Mercer Times

Jaclyn Romano, a graduate student in her last semester of the Master of Public Policy program, has been named to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Honor Roll. As a graduate assistant in the Office of Co-Curricular and Leadership Development, Romano collaborates with the TCNJ Votes committee to plan and execute voter engagement events at the college.

“For the past year, student voting has been pretty all-consuming for me, so it’s very nice to have that work recognized,” Romano said. “This role has enabled me to connect with students and help to prepare them to continue this work. Sustainability is what I believe really matters in something as important as voting efforts, and I really feel like we’ve found a great rhythm to keep it up.”

Romano is among 232 students nationwide, including nine from New Jersey, to be honored by ALL IN. Katie Kahn, the manager at the Center for Community Engagement at TCNJ, praised Romano's dedication and creativity: “Jackie has exemplified exceptional dedication and drive in supporting our voter engagement efforts on campus, and her proactive attitude and enthusiasm for exploring new ideas have made her an invaluable asset to the team.”

Avani Rana, director of Co-Curricular and Leadership Development at TCNJ, also commended Romano: “Jackie has been a great asset to our team and has been a mentor to other students to get them more civically engaged.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a program recognizing schools for their efforts to boost student voting rates and encourage democratic participation among students. Romano stresses the importance of student involvement in elections: “It is especially important for young people to take part in local elections that have a direct impact on life in their states and towns.”