Political victories don’t always involve bills that pass, the results trickling in on election night, an audience listening raptly to a speech.

Often, they come from smaller moments of listening: sitting around a table with community leaders, chatting with restaurant owners concerned about the impact of a pandemic on their livelihood, touring a mud-caked community after the floodwaters recede to see what resources could assist.

Elected officials rely on dedicated staffers to facilitate these conversations, and to connect constituents with the services they need. People, in short, like Amanda Spellicy: a proud Bearcat who serves as regional director for U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office. She’s far from the only alum in Schumer’s office; the senator’s staff includes many Binghamton alumni, and most of Spellicy’s interns are Binghamton University students, she said.

Born and raised in Binghamton, Spellicy largely grew up on the Binghamton campus. Her mother worked in student activities and as associate director of admissions, while her father was the assistant dean for the School of Management. Some of Spellicy’s earliest memories are accompanying her mom to the Union, and running down the walkway in the library basement to meet her dad.

“I — quite literally, physically and metaphorically — wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the University. My parents met on campus in the old student union,” she said. “The University has a very special place in my heart because it’s a constant thread that’s been woven through the entire fabric of my life.”

Politics, too, featured in her life early on: her father ,Vincent Pasquale, served as an elected county legislator for nearly 30 years, and helped shape her understanding of local issues and what it means to give back to the community.

“I was probably the only kindergartener who was talking about incinerators,” she quipped.

From theater to politics

Spellicy gained a new perspective as a Binghamton undergraduate. She lived on campus and majored in theatre in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, which allowed her to develop skills that proved highly useful in her professional career: knowing and connecting with your audience, and communicating concepts in a clear and concise way.

“Life is an evolving experience. We draw on so many different skill sets to shape and form who we are,” she said. “I use the skills and the experiences I had as a theatre major every day of my life, so I always recommend that students take a theater class, even if they have the worst stage fright ever.”

She returned to Binghamton for graduate school, earning her master’s in public administration. Soon after she started, Schumer’s office reached out to her to apply for a regional director position in his office; she had been recommended by a Binghamton alum.

As she transitioned to the world of federal politics, she took a leave of absence from the master’s program. She appreciates the College of Community and Public Affairs’ willingness to accommodate her needs, and she credits Associate Professor David Campbell and Professor Nadia Rubaii with allowing her to pursue her academic interests during the course of the program.

Spellicy has worked for more than two decades in Schumer’s office, driven by the deep love she has for New York state and her native Southern Tier. She is also inspired by the senator himself, whom she considers a deeply dedicated public servant, as well as her father’s experience in the community.

“The responsibility that I have and the commitment that I have from my boss to work tirelessly to improve the lives of people who live in our state keeps me going,” she said.

She strives to build relationships with local leaders and communities, from the town level to industry, higher education, healthcare and more. The job requires her to be a “jack of all trades,” and no two days are the same. Sometimes, the issues are massive, such as economic recovery in the wake of massive floods. Other times, the issues are small: for example, a request to stop trains from idling on local lines and blocking access to a park.

“In either case, they are profoundly impactful to those people whose lives they touch,” she said.

Her professional career has also given her the opportunity to see her alma mater in a different light: as an economic engine. She’s worked with Binghamton’s administration on multiple matters through the years, including federal earmarks and the creation of what is today the Innovative Technologies Complex.

While Schumer is now the Senate Majority Leader, Spellicy’s own role hasn’t changed much: She remains just as committed to New York communities and the challenges they face. However, as national and even local politics have become increasingly divisive and bitter, jobs such as hers have become more difficult.

What helps is a shift in perspective: Spellicy cites Mr. Rogers’ sage advice to “look for the helpers” in difficult times. She finds herself uplifted by stories of ordinary people rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to improve their communities, and aspires to do the same.

With the heated rhetoric that has become increasingly common in the public sphere, it’s all too easy to forget the real purpose of politics: to create a good and decent world for today’s children and all the generations afterward, and to inspire them to participate in the creation of that world. There is a real risk, however, that the current acrimony will dissuade people from getting involved, Spellicy acknowledged.

“I want people to know that it is worth fighting for good. It is worth fighting for your beliefs, and the way that you do that is by being engaged and not apathetic,” she said. “You can make a difference, even if it’s in your own backyard, to start.”

In the past two decades, her relationship with Binghamton has continued to evolve. She’s now the proud parent of an alumna; her oldest daughter graduated last year. During her daughter’s journey, Spellicy had an opportunity to witness key Binghamton experiences from the other side.

“Life comes full circle. I had the opportunity to come to new student orientation day, and see what it was like to be a mom or dad ready to let go,” she reflected. “I feel very privileged and proud that I have had the ability to experience the University through so many different lenses and roles.”