Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs

The Center

Established in 1994 by former New Jersey Congressman Frank Guarini, the Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs aims to provide a non-partisan forum for discussion and analysis of key public policy issues and to encourage careers in public service among today’s students. The Guarini Center hosts lectures and programs throughout the academic year to raise awareness of local, domestic and international issues and challenges. The events sponsored by the Guarini Center are free of charge and open to members of the general public.

A central part of the Guarini Center’s mission to promote critical thinking and debate among the next generation of leaders is its Annual High School Oratorical Contest. The event is open to all high school students in New Jersey and throughout the tri-state area. Now in its fifth year, the Oratorical Contest attracts more than 100 students from 75 high schools to compete for cash prizes totalling $19,500.

The Center is proud to list the following private donors as sponors of the Center's lecture series and high school oratorical contest: Panepinto Properties, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield,  Provident Financial Services,  Applied Development Company, and NW Financial Group

Dr. Kenneth Mitchell
kmitchell@spc.edu
Executive Director
The Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs

Dr. Ken Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Guarini Center and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Saint Peter's College. Dr. Mitchell received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 2001, and is a specialist in Latin American Politics. His first book, State-Society Relations in Mexico, came out in 2001, and he is currently researching and writing on the Dominican Republic.