From Campus to the Capitol: Rutgers-Newark Event Celebrated Student Leadership in Public Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

David Terry
Braven, david.terry@bebraven.org

New Jersey, NJ (October 16, 2025) – On Thursday, October 16, 2025, Rutgers University–Newark, in partnership with the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America (CPRA), Braven, and the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), showcased a unique model of public-private partnership “From Campus to the Capitol: RU-N Leaders Rising” at Express New Jersey. The event celebrated the Capitol Hill Fellowship program and underscored Rutgers-Newark’s investment in preparing students to lead in public service.

The evening featured remarks from Senator Burgess, Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson, Dean Kaifeng Yang of SPAA , and Dr. James Jones Executive Director of CPRA, followed by a panel of Capitol Hill Fellows reflecting on their summer experiences working in Washington, D.C. The event also spotlighted SPAA’s new Public Leadership minor, a formal academic pathway designed to support students pursuing civic engagement and public policy.

“Public service is not just a career option–it’s a calling,” said Dr. James Jones, Executive Director of CPRA. “This event showcased how Rutgers-Newark helps students find that calling and equips them with the tools to act on it. The Capitol Hill Fellowship is a powerful model of what it looks like when we invest in students’ leadership potential and commitment to community.”

For Braven, a national nonprofit that supports college students on their path to strong careers, the event reflected the values at the heart of its work. “Braven exists to help students translate their ambition into action,” said Samantha Crockett, Braven’s New Jersey Executive Director. “Partnering with Rutgers-Newark and CPRA on the Capitol Hill Fellowship ensured that career acceleration was grounded in purpose, public impact, and civic identity.”

Senator Burgess, who delivered remarks during the event, highlighted the critical role of higher education in preparing future public servants. “Colleges and universities must continue to find innovative ways to bridge students into public service careers,” she said. “What Rutgers-Newark and its partners have created through the Capitol Hill Fellowship is a blueprint for how we can expand opportunity, develop talent, and ensure the public sector reflects the brilliance and diversity of our communities.”

The event featured a panel moderated by Hyacinth Miller, Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies and Political Science at Rutgers University-Newark with Braven Capitol Hill Fellows Esron Holder (Rutgers Business School), Alexis Castro (School of Criminal Justice), Karen Perez (School of Public Affairs and Administration), and Edwin Pineda-Cortes (School of Arts and Sciences–Newark), each of whom shared personal insights on their policy work, mentorship experiences, and long-term commitments to public service.

“The Capitol Hill Fellowship helped me see how someone like me belongs in spaces of power and policymaking,” said Karen Perez, Rutgers University-Newark student and Braven Fellow. “It wasn’t just about learning how the government works–it was about realizing I have a voice and a responsibility to use it. What made this opportunity different was the support behind it. From the living stipend, to professional development and even help with wardrobe and placement, I had what I needed to show up fully. That made all the difference.”

Representing a variety of majors and backgrounds, the Fellows described working on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to economic equity, and spoke candidly about the “pinch me” moments that defined their time on the Hill.

The event concluded with remarks from Dean Yang and a networking reception, offering attendees the opportunity to connect with Fellows, faculty, and community leaders.

About CPRA, Braven, and Rutgers University-Newark

The Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University–Newark explores the intersection of race and politics through research, education, and leadership development. Learn more at cpra.rutgers.edu.

Founded in 2013, Braven empowers promising young people with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs or graduate school. Braven is embedded within institutions of higher education and partners with employers to build cutting-edge career education into the undergraduate experience for rising college goers. Braven Fellows are persisting in college and achieving exciting levels of internship and job attainment. For more information about Braven, visit braven.org.

Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N) is a diverse, urban, public research university that is an anchor institution in New Jersey’s cultural capital. It is exceptionally well-positioned to fulfill higher education’s promise as an engine of discovery, innovation, and social mobility. It has a remarkable legacy of producing high-impact scholarship that is connected to the great questions and challenges of the world. It is in and of a city and region where its work on local challenges undertaken with partners from many sectors resonates powerfully throughout our urbanizing world. Most importantly, RU-N brings an incredible diversity of people to this work–students, faculty, staff, and community partners–making it more innovative, more creative, more engaging, and more relevant for our time and the times ahead.

Media Contacts:
Carrie Stetler, Rutgers University-Newark, cjs281@rutgers.edu