Maia Berlow is the senior state and local government affairs adviser at the Urban Institute, where she builds Urban’s work with state and local governments, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Before joining Urban, Berlow was the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for New York state senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chair of the State Senate Judiciary Committee, where she developed and implemented the senator’s legislative and budget agenda through legislative drafting, advocacy, and negotiation. Berlow’s portfolio spanned a wide range of issues, including gun violence prevention, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive rights, civil rights and civil liberties, housing, land use, transportation, court reform, criminal justice, and environmental issues. Previously, she was a sexual and reproductive rights advocate trainer with Amnesty International and worked on youth voter engagement with NextGen America.

Berlow holds a BA from Columbia University.