The Late Lunch with...
The Late Lunch with...
The Late Lunch with...
We've changed the rules. No more brown bags. Now, we provide the lunch!
RIPPAC’s Late Lunches offer students a chance to get up close and personal with key political players.
During these off-the-record discussions, we focus on what these important people wished they had known when they were young and just starting out.
We ask three questions of each speaker:
- What do you do?
- What was your career path?
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in college?
Below are guests we hosted over the 2024-2025 academic year!
April 11, 2025: Brian Alpert
Brian Alpert has served as Executive Director of the New Jersey Senate Republican Office since late 2023, and offered great insights and perspective as a "legislative lifer" who has worked in the State House for most of his career.
February 14, 2025: Hon. Adam Taliaferro
Hon. Adam Taliaferro is Director of State/Community Relations for Johnson & Johnson and previsously served in the New Jersey Generla Assembly, representing Legislative District 3. He shared an incredible personal story from his time as a Penn State football player, where he was paralyzed from the neck down during a game but made a miraculous recovery and later turned to careers in elected office and healthcare.
November 15, 2024: Dave Vitali
Dave Vitali is Amazon's NJ/PA/DE public policy manager. He discussed his role within the company, shared his past experiences in NJ politics, and gave some great advice to students.
October 18, 2024: Judge Julio Mendez
Judge Julio Mendez (ret.), Rowan '78, is a former Assignment Judge for the Superior Court of New Jersey. Judge Mendez talked extensively about his upbringing as an immigrant, his career in law, and his 26 years on NJ Superior Court.
September 27, 2024: Sarah Aubrey
Sarah Aubrey is the founder and head of The Aubrey Group, a leading grant writing company working with local governments and non-profits. Students got to hear about her fascinating personal story and a field that most had never considered before as a career.