Rowan University hosted the eighth annual Mid-Atlantic Political Intern Summit (MAPIS2025), welcoming more than 140 college students from over 70 colleges and universities. MAPIS2025 was organized and hosted by the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship, RIPPAC.
The students, all of whom interned in politics this summer, gathered for a day of learning, networking and engagement with some of the region’s most influential public figures, including former two-term N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and U.S Rep. Herb Conaway (N.J.-3).
“This unique conference is RIPPAC’s signature event, and now in its eighth year, we have more interns from more schools than ever before,” said RIPPAC Founding Director Ben Dworkin. “In today’s bitterly partisan world, where cynicism often seems to reign, MAPIS stands out for gathering and encouraging those who continue to believe they can make a difference through public service.”
Christie, the Republican governor from 2010-2018 who also served for six years as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, told the students that he began his political career far younger than they are — just 11 or 12 years old — when he volunteered to campaign for then-Assemblyman (and future governor) Thomas H. Kean, who lived in Christie’s hometown of Livingston.
His first duties for Kean: placing a printed list of campaign promises on every chair during an event.
“Thirty-two years later to the month, he endorsed me as governor,” Christie said. “The lesson is, showing up is the No. 1 thing. People are looking for good people to get involved.”
Commenting on the current state of politics, Christie said the U.S. faces two major problems, one external and one internal.
“The external problem is whether America will be the unquestioned world leader it’s been for the last 80 years,” he said.
Internally, he said, Americans of all political stripes must again learn to speak with one another.
“You cannot build a stronger country by just focusing on your differences,” noted Christie.
Christie said Conaway, a Democratic assemblyman while Christie was governor, served during a period of bipartisanship in Trenton when both sides could work together to move the state forward despite political differences.
“We don’t see a lot of that now,” said Christie.
Conaway, an Air Force veteran and the only member of the House of Representatives to hold both medical and law degrees, addressed a range of issues raised by students, from handling the stress of law school to working civilly with politicians from the other party.
“If you respond with anger and invective, you can be sure you’ll get anger and invective back,” said Conaway.
MAPIS2025 offered interns a unique opportunity to hear directly from, and interact with, elected officials, policy leaders and experts in governance and public service. The event featured breakout panels on careers in politics, current hot-button issues and the future of civic leadership.
RIPPAC is dedicated to informing, engaging and training Rowan students, faculty and the public in all aspects of politics, public policy and advanced citizenship.
The MAPIS2025 speaker lineup also included Christina Renna, president & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, and Patrick Murphy, a former undersecretary of the Army as well as a former congressman from Pennsylvania.
Rhonda Oni, a rising senior from West Orange studying political science at North Carolina A&T State University, said she sees politics as a noble career through which she can help people, and attending MAPIS2025 helped confirm that for her.
“Being able to affect people in big ways and small matter to me,” said Oni, “even if it’s just to make sure the lights are on.”
