Virtual Speakership Event
Ambassador Frederick Barton
Former Assistant Secretary of State Frederick Barton speaks on his experiences as a diplomat and provides insight on how to run a successful political campaign.Ambassador Barton’s career as a public servant is one to be admired. He started his career in government as a young candidate for Congress in Maine and rose to become a leader in the State Department who worked closely with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the founder of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Along the way, he worked as a Co-Director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served as the US Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations where he represented the United States on the world stage on key issues from climate change to human rights. He eventually became the Assistant Secretary of State under Barack Obama from 2011-2014. Currently, he is working as a lecturer and Co-Director of Ullman Fellowship at Princeton University and recently released a groundbreaking book on America’s global interventions called Peace Works, which can be found on Amazon.
John Schroder
Mr. Schroder speaks on his experiences as a former State Department Official, and gives his advice to the next generation of leaders.John Schroder is an international civil servant and business executive. Mr. Schroder served as a Lead Foreign Affairs Officer at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). He served as a Protection Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sri Lanka, where he chaired the inter-agency Advocacy Task Force of the Protection Working Group and planned the post-war return of 120,000 Sri Lankan refugees from India. As Repatriation Officer at UNHCR in Afghanistan, he helped facilitate the voluntary repatriation of some 350,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran over a two-year period. Following his work with the State Department, he co-founded and led Steelhead Global Advisors, a Seattle-based international business advisory firm. He was a member of the founding team at LAVLE, a Japan-US joint venture company that develops and supplies advanced battery technologies for the maritime, defense, rail, and renewable energy markets.
Angelina Nastasi
Ms. Nastasi gives her opinion on activism and youth involvement in our nation while discussing a variety of other topics. Her views and opinions do not reflect, nor are associated with Amnesty International.Ms. Nastasi is currently an activist leader and field organizer within Amnesty International. As a field organizer, she developed and implemented effective grassroots community organizing strategies in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania on key human rights issues from gun violence to the conditions at detention centers at the southern border. Additionally, she has worked with over 80 student groups in the northeast and has coordinated joint action with those groups on various issues and recently shifted to working with Amnesty International student groups throughout the south. Her experiences provide a truly unique insight into the importance of youth activism and involvement.
Senator Joseph Cryan
Senator Cryan discusses how the youth can get involved in their community during this time, and provides insight on how the government is handling the COVID-19 pandemic, providing important details to when our nation might fully recover realistically.State Senator Joseph Cryan is an American Democratic politician who represents the 20th Legislative District. Elected to the General Assembly in 2002, he served as an Assemblyman for 12 years and temporarily served as Majority leader from 2010 - 2012. In 2012 he was elected into the state senate and serves as the Vice Chair of both the Commerce and Law and Public Safety. Additionally, he serves as the Chair of the N.J. Democratic State Committee.
Vanessa Kulick
Ms. Kulick speaks on her experiences as a former State Department Official, describing the different places she worked and visited, as well as her experiences in conflict resolution with nations on the verge of Civil War.Vanessa Kulick is a foreign affairs specialist with nearly a decade of experience with the State Department. Starting her career at the Center for Strategic and International Studies she worked as a research consultant. Later, she began to work as a Security Analyst for the World Bank. In 2011 she began to serve in the US State Department as a foreign affairs officer, where she became Central African Lead and undertook analysis, oversaw programming and supported U.S. strategy to reduce risk of destabilizing violence in Central Africa. Currently, Ms. Kulick works at her flower farm called Indigo Page Flower Farm and consults for the private sector.
Professor Brian Potter
Professor Pottter speaks on a wide range of topics from foreign policy to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandmeic on our country.Professor Brian Potter teaches political economy and international relations with a focus on Latin America at The College of New Jersey. After earning his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Potter taught at Tulane University before coming to TCNJ in 2004. His work on environmental and economic policy has appeared in Latin American Perspectives, the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Energy and Development, Environmental Politics and as chapters in edited volumes.
Senator Vin Gopal
State Senator Vin Gopal currently serves as the representative for the 11th district in the New Jersey Senate. In the Senate, he serves as Senate Majority Conference Leader and Chairman of the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Additionally, he serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and as a member of the Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee. Prior to working in the Senate, Senator Gopal founded a non-profit dedicated to aiding charities across Monmouth County and served on the Board of Directors for the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce.
Assemblywoman Joann Downey
Assemblywoman Joann Downey is an American Democratic lawyer and politician who represents the 11th Legislative District. After earning her Juris Doctor at New York Law School she currently works as a Trial Attorney at her own law office. Furthermore, she was elected in 2016 to the General Assembly and also serves as a Parliamentarian.
Rahul Datta
Rahul is a sophomore with an interest in government and business. He first started working on the idea that is V3SSEL nearly 2 years ago, after realizing the need to develop youth leadership following the low voting turnout among the youth in the 2016 election. In the future, Rahul hopes to expand V3SSEL on a national level and pursue a degree in Finance or International Business. You can catch him walking his dog, watching Netflix, or playing basketball outside on an average weekend. He cannot wait to lead V3SSEL to future success.President and CEO
Assemblyman Wayne P. D'Angelo
Assemblyman DeAngelo is an American Democratic politician who represents the 14th Legislative District. Starting his career as a member of the Hamilton Township Zoning board in 2000, later serving as a member of the Township Council and Planning Board. Starting in 2008 he was elected to the General Assembly and currently serves as Deputy Speaker. Furthermore, he currently serves on the N.J. Council on Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs.
Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling
Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling has been a lifelong resident of New Jersey, and his contributions to the state’s politics have been quite significant. He currently represents the 11th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly, which covers portions of Monmouth County. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Houghtaling served on the Neptune Township Committee; moreover, he gained the title of Mayor of Neptune Township in 2013. Aside from politics, Mr. Houghtaling is an accomplished electrician who has proudly been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 400 for 40 years. He also serves on the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee and the Labor Committee. His extensive experience does not end there; Mr. Houghtaling serves as the Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and as the Vice-Chair of the Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
Rishabh Mantha
Currently a sophomore, Rishabh Mantha is immensely interested in the fields of Economics and Biology. He pursues these intriguing subjects by being an active member in his school’s Business Club and Waksman Biology Club, while also being the Treasurer of his class. Moreover, he particularly likes watching “Jeopardy!” and reading Ancient Greek literature. His favorite pastimes include playing and watching soccer, biking, and playing video games with his friends. Rishabh greatly appreciates the opportunity to propel V3SSEL towards success in the future, and is eager to do so.Vice President and CFO