Tuesday, Jul 25, 2023
The program has served as a stepping stone for Maria Castillo’s public service ambitions
by Adam Grybowski
Rider University rising senior Maria Castillo received a fellowship from the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program this summer. The program is designed to prepare high-performing Hispanic students for success in a professional workplace.
Participants in the program gain practical experience during an internship as well as traditional classroom instruction geared toward leadership and professional development. Other opportunities include leadership training seminars and guest presentations by leading professionals.
During the eight-week fellowship program, Castillo, who is majoring in political science and minoring in political communication and legal studies, has participated in two internships based in her hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. In those internships, with the Historical Society of Elizabeth and the nonprofit Future City, she has contributed to efforts that aim to increase awareness of environmental issues, such as climate change and pollution, that could potentially harm residents.
As a Hispanic woman, I want to give back to my very diverse community."
“This has been my first environmentally focused experience and it’s allowed me to gain more knowledge about local environmental issues and what I may want to focus on as a future government official,” says Castillo, who hopes to attend law school after Rider and eventually begin a career in government serving Elizabeth and other similar communities.
“Growing up, I never really saw people who looked like me in positions of power, but as a Hispanic woman, I want to give back to my very diverse community, which is facing a lot of issues,” she says. “I want to create a better and more secure city for future generations.”
Castillo has served in Rider’s Student Government Association since her first year. She is currently the organization’s vice president. She also gained state government experience during an earlier internship with the office of Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, a Democrat who represents communities in Burlington County as part of the state’s seventh district.
In addition to the internship opportunities, Castillo says the fellowship has been very helpful in helping her build her career development skills, including public speaking, networking and preparation for interviewing for jobs and graduate school. The Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program is open to all residents of New Jersey of Hispanic descent who are enrolled in two- or four-year college or university programs.