N.J. Secretary of State to speak at Rider University about 2020 U.S. Census

The New Jersey Secretary of State and the leader of the state’s census efforts, Tahesha Way, will be a guest speaker at Rider University on Thursday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m. in Lynch Adler Hall.

Way will speak about New Jersey’s plan to ensure a complete count in the upcoming census. The census is distributed throughout the United States to count all residents.

“It is particularly important for students to be included in the count because it will determine how much federal funding communities, especially college towns, receive over the next 10 years,” says Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.

The census is mandated by the U.S. constitution to be conducted every 10 years. Data collected through the census helps determine the distribution of Congressional seats to states and how states and communities allocate funding. It also informs planning decisions about community services. Starting March 12, households will start to receive information on how to take the census online, by phone or by mail.

In December 2017, Way was selected as New Jersey’s 34th secretary of state. She was sworn in on Feb. 26, 2018. Prior to becoming secretary of state, Way was an administrative law judge for the State of New Jersey. She has also been a judge and educator and is committed to numerous philanthropic causes. She is the former president of the Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County, an organization dedicated to empowering Democratic women by increasing their participation with the goal of achieving greater equality in the political process. She served as a board member for Celebrate New Jersey Now, a social welfare nonprofit that promotes voter engagement and small business growth in the state.

Way’s appearance at Rider is jointly presented by the Rider University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Rebovich Institute, which is dedicated to public service and scholarly analysis of government, public policy, campaigns and elections in New Jersey. It was founded in 2001 by the late Professor David Rebovich (1949–2007). Today, the Rebovich Institute is a dynamic and creative home where students can network, study and gain practical experience in New Jersey politics.

The event is free and open to the campus community and the public. Registration is required at rider.edu/census.

The event will also be livestreamed on facebook.com/riderclas, Rider's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Facebook page.