Marcus J. Molinaro, who served one term as representative for New York’s 19th congressional district, visited the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy Jan. 31 as a guest lecturer in former U.S. Congressman Steve Israel’s course, Political Messaging and Public Policy.

Molinaro, a Republican, came to Cornell at the invitation of the Brooks Institute of Politics and Global Affairs (IOPGA), which Israel, a Democrat from Long Island who served eight terms in Congress, directs.

“At a time of intense national partisanship, the Cornell Brooks IOPGA continues to serve as a platform for high-profile Republicans and Democrats to help develop the skills of the next generation of policymakers,” Israel said. “It was a pleasure to have Congressman Molinaro on campus interacting with our students and sharing his experiences.”

“It’s crucial that we connect with young people who want to work in public service early in the process, so they can understand their options and follow their passions,” Molinaro said. “I knew from when I was their age that I wanted to serve the public good, and I would have loved to have had the exposure that these Cornell students are getting in Congressman Israel’s classes.”

Molinaro began his political career at age 19, when he was elected mayor of Tivoli, New York. He went on to become a member of the Dutchess County Legislature and the New York State Assembly before being elected county executive of Dutchess County in 2011, a position he held until 2019.

Molinaro was the Republican nominee for governor of New York in 2018, losing to Democratic incumbent Andrew Cuomo, before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. Molinaro will join the Trump administration as a senior official in the U.S. Department of Transportation under the leadership of Secretary Sean Duffy.

In addition to participating in Congressman Israel’s classes, Molinaro shared insights from his career in public service with Brooks students in the Career Explorations course. He also served as an expert panelist with Israel on “What to Expect in the New Congress” and met with the Cornell Republicans and IOPGA Undergraduate Scholars.

“Congressman Molinaro’s visit to campus was truly special. It’s not every day that we have the opportunity to engage with a former member of Congress, especially during such divisive times,” said Alejandro Ramos, MPA ‘25, editor-in-chief of the student-led Cornell Policy Review. “I particularly admire his commitment to bipartisan cooperation and his dedication to serving his constituents over seeking national attention.”

Israel’s courses have also recently featured an appearance from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and include participation in the World Peace Games, in which students engage with members of Congress and other national leaders to role-play conflict resolution scenarios.

Giles Morris is assistant dean of communications in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.