The honors continue for New Jersey’s late lieutenant governor Sheila Oliver, who died in August. Rutgers-Newark is renaming its Center for Politics and Race in America after her.
James Jones, the center’s co-director, said the ceremony to announce the renaming was full of recollections of Oliver by other women of color who’ve entered politics.
“Senator Teresa Ruiz talked about how she was a role model for her as oftentimes they were the only women of color in the room and Sheila Oliver gave her the confidence to stand up for her beliefs,” said Jones.
He said the center is launching an internship program this summer. Four Rutgers-Newark students will work in the offices of members of Congress from New Jersey.
A video of Oliver shown at the ceremony got a very heartfelt response, said Jones.
“There were many people who were brought to tears but I think it was a necessary addition to the program in which we got to hear from Sheila Oliver herself and what really inspired her to participate in politics,” he said.
The Center was founded in 2022. Jones, a professor of sociology and Africana Studies, said the center is working on a number of projects.
“They vary from studying white supremacist groups to studying Islamophobia that Muslim officeholders encounter to looking at the experiences of black women in politics in New Jersey,” he said.