Kean Student Says Political Science Lessons Prepared Her to Run for Office
Kean University student Natalie Hernandez is taking the lessons she has learned in her political science classes to heart and is running for the Elizabeth Board of Education.
The 22-year-old, born and raised in Elizabeth, is one of the three young, progressive candidates on the Justice for Elizabeth slate. They are campaigning for racial and academic equity in the city’s schools.
“Studying political science has reminded me that local elections are very important and that we must be involved in the political process. We should take every opportunity we can to make a positive difference,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez is a senior in the global studies program, with a concentration in women and gender studies. She conducted research in South Africa with the program’s coordinator, Sara Compion, Ph.D., and studied at Wenzhou-Kean University in China for a semester. Before coming to Kean, Hernandez spent time in Nepal at a monastery and nonprofit devoted to women's health and education.
“It is no surprise that Natalie is running for a position on the Elizabeth Board of Education,” Compion said. “She deeply cares about and understands how local issues are interwoven with macro affairs and how this benefits some and disadvantages others. By running for public office, she reflects the ambitions of many in her generation to serve their communities and to address inequalities at the same time.”
Hernandez said she has been an activist since high school, but the Black Lives Matter movement and protests by young people across the country prompted her to get more deeply involved.
“The activist family I’m a part of continues to remind me of the strength of the collective youth. We truly are powerful in numbers. I feel unstoppable with the support of my community,” she said.
She credits Kean University with helping to prepare her for a run for public office.
“Kean has offered me amazing opportunities from the start,” she said. “Although some come with challenges, the rewards are always far greater than the sacrifice. Whether it was facing a challenging semester or handling fears over studying abroad for a few months, I have worked hard to seize every opportunity, and it is something that I will continue to do. Kean has taught me that. Running in this campaign has not been easy, but I know that with every outcome comes an important lesson.”
Political science Professor Gilbert Kahn, Ph.D., has Hernandez in his honors seminar in American government and politics this semester. He teaches his students the tried-and-true political adage, “All politics is local,” and saw how that concept energized Hernandez.
“I think she has a desire to go out there and try to change things and improve the educational process and the educational system,” Kahn said. “I encourage her and all my students to get involved. I especially like the fact that she got the message.”
Hernandez said her grassroots campaign is being run by young volunteers, many of them fellow college students who want to be on the front line of social, educational and political change.
“We plan to win by using our passion and drive to lead the way. We want to involve young people who usually don’t vote and get them to join the revolution. We want to remind young voters that they have power too, and should fight for the future they want to see.”