麻豆传媒

Record-setting cohort will step into public service roles across New Jersey this summer听

April 22, 2026

In offices across New Jersey this summer, 麻豆传媒 students won鈥檛 just be observing government at work 鈥� they鈥檒l be part of it.

From supporting families in the child welfare system to contributing to policy and community-focused initiatives, they will step into roles that demand both perspective and purpose. This year, nine students have been selected for the prestigious , the largest cohort in the College鈥檚 history.

Administered through the New Jersey Department of State, the program places college students in offices at organizations across New Jersey, where they gain hands-on experience in the fields of interest working with government officials and industry leaders. The fellowship 鈥�not only boosts workplace readiness but also equips students with the critical tools they need to excel as professionals in the ever-evolving 21st century economy.鈥�听

This year鈥檚 honorees* reflect an impressive range of academic disciplines and ambitions: Law & Society majors Emally Quezada 鈥�27, Amerie Ramos 鈥�29, Keiry Solis 鈥�27, who is also minoring in psychology, and Paul Vargas 鈥�28; Matthew Gonzales 鈥�26, a graphic design major with a minor in public policy; Chantalle Reyes 鈥�26, a social work major; Luisa Rios 鈥�27, an international studies major with a minor in economics; and Bex Rodriguez 鈥�27, a history and politics double major.

Karen Gamarra 鈥�28, a physics major, was also selected but will instead participate this summer in Syracuse University鈥檚 Interactive Biomaterials Program, part of the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Research Experiences for Undergraduates.

For many of the students, the fellowship represents more than a professional opportunity; it鈥檚 a meaningful step toward careers rooted in advocacy, representation, and service.

Bex Rodriguez ’27 will work at the Historical Society of Elizabeth

鈥淔or me, this fellowship means a lot,鈥� said Rodriguez. 鈥淎s a first-generation Latina student, it feels good to have hard work and years of dedication to academics recognized.鈥�

Rodriguez, who will be working at the Historical Society of Elizabeth, credits faculty mentorship as a key part of her journey, particularly the encouragement of Dr. Rebecca Root, who introduced her to the program and helped her prepare for the interview process in her role as director of the Office of Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships.听

Chantalle Reyes
will work with the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency this summer.

Reyes will spend the summer with the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency in its Secaucus office, working with clients in a child welfare setting and focusing on cultural competency and strength-based approaches.

鈥淏eing a social worker interested in macro practices, it means so much to work with administrators and stakeholders who uplift the community,鈥� Reyes said, calling the experience 鈥渁 step in the right direction鈥� for her career.

She describes her Ramapo experience as transformative, crediting a network of support that includes faculty, staff, and programs such as the Educational Opportunity Fund and the First-Generation Student Center.

Emally Quezada will intern this summer with the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization.

For Quezada, the fellowship builds on a growing interest in immigration law and advocacy.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been committed to advocating for those who feel like their voices are unheard,鈥� Quezada said. 鈥淭his fellowship allows me to continue that work while gaining hands-on experience.鈥�

She will serve as an engagement and outreach intern with the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization (IACO), a nonprofit in Paterson that provides legal assistance and community support to immigrant populations. There, she will help expand outreach efforts and strengthen connections within the community.

Quezada said her academic and internship experiences, along with guidance from faculty mentors like Dr. Root, helped prepare her for the opportunity. 鈥淏eing involved both inside and outside the classroom has pushed me to pursue opportunities like this,鈥� she said.

Paul Vargas will complete his internship this summer with the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization.

For Vargas, who will also complete his internship with IACO, the fellowship marks an important step toward a future in advocacy and leadership.

鈥淭his opportunity is a gateway to my first real experience in the professional world and a chance to build meaningful connections,鈥� Vargas said.

He credits Ramapo鈥檚 strong sense of community with helping him prepare, from faculty mentorship to leadership roles across campus, including his involvement in the Peer Facilitator Program, Student Ambassador Program, and the Filipino American Student Association.

For first-year student Amerie Ramos, who will be working with Future City, Inc. on educating communities about environmental policy formation that affects their area, the opportunity came with an initial sense of hesitation.

鈥淚 applied to this fellowship believing that I was underqualified as a freshman,鈥� Ramos said. 鈥淭o my surprise, I was given the opportunity.鈥澨�

She sees the fellowship as both a personal milestone and a platform for impact, crediting Ramapo鈥檚 supportive environment鈥攁nd encouragement from mentors and peers鈥攆or helping her take that leap.

Rodriguez credits her mother, who raised her as a single parent, with shaping her resilience. 鈥淪he showed me how to keep going,鈥� she said.

Reyes echoed that sentiment, pointing to her parents as her greatest influence. 鈥淓verything I do is to make myself and them proud,鈥� she said.

This personal commitment reflects a broader trend on campus. Between 2021 and 2025, undergraduate enrollment of students who identify as Hispanic or Latine increased by 46%, while graduate enrollment rose by 68%. This growth at Ramapo underscores an expanding pipeline of students engaging in academic and experiential opportunities tied to public service, leadership, and community impact.听

In 2021, the first Ramapo student to be awarded a NJ Governor鈥檚 Hispanic Fellowship was Jessica Sanchez 鈥�21. Five students received the same honor in 2025: Abigail Rojas 鈥�26, James Pascal 鈥�26, Cesar Vivas 鈥�27, Edy Martinez 鈥�27, and Mishell Lema-Lema 鈥�27.

As the 2026 cohort prepares to begin their placements across the state, these Roadrunners bring with them not only academic achievement, but a shared commitment to making an impact in the communities they serve.

Their selection marks a record for the College. More importantly, it signals a growing pipeline of Ramapo students ready to lead, serve, and shape the future of New Jersey.

*In the cover photo L to R: (back row) Keiry Solis, Emally Quezada, Bex Rodriguez; (front row) Paul Vargas, Matthew Gonzales, Chantalle Reyes. Not pictured: Amerie Ramos, Luisa Rios, and Karen Gamarra.