Centenary University officially opened the academic year—and election season—with the first activity sponsored by its new Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership: An event announcing the center’s partnership with Healing the Vote, a nonpartisan initiative that last year recruited, trained, and mobilized over 250 future healthcare providers from more than 10 campuses across New Jersey to help nearly 4,000 New Jerseyans to vote. Held on the first day of the fall semester, the event highlighted the importance and effectiveness of engaging students in the electoral process.

While Centenary is still developing the physical space, the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership has already outlined a full slate of activities to engage students and the community in the upcoming local, state, and national elections. The University will again take part in the national Ballot Bowl initiative, and Centenary students’ efforts will be supported through the establishment of the nation’s first chapter of The League of Student Voters. As the league’s founding member, Centenary University has long-term plans to roll out the organization to college campuses across the country. In addition, through the center the University has extended an invitation to host an on-campus debate between New Jersey Congressional candidates Rep. Tom Kean, Jr.(R-7) and Democratic challenger Sue Altman.

“Every great movement has started with students who want to make society a better place,” said Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., president of Centenary University. “We need to encourage young people to register to vote and also to really analyze the issues. It’s about voting with your mind, rather than with your emotions. This is a nonpartisan effort, so it’s important to communicate that we don’t care how you vote—but you need to vote smart. This is the beginning of a historic movement that will really make a difference in our communities.”

Dr. Caldwell noted that Centenary is uniquely positioned to lead the national conversation on the importance of voter registration and participation: For the past two years, Centenary was the national winner of the Ballot Bowl Competition, a student-driven initiative to promote voter registration and engagement across college campuses, besting 965 participating campuses across the country. The partnership with Healing the Vote is a natural outgrowth of those efforts, Dr. Caldwell said.

Healing the Vote now plans to scale its efforts to reach over 25,000 voters in the year ahead. In doing so, it will be aligned with a growing number of organizations, such as Vot-ER, working at the intersection of civic engagement, voting, and health known as civic health. This year, Centenary University student members of Health Occupations Students of America, an organization for health-related degree majors, will join forces with Healing the Vote to continue registering voters and influencing policy to improve healthcare access. Prominent organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Association of Medical Colleges have acknowledged the link between voting and health, and conversely, that voting obstacles inevitably lead to worse health outcomes.

The partnership kickoff included a formal ribbon-cutting, as well as the presentation of proclamations from the State of New Jersey honoring Healing the Vote participants from several New Jersey colleges and universities for their contributions to registering voters last fall. The proclamations were sponsored by New Jersey Assemblywoman Shama A. Haider (D-37), who noted, “I am thrilled to celebrate the 2023 New Jersey Civic Health Champions, whose dedication and tireless efforts have made a profound impact on voter turnout and civic engagement across our state. These individuals, through their work with Healing the Vote, have not only empowered communities, but have also strengthened the very foundation of our democracy. Their commitment to fostering civic participation is an inspiration to us all, and I am proud to honor them with this well-deserved recognition.”

The Center for Student Engagement is one of seven Centers of Excellence under development at Centenary to establish the University as a national hub for innovative programs designed to engage and inspire college students and members of the broader community. Former White House Fellow and physician-advocate Aakash Shah, MD, who is a founder of Healing the Vote, will serve as a visiting scholar at the center.

At the partnership event, Dr. Shah said, “The partnership between Centenary and Healing the Vote will foster ongoing connections between students and their communities by creating opportunities for learning, growth, and service. In short, it seeks to help students bring their head, their heart, and their hands together to make a real tangible difference in their communities. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of Healing the Vote and the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership at Centenary University.”

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY

Centenary University offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. Under the leadership of President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., the University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.

CONTACT

Kristen Volkland
Erbach Communications Group
(201) 960-3102