Rhode Island Senator and U.S. Chairman of the Armed Services Committee Jack Reed Visits Ramapo College 

by Liz Mendicino ’26

When you are a Law & Society and Communication Arts double major with a Concentration in Journalism, and a student leader serving as the Chief Justice of the Student Government Association, the Secretary of Phi Alpha Delta pre-law chapter, a 2024 Peer Facilitator, and other various positions across campus, you get excited about hearing that the U.S. Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed will be on campus. 

This was an incredible opportunity for me, as I have a strong interest in law, politics, and civic engagement. Not only did I attend the afternoon fireside chat he had with President Cindy Jebb, entitled ‘It’s Not Wrong to be Skeptical’, but additionally in my class earlier that morning, followed by a small group session with campus student leaders.

That’s me enjoying Senator Reed’s storytelling in my Media Issues and Ethics class, taught by Professor Rebecca Leung.

I was initially very nervous to meet Senator Reed. My Media Issues and Ethics professor, Rebecca Leung, gave us all the news at the beginning of class, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’ve never had the chance to sit down and have a conversation with someone so important before, let alone a United States senator. Needless to say, I was nervous. President Jebb entered the classroom and introduced Senator Reed, describing him as a public servant, soldier, and statesman. What I did not expect was for this very accomplished and prestigious senator to begin to joke about how he remembered when there were only three channels on the television and everything was regulated by the FCC. He then leveled with us and began a discussion on topics we were talking about in class; on politicization of media, artificial intelligence, censorship, social media influence, and the greater good of information. He was knowledgeable and personable…it was kind of funny how comfortable the environment was with such an important man helming the conversation. He was able to relate our class topics not only to his work in the government, but also in his personal observances as a fellow citizen. 

Senator Reed takes questions from students enrolled in Media Issues and Ethics.

When he opened the floor for questions, several students raised their hands. Various questions were asked about social media and our generation’s mental health, artificial intelligence (AI), and other related topics. In all of his responses, he blended comprehensive and nuanced opinions with jokes and movie references (which is how I learned he is a self-proclaimed old movie buff). When he spoke about AI, which is something that I think about often, he gave the analogy of the Wizard of Oz when the Wizard steps out from behind the screen that made him look so large and menacing but in actuality he was just a little guy. He was incredibly engaged with everyone, even insisting upon taking one last question despite going over the time he was supposed to be visiting our class. Never in my life did I think that I would have the opportunity to sit down with an important politician and hear him discuss issues that are so important to me and to what I am learning, but especially with such a level of comfort and ease in the conversation.

Student leaders listen intently to Senator Reed share his experiences and leadership development.

About half an hour later, I left my class and headed to the student leaders small group meeting. There were about ten of us there, each representing the Student Government Association, Phi Alpha Delta, the Law School Prep Club, Leaders in Service, including our Alternate Student Trustee, Kyree Robinson-Banks. I feel really fortunate to be a student leader on campus, because it has afforded me so many incredible opportunities, and this by far is one of the coolest. 

This session was more question-oriented than the previous one in class. We were able to ask Senator Reed any questions we had about his experiences as a leader. I thought that this was really cool, because it’s rare that we as student leaders get to talk to a real world leader and learn from them. The questions we asked him really ran the gamut. One of my friends asked about the initiative he was most proud of, which was making $8 billion for the government in the wake of the 2008 stock market crash. 

Another student asked about the path he took to get to where he is. He referenced three lessons he earned from each of his post-secondary experiences: that West Point’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country deeply influenced him; that he was not the smartest guy in the room at Harvard’s Kennedy School; and that Harvard Law School taught him that it is not the answer that is important, but rather the question and how you ask it. When asked if there was anything he would have done differently when he was our age, he said he wished he had been more athletic during his time at West Point, which earned laughs from the room.

Student leaders from across campus held a roundtable conversation with Senator Reed, joined by Ramapo College President Cindy Jebb and administrators.

This was when I decided to ask Senator Reed a question. Last fall I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA) at West Point, during which I stayed at the military college for several days and got to know some students and faculty at the school, as well as gain a better understanding of daily life at West Point. Thus, I planned to ask if there were any professors or staff he met there that deeply influenced him. When I brought up the conference to preface my question, he lit up with recognition and said “Oh yes, SCUSA!” This in and of itself was so cool, and I could not contain the smile on my face. In response to my question, he reminisced about various professors who had impacted him, but specifically noted the West Point chaplain, who went on to be the chaplain for the House of Representatives. Reed told a story about a time he had gone to visit a senior home, and several older women at the home told him they liked him because they watched the house on television and ‘he was always talking to the priest’.

It was such an incredible opportunity to meet Senator Reed, especially because of my  strong interest in law and civic engagement, an interest Senator Reed shared. Talking to him was so easy, and he gave great advice on topics important to me like law school, internships, and media. I feel so lucky to be a student leader at Ramapo, as it has given me so many incredible opportunities such as this one. Our law and political science programs are relatively small compared to other majors on campus like nursing, business, and psychology, but that does not impact the immense support from faculty and staff. The opportunities that I have been given have been so wonderful and beneficial to my undergraduate experience. 

Senator Reed also visited students enrolled in American Government and American Legal History, taught by Professors Jeremy Teigen and Jeffrey Ellsworth, respectively.

I learned that, shortly after Senator Reed’s visit, he described his time at Ramapo as inspiring. “I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome I received from President Jebb and the entire Ramapo community. Through numerous conversations with students, I was inspired by the thought-provoking and insightful questions from these future leaders pursuing a brighter future for our nation. True to their mission, the college is preparing students with a strong foundation for a lifetime of achievement,” said Senator Reed. He further shared with members of the college that “it was truly a pleasure to share with [the students] experiences from my own academic journey and the lessons I’ve carried with me throughout my career in the military, law, and public service.”

Senator Reed was born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island. His father was a World War II veteran and Cranston school janitor, his mother was a homemaker determined to give her children the opportunity to pursue a higher education. Reed attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduated near the top of his class and received an active duty commission in the Army. Reed earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and went on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantry Platoon Leader, a Company Commander, and a Battalion Staff Officer.  He eventually joined the faculty at West Point, teaching cadets about economics and international relations as an Associate Professor within the Department of Social Sciences. After graduating from law school, Reed became an attorney in private practice and specialized in banking and securities law. Reed served three terms in the Rhode Island State Senate, then served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served as a senator for Rhode Island since 1997.