Join us for a special panel discussion on September 9, 2025 focused on the legacy of Senator Jacob K. Javits in Frey Hall, Room 100 from 2 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Held in conjunction with POL 103, Comparative Politics, the program will explore key themes in Senator Javits’ career and their continuing relevance in today’s political and societal landscape. The panelists are:
Assemblyman Edward Ra (R-Franklin Square)
Assemblyman Edward Ra represents New York’s 19th Assembly District in Nassau County and has served since 2010, focusing on education, public safety, and government transparency. He earned a B.A. in Computer Science from Loyola College, a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from Cardozo School of Law.
Reed Howard, Future Caucus
Reed Howard is the Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer for Future Caucus, a nonpartisan network of Millennial and Gen Z lawmakers promoting cross-partisan leadership. He holds a Master of Divinity from Emory University with a focus on ethics and moral leadership, and a B.S. in Culture and Politics from Georgetown University.
Jud Sommer, former Executive Assistant to Senator Javits
Jud Sommer served as executive assistant to Senator Javits and later held senior roles in law and public affairs, including managing director at Goldman Sachs and Chair of the Public Policy Group at Crowell & Moring LLP. He earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from NYU School of Law.
Helmut Norpoth, Professor Emeritus, Stony Brook University
Helmut Norpoth is co-author of The American Voter Revisited, covering the images of presidential candidates, party identification, and why Americans turn out to vote. He has also written a book about public reactions to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, especially her economic and foreign policies. Norpoth has designed models to forecast elections in the United States, Britain, and Germany. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Michigan.
With more than 2 million items, the Senator Jacob K. Javits Collection at Special Collections is the largest archival collection at the University Libraries. In March 2025, it was announced that the Marian B. and Jacob K. Javits Foundation gave $1 million to create SBU Libraries’ largest endowment, which will help preserve, promote and expand access to the collection. Learn more about the life and legacy of Senator Javits through our digital exhibition.
Kristen Nyitray
Latest posts by Kristen Nyitray (see all)
- Join Us on September 9: Panel Discussion on the Legacy of Senator Javits - September 2, 2025
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- 2025 Short Term Scholar Award: Senator Jacob. K. Javits Collection - July 16, 2025
