Management at Baruch College in New York and George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Mr. McConney is one of the principal authors of the People’s Budget and the New York State Budget Equity Document, which analyzes the state’s fiscal budget and its impact on minorities and the poor in the state of New York. Mr. McConney has received numerous awards including New York State Black & Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus Man of the Year Award; Greater New York Mental Retardation Community Service Award; Martin Luther King Commission and the Legislative Leadership Award. Mr. McConney is a native of Albany, New York, and a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany. During his Revson year, he plans to take courses in non-fiction/fiction and screenwriting, African-American studies, and journalism.
(The Revson Fellow’s biography that appears above was last updated in 2005. Revson Fellows may update their biographies on this site by sending email to: revson@columbia.edu)
The Revson experience is as rejuvenating as it is enriching. It widens our individual networks considerably and allows each of us the opportunity to be both a teacher and a learner. For many of us, the Program restores balance in our lives and renews our sense of commitment for the long haul.
