Please Join Brigid Callahan Harrison in Conversation with Steve Kornacki, National Political Correspondent for NBC News & MSNBC.

Kornacki is the author of “The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism” and host of “Article II: Inside Impeachment,” a NBC News podcast dedicated exclusively to covering the impeachment inquiry. Previously, Konacki hosted the 4pm hour of MSNBC Live, the Monday edition of “MTP Daily,” “Up with Steve Kornacki” on Saturdays and Sundays 8-10 a.m. ET and was a co-host on MSNBC’s ensemble show “The Cycle.” Before that, he wrote for the New York Observer, covered Congress for Roll Call, and was the politics editor for Salon. Kornacki also spent three years in New Jersey, chronicling the state’s political world for a website and co-hosting a weekly show on News 12 New Jersey, a 24-hour cable news channel.His work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, Boston Globe, Daily Beast and at Capital New York, where he’s written a series of deeply-researched profiles of prominent New York political figures. He is a native of Groton, Mass. and graduated from Boston University.

Harrison and Kornacki will discuss the political polarization and the future of party politics in the United States.

This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Law and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

March 14 at 2:30 PM (ET)

Zoom Registration Link:

Secretary Crowfoot oversees an agency of 21,000 employees who protect and manage California’s natural environment. This includes stewarding the state’s forests and natural lands, rivers and waterways, and coast and ocean, protecting fish and wildlife, and overseeing energy development. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises Governor Newsom on natural resources and environmental issues. In this zoom event, Secretary Crowfoot will speak about his experience as Secretary of Natural Resources of California and his efforts to build resilience to climate change driven threats.

Organized by the Political Science and Law Department, Minor in Global Security and Diplomacy

“You can’t tackle poverty alone,” she stated, “It’s poverty and education and health, and hunger. They are so interlinked.”  These linkages require communicators who can share the message of development to a variety of stakeholders.

As this is an important part of Chief Azevedo’s position, she encouraged students to consider the ways in which their communication can reach many different groups.  “At the end of the day, many people who want to communicate effectively, end up thinking strategically,” said Azevedo, “Is it a Facebook post? Is it a Tik Tok? Is it Instagram? You’re going to communicate differently, depending on the channels… What’s your key message? What is it that you want to communicate? And who’s your audience? Because that’s the most important point.”

She noted that this need comes with a responsibility for greater transparency by the United Nations, as well.  Speaking to the need for development initiatives to be accurately communicated to the stakeholders they serve, she states, “There is a big push for not only communicating the stories, but also information that boosts transparency and accountability that every taxpayer wants to see. ‘Show me the results.’”

Increased transparency in the social media filtered environment of modern communication presents a unique challenge: the danger of misinformation.  Trustworthiness was noted as particularly important with Chief Azevedo encouraging students to “Stop and think. Do you know who shared information with you? Can you just do a quick fact? Check and try to make people understand that everybody plays a role when it comes to spreading whatever it is that you’re sharing.”

With targeted, engaging, and ethical communication, her work at the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) seeks to create meaningful real-world change.  “We need to boost education, quality of life, and the environment. We need to support women and girls,” she stated, “It’s a commitment.”

Students were provided a unique insight into both the DCO’s mission and how solid communication strategies are essential to meeting that mission.  Responding to Carolina Azevedo’s message, Danielle Goldstein, a Junior in Communication Media Studies, stated “Ms. Azevedo said that you need to know who your audience is and how and where to reach them.”

This perspective on how key global goals of the United Nations intersect with the need to communicate about those goals with a broader public is a lesson that is meaningful for the next generation of advocates and communicators.

Ms. Azevedo spoke eloquently about her experience as Chief of Communications and Spokeswoman of the United Nations Political Mission in Colombia in 2017-2018, in the framework of the historic peace process between the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group, and the Government. She highlighted how working on a daily basis with Colombian women and men who were very committed to the peace process, in particular, working hand in hand with local radio stations in towns and indigenous communities, had been “the most fabulous experience” she had ever had. , the event organizer, underlined how Chief Azevedo embodied the pillars of ����vlog through her commitment to public and community service.

This presentation was part of the Pollack Speaker Series which brings important leaders in the world of global affairs to ����vlog to share perspectives with students.  Carolina Azevedo’s presentation was co-sponsored with the department of Political Science and Law and the School of Communication and Media.

Joined with Alexandra Délano, Assistant Professor of Global Studies at the New School, and Dr. Sekou Siby who shared his own 9/11 experience as one of these workers, the panel highlighted the stories of undocumented immigrants who died on 9/11, while discussing the complex legal processes of proving their existence and ensuring they would not be forgotten.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence have led to significant advances in science and medicine, but have also facilitated new forms of repression, policing and war.

• Mona Sloane Sociologist, New York University and University of Tübingen, Germany
• Maurizio Tinnirello Visiting Lecturer in International Relations, Northumbria University, Amsterdam.
• Eugenio Garcia Tech Diplomat, Consulate General of Brazil in San Francisco, California
• Seth Baum Executive Director of the Global Catastrophic Risk Institute, Washington D.C.
• Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Law, ����vlog

Organized by: Departments of Political Science and Law, Linguistics, Computer Science, Sociology, and RIGGS, ����vlog

You can register here:

Oral arguments are scheduled for April 6 and April 8, 2022. This year, four teams each made up of four students, will compete for the prize of Best Mock Trial Team. Individual awards for Best Student Advocate and Best Witness will also be presented. The Mock Trial Competition is made possible by Montclair State faculty members who are trained attorneys, advocates, and trial experts, dedicated to preparing students for success in law school.

Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Assemblyman Thomas Giblin were also on hand as part of the salon-style discussion event at the University’s School of Communication and Media building, which featured a conversation between Coughlin and Professor of Political Science and Law and department chairperson Brigid Callahan Harrison.

“This is a terrific program that captures what you need in order to get things done,” said Coughlin. “The combination of a traditional liberal arts education with courses in specific subject areas will give students a well-rounded skill set that will allow them to adapt to a lot of different situations. Those are the types of people we look for in our offices, so students in this program will be well-positioned as they begin their careers.”

The major in Policy Studies will enable students to merge the benefits of a classic liberal arts education with courses in political science, economics, information technology, sociology, earth and environmental studies, child advocacy and public health to prepare them to enter the workforce as policy analysts, advisors and advocates.

Policy Studies majors will be prepared to perform policy analysis and creation in a diversity of settings, including in municipal, state and federal government agencies as elected officials; foreign policy settings; as policy advocates and activists; and with issue and interest groups, nonprofits, and corporate and organized labor entities.

“So much of what we read about government officials focuses on the angriest and darkest sides of politics. But the real work of government is creating policies, and these officials are busy learning about our problems and how they can help solve them,” said CHSS Dean Peter Kingstone. “Our job is to create programs that are of service to New Jersey, and to help solve our state and nation’s problems with innovative solutions. This program is a direct response to the need for a new generation of policymakers that will serve the public, and allows students to develop practical skills that will help solve tomorrow’s challenges.”

“We’re excited to harness the power of ����vlog’s diverse academic program in this multidisciplinary offering that will train the next generation of students who are willing to roll up their sleeves and use their expertise to improve lives in our communities, state and nation,” said Harrison, who has served as the lead faculty member in developing the new program.

During the conversation in front of an audience of students, faculty and staff, Coughlin discussed how policies are created in New Jersey government, what his day-to-day is like as a government official, his advocacy for food insecure communities and New Jersey’s affordability agenda.

He also provided advice for students looking to enter into careers in government and policy making.

“Show up. Get involved in a campaign,” remarked Coughlin. “Learn to talk to people, and learn to listen to people. Show up to learn and to work towards a common goal and to change things. The bonds you’ll make will last a lifetime, and you’ll start to figure out where you’ll see yourself and what you want your future to be.”

For more information on the Policy Studies major at Montclair, visit the Department of Political and Law’s website.

She recently joined ����vlog as an instructional specialist in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and pursues research with the Centre for Global Affairs, New York University, as a Senior Research Fellow.

Will be held on Wednesday, March 30th, at 11:00 AM in SBUS 140 and via Zoom at:

Rebecca Webber Gaudiosi, PhD. will speak on “Solving Global Policy Challenges: Five Lessons in Multi-Stakeholder Negotiations”

A scientist turned diplomat, Dr. Webber Gaudiosi represented the United States at United Nations’ climate change negotiations from 2006-2014.

Wednesday, March 23rd at 1:15 PM on Zoom

Link: