An Evening With...
An Evening With...
An Evening with...
In an effort to raise the level of political discourse, RIPPAC hosts an ongoing evening speaker series. These events are free, on-the-record, and open to Rowan students, faculty, staff, and the public.
Check out our 2024-2025 speaker lineup below!
4/7/25 - An Evening with Bill Spadea: "A Vision for New Jersey"
Bill Spadea is an entrepreneur and radio personality, best known as the former host on the state’s top morning drive talk show, New Jersey 101.5. Throughout his career, Spadea has served in a number of roles, including political strategist, analyst, candidate for office, and business executive. He is running in the Republican primary for the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial race.
2/10/25 - An Evening with Sean Spiller: "A Vision for New Jersey"
Sean Spiller was elected president of the New Jersey Education Association in 2021, and served as the mayor of Montclair, NJ from 2020-2024. He is running in the Democratic primary for the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial race.
12/5/24 - An Evening with Steve Kornacki:
Steve Kornacki has garnered widespread praise for his detailed, county-specific understanding of voting patterns, exit polls, and electoral data at the Big Board every election cycle. Kornacki is the author of The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism. In addition to electoral analysis, Kornacki has also broken down statistics for the 2020 NFL season, 2020 Summer Olympics, and 2021 Kentucky Derby.
10/14/24 - An Evening with Curtis Bashaw: "A Vision for America"
Curtis Bashaw is an entrepreneur with experience in the real estate and hospitality industries, and is the founder and managing partner of Cape Resorts, a hotel company focusing on restoration projects. He ran as the 2024 Republican candidate for New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat.
10/10/24 - An Evening with Hon. Andy Kim: "A Vision for America"
Hon. Andy Kim represented New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district from 2019-2024, now encompassing Burlington County and parts of Mercer and Monmouth Counties. He ran successfully as the 2024 Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat.
9/25/24 - An Evening with Amanda Haines, Esq.: “Challenges and Opportunities for Campaign Finance Regulation”
Amanda Haines, Esq. is a 19-year veteran of the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), New Jersey's campaign finance watchdog first established in 1973. In 2024, she became the first woman to serve as Executive Director, making her New Jersey's top campaign finance regulator. Haines discussed ELEC's role in campaign finance regulation, how it affects our elections, and potential future reforms.