Jesse Schwartzman ’11

“Montclair State has made me a leader and molded me into the person that I am today and I am a very proud Redhawk!” says Jesse Schwartzman ’11. Schwartzman currently works at a leading medical malpractice and personal injury law firm in Bergen County. He describes his job as a legal assistant as a very fulfilling and rewarding job because it involves helping others. As the legal assistant at the law firm, Schwartzman is able to aid people in rebuilding their future as well as their families’ future.
While attending Montclair State University, Schwartzman majored in Political Science with double minors in Psychology and Public Administration. His interest in Political Science and Government began in his elementary school days where he had the opportunity of meeting the mayor of his town. Jesse describes how the mayor’s visit to his school left a great impression on him as well as an everlasting memory.
Taking advantage of all the resources that Montclair State University had to offer helped Schwartzman achieve his academic goals while also allowing him obtain a great college experience. “I made countless life-long friends at school and I would not trade it for anything” says Schwartzman about his campus life at MSU. During his undergraduate years, he was a legislator in the Student Government Association for three years, Editor-in-chief of two yearbooks, and President of Hillel, the Jewish Student Union. In taking advantage of the great campus life, Jesse was also involved on campus and worked at the Student Recreation Center.
As an advice to students, Schwartzman says to “get involved on campus, meet as many people as you possibly can, become friendly with your professors and take part in at least one internship before you graduate.” He took on his first internship experience at New Jersey Jackals during the summer going into his senior year. During his spring semester of his senior year, Schwartzman gained more experience in the Political Science field by interning at Senator Frank Lautenberg’s office.
Schwartzman credits certain professors for helping him mold into the academic professional that he is today. “Professor Faye Allard’s Sociology class was an amazing course and taught by an inspiring professor,” says Schwartzman. He describes the course as very interactive and full of in-class discussions that caught his attention. Like any other student, Schwartzman also experienced a very difficult course. As he puts it, “Professor Brian Smith’s Machiavelli course was probably the most difficult course of my life so far.” However, he did learn a very valuable lesson. “It taught me that sometimes things in life are hard and tough to understand,” he says. Schwartzman also adds that Dr. Uribe’s International Relations course and Professor Widrich’s Intro to Public Administration course had an impact on his academics as an undergraduate student.
There is a specific faculty member that Schwartzman remembers the most. “Dean Rosemary Howell had a tremendous impact on my life,” says Schwartzman. Even after college, Dean Howell inspired him to be great and do great things. While dealing with a rocky start to his career, Schwartzman never lost hope in himself because she never lost hope in him.
After graduation, Schwartzman stayed connected to his alma mater. His appreciation and gratitude for Montclair state was so great that he decided to join the Recent Alumni Network (RAN) Committee. “I decided to join the RAN committee because it is a great way to stay involved with the MSU community,” says Schwartzman. Being a member of the RAN committee allows him to be an active volunteer at events such as Homecoming and give back to the institution that has done so much for him.