Taiphane Orange of Neptune, a 2022 political science graduate of Brookdale Community College, was sworn in as the 2022-2023 Graduate Trustee on July 15. As the Graduate Trustee, she is the student voice and a voting member of the Board. This seat is filled annually through a student election.
Tai, as most people call her, said she applied to be this year’s graduate trustee because it was her way of contributing back to the college community. “Brookdale Community College is for the students, and we all need to work together to create positive changes that will benefit all students.”
During her time at Brookdale, Tai was an honor student and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) member. She participated in multiple club activities, including serving alternately as vice president and secretary of the Black Student Union. In addition, she was the public relations associate for the social media accounts of the school’s Educational Opportunity Fund Student Alliance (EOF). Tai demonstrated exceptional engagement in global issues during her time at the College and was honored as a distinguished graduate of the Global Citizenship Project. Additionally, she was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL), which empowers women students to become the future leaders of our local and global communities.
Tai is continuing her education in political science at Monmouth University with a concentration in international relations. After graduation, she will pursue a master’s in public administration. Though she currently does not have a specific career path, she lives by the phrase “to whom much is given, much is required” and said she would do her best to help serve the students and give back to the community that has helped her thus far in her academic journey.