On September 5^th, sixteen of Princeton’s international affairs-focused undergraduate students, who are part of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination’s (LISD) International Policy Associate (IPA) program, met with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy at the newly renovated State Capitol. LISD Acting Director Dr. Sophie Meunier and Executive Director Nadia Crisan joined the students on the visit.

The meeting centered around Murphy’s experience as both U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2009-2013 and his time governing New Jersey, which he described as one of the country’s most internationally focused states due to its large population with ties abroad, extensive language programs in primary and secondary schools, and international business connections in a variety of industries.

Governor Murphy advised the IPAs, who will be travelling to Berlin, Germany as part of a fall break trip, that ties between the U.S. and Germany have never been stronger. The governor attributed this, in part, to increased cooperation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including a renewed commitment to NATO.

Uma Fox, a Princeton Sophomore and IPA, felt that “meeting with Governor Murphy was an exciting opportunity to reflect on the local implications of foreign policy.” She also echoed a sentiment felt by many IPAs in attendance that this was a good opportunity to escape the “Orange Bubble” and learn about how New Jersey interacts with the global community.