Anderson Understands the Importance of Bringing People Together
As a junior at Salisbury University, one of Matthew Anderson’s faculty introduced him to Norman Conway ’65, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and an SU alumnus himself. Anderson ’14 was interested in pursuing an internship with the Maryland State Legislature and was to have a lunch interview with Conway to see if he would be a good fit for the position.
“I will never forget it,” Anderson said. “We were having lunch together at the Commons, and I had dressed up in a suit and tie. I accidentally dipped my tie in my pasta and got sauce all over my shirt.”
Despite being a state representative, Conway laughed with him about it – and at the end of the lunch, he offered Anderson the internship.
That was the start of a meaningful connection and an opportunity that propelled Anderson forward into his political career.
For four days a week, Anderson would get up at 5:30 a.m. and drive an hour and a half to Annapolis for the internship.
“It was the best 90 days of my working career,” Anderson said.
Conway became Anderson’s political mentor and took him everywhere, even to his one-on-one meetings with then-Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. But beyond the real-world experience Anderson was gaining, the most valuable part of the internship for him was the inspiring influence Conway had on his life.
“I was so lucky to have that experience,” Anderson said. “Conway was not only a politician, but had been a school principal, president of the Salisbury City Council and firefighter. He stood by the things he believed in and wanted to make a difference. As a student, that was really inspiring to me. I understood then that there are politicians who do it for all the right reasons.”
As a young and inexperienced 20-year-old, Anderson may not have realized then that someday, he would be that inspiring force for the next generation.
Years later, Anderson has made a name for himself in his home state of New Jersey. He is currently a lobbyist and has served as chief of staff in the New Jersey State Legislature. In 2019, he started the non-partisan political action committee Millennials for New Jersey, which raises up to $50,000 each year to support millennial candidates. Since its inception, the group has helped elect dozens of candidates to office.
I understood then
Matthew Anderson ’14
that there are politicians who do it for
all the right reasons.”
Anderson said that in politics, one of the hardest things to do is raise money – a challenge that is especially difficult for young people who have never been elected to office and don’t have a network to rely on. He thought that since he had the experience and the connections, he could raise money to help young people get to the next level.
“It has been a great journey,” Anderson said. “When I did my first fundraiser, our goal was $10,000, but we got $20,000. I was amazed by the support. People who donated truly believed in wanting to help the next generation, and that has been the most rewarding part.”
In addition to grants, Millennials for New Jersey also helps young political candidates with job openings and building connections. The organization hosts networking dinners with political leaders from across the state, including congress members and city mayors. New Jersey is set to elect a new governor in 2025, and Anderson’s organization has been hosting events to connect millennials and candidates running for governor.
“One of these people may be the future governor,” Anderson said. “Bringing people together is important, so we host these networking dinners to help connect today’s elected officials with our future state leaders.”
For his contributions to his state and community, Anderson was recently honored with the SU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Achievement Award.
“I loved my time at SU and found it really helped me grow and become who I am today,” Anderson said. “My mentors guided me along my way, so anything I can do to support and inspire the next generation means a lot to me.”