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Galloway, N.J. – The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at �鶹��Ƶ recently sponsored senior Alyssa Aviles at an esteemed residential conference designed to address women's underrepresentation in politics.

The residential program is designed to introduce young women pursuing higher education to the world of politics through workshops and lectures hosted and led by successful women leaders.

The program, housed on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, inspires the next generation of women to consider the role that the political process plays in their everyday lives.

When asked about a political experience she engaged in for her application to the program, Aviles, of Manahawkin, discussed three courses she took at �鶹��Ƶ that encouraged her to consider how she can advocate for marginalized people and engage in challenging yet fruitful conversations.

“Each of these classes taught me something different, but they all had one thing in common. They made me think. They made me question. And they made me care,” Aviles wrote in her application essay. “Politics isn’t just about laws or elections – it’s about people, and how we treat each other. These experiences have shaped the way I see the world and the role I want to play in it.”

Aviles, a Computer Information Systems major, also wrote about her anticipation of not only empowering herself to make meaningful changes in her community but also inspiring her daughter to do the same.

“As a mother, I am deeply aware of the importance of modeling resilience, advocacy and leadership,” Aviles wrote. “By participating in NEW Leadership New Jersey, I will not only strengthen my own ability to drive progress but also show my daughter, and young women like her, that their voices matter and that they, too, can lead with purpose and conviction.” 

This year, the program was expanded from three days to five and included workshops on topics such as determining and developing one’s leadership style, gaining confidence in public speaking, the ins and outs of the United States’ legislative process and more.

Aviles, who documented her time at Rutgers on �鶹��Ƶ’s Instagram account, described the introductory lecture on prominent women in politics throughout history as a “safe space” in which she and her peers were able to “voice our thoughts and share our opinions and beliefs,” setting the tone for the rest of the week.

 In addition to workshops and lectures, Aviles and her cohort made a trip to the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, where they participated in and listened to the day’s committee hearings. Aviles, who had never visited prior to the program, described the experience as “eye-opening.”

“I was surprised how small a community it was in Trenton. Everyone seemed to know each other or have worked with one another in some capacity at some point, across all parties,” she said. “Most importantly, though, I was surprised at how accessible it was to go to Trenton and participate in a committee hearing. I didn't realize these things were public.”

As part of the residential program’s conclusion, Aviles and her cohort worked on an action project where they were tasked with identifying a problem and determining actionable steps toward a solution.

When completing her project, Aviles decided to tackle an issue close to her heart – a lack of child care options on campus for the �鶹��Ƶ community. She hopes to address this and advocate for the reinstatement of the on-campus child care center, Free To Be, with �鶹��Ƶ’s Board of Trustees in the near future.

– Story by Loukaia Taylor

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