The annual trip to the New Jersey State House in Trenton, N.J., available to students in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), Leaders In Service and the Student Government Association, took place on Dec. 4, 2024. The group gathered at the Bradley Center bus stop before beginning its two-hour journey to Trenton.
The group, led by Patrick O’Connor, Allie Shapiro, Dylan Heffernan and Natalie Quiñones, arrived at the destination and were brought to the State House Annex where they were presented with two panels. The first of panels was of four Ramapo College alumni who now work in various areas of state government, Dr. Tamika Quick, Jason Bergman, Rebecca McNeil and Jamie Vasquez, and the second panel was of employees currently working in governmental affairs.
The four Ramapo alumnae panelists began the conversation by discussing their time at Ramapo and how they got to the positions that they are in now.
Quick, a former EOF student, said that the EOF program was her reason for attending Ramapo College in the first place. Here, she learned “what it meant to be an advocate for [herself].” After graduating in 2003, she quickly joined the ranks as a Ramapo College faculty member and became a part of the Student Activities programs. She ascribes her success to the development of relations that she made at Ramapo allowing her to become “the woman that [she] is and the professional that [she] is.”
Bergman, another alumnus of Ramapo, now works as a contract lobbyist and is currently working with a pharmaceutical company to provide better reproductive healthcare for women in New Jersey. When asked what advice he would give to students now, he said, “learn what you love, and learn what you hate,” urging students to try work in various fields to better understand what they would like to do as a potential career.
Rebecca McNeil, the third Ramapo alumni, now works in the governor’s office. She graduated from Ramapo College with American Studies and Political Science degrees. Her advice for the next generation of students was, “Do not let imposter syndrome get the best of you,” but still remember to “stay humble.” She made it clear to the students listening that even if they were in a position that they do not feel like they deserve, they were there for a reason. They are qualified even if they do not feel like they are, but they need to remain aware that they still have much to learn.
Jamie Vasquez, the final Ramapo College panelist, graduated as a Psychology major. He described the story of how he became a student at Ramapo College, saying that he visited on a school trip one day and fell in love with the campus, something that many can relate to. He also claims that being at Ramapo was “the first time that [he] really felt like [he] was at home.” After graduating from Ramapo, he worked his way through the criminal justice system, first working at a juvenile detention center as an investigator. He now works as a research analyst.
The New Jersey Government Affairs Panel informed students of what it was like working within state and local governments. It also offered students a look at each alumnae receiving the many opportunities that they may not have had otherwise.
Following the panels students took a guided tour of the New Jersey State House, beginning with the Annex, where the panels were held, through the “tunnel” and the general assembly halls. The group were even able to visit Gov. Phil Murphy’s reception area of his office, a place not many tour groups are able to see.
This trip to Trenton was one of many of the trips offered and gave students a chance to talk with alumni and get information about life in the government world.
rcassio@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Allie Shapiro
