On a January morning at the New Jersey Statehouse, Abigail Rodriguez, a political science major at Montclair State University, experienced firsthand the realities of education policy work. While shadowing a lobbyist with the New Jersey Education Association during its “Tier One for Everyone” pension campaign, Rodriguez observed legislators moving quickly between meetings.
“It was my first time lobbying, and I heard ‘no’ more often than ‘yes’ – a crash course in how messy and how meaningful education policy work can be,” she said.
Rodriguez’s journey to Montclair began at County College of Morris. After changing majors several times, she found her direction and transferred to Montclair State University. She credits the university’s transfer support and mentorship for helping her transition. Montclair has introduced a Transfer Credit Equivalent Database that allows students to see how their previous coursework will apply before enrolling.
“I always tell other students: If you don’t know what you want to do, go to county college, then transfer to a four-year school,” Rodriguez said. “It’s one of the best paths.”
Initially, Rodriguez felt nervous about joining a larger campus community. “At first, when I came to Montclair, I felt nervous and scared,” she said. “There were a lot of ‘I don’t fit in. Where do I go? Where do I meet the right connections?’” Joining student government helped her feel more connected on campus.
Rodriguez became active with the New Jersey Aspiring Educators Association and hosts “Class in Session,” a podcast that features teachers and advocates discussing topics such as mental health in schools. She also co-created the New Jersey Coalition for Sustainable Equality & Educational Justice, which focuses on responsible and equitable school construction projects.
She was selected for U.S. Sen. Andy Kim’s NextGen Leadership Training program, where she learned about organizing campaigns at the community level.
Rodriguez commutes over an hour from Blairstown to attend classes at Montclair State University but says it is worthwhile for both academic opportunities and campus life. She encourages other commuter students to participate in events and organizations: “I tell them: Attend something. Please, just do something for yourself. You’ll thank yourself later.”
Her involvement led to unexpected experiences, including cooking Puerto Rican mofongo on camera with Montclair President Jonathan Koppell for an upcoming episode of “Cooking with Koppell.”
Reflecting on her journey as she prepares to graduate in May 2026, Rodriguez shared: “I never thought I’d graduate from college because my path felt so all over the place,” she said. “I never envisioned myself at a four-year institution. Even now, getting my senior pictures back, it feels like imposter syndrome. I’m 25, and I finally did it,” she added. “It feels good to finally see the checkered flag.”
Montclair State University serves around 23,546 students across undergraduate and graduate programs according to its official website. The university is recognized as New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution with more than half its students coming from underrepresented minority groups according to its official website. Its main campus covers 252 acres across several municipalities including Montclair, Little Falls, Clifton, and Bloomfield according to its official website.
Montclair offers transfer pathways such as its 2+2 Program in partnership with community colleges—allowing students who complete an associate degree to enter as juniors—and accredited online programs for those with significant prior college credit according to its official website. The application deadline for Fall 2026 transfers is April 15.
The university has been ranked among the top public institutions nationally by outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and is noted for promoting value and social mobility among New Jersey public universities according to its official website. Its mission emphasizes integrating liberal arts education with professional training and research while supporting inclusive access and community engagement according to its official website.
