National Guard
Problem Statement
Our group, People for the Guard, consists of six James Madison University undergraduate students: Bailey Baker (Biology Major), Eunice Hahn (International Affairs Major), Nicholas Bjacek (Marketing Major), Robin Lagodka (International Affairs Major), Jonathan DelSordo (Public Policy Major) and Lauren Shutt (Communication Studies Major). Our group was tasked with finding a way to improve relations between members of the New Jersey National Guard and New Jersey employers to decrease employment and hiring discrimination. While there is legislation to protect members against said discrimination, many are not aware of it and or do not have the funds to pursue legal action against their employers.
Solution
To address this problem, we have proposed a National Guard Employer Rating System with a job finding platform such as Indeed or Glassdoor. This rating system would be two fold: one, it would allow guard members to leave reviews for how companies are treating them and two, it establishes criteria that would label companies as “guard friendly.” Our rating system is based on a quantitative scale in which the reviewers choose a number one through nine based on how well they agree or disagree with the statement provided. If the employer is able to keep their score above the benchmark given by the National Guard, they will receive a badge that we have developed to proudly display where they choose. Even though some systems and rewards like this already exist, we believe we have an advantage because our criteria was created alongside guidance of National Guard members and leaders, law professionals, and professors to accurately capture the needs and concerns of citizen soldiers. Additionally, we included promotional material and a website to distribute our information and external educational resources.
Meet the Team
Lauren Shutt
Lauren Shutt is a senior Communication Studies major at James Madison University. In addition to her studies, Lauren is a current Marketing Specialist at JMU’s Recreation Center (UREC). This role consists of social media management, digital advertising, photography, videography, graphic design, and email and radio messaging. Upon graduation in May 2022, Lauren plans to take a gap year and then apply to JMU’s Sport and Recreation Leadership Masters Program, with hopes of obtaining the Graduate Assistantship for Marketing at UREC. In her free time Lauren enjoys photography, watching hockey and spending time with her friends and family.
Bailey Baker
Bailey Baker is a senior Biology major with a minor in Pre-Medicine at James Madison University. Bailey is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, in which she hopes to foster better patient-healthcare provider relationships. Following her graduation in spring 2022, she plans to receive her EMT license and gain direct patient experience in the field before applying to PA schools. In her free time, she enjoys music, spending time with her friends and family, and reading and writing all things in the fantasy genre.
Eunice Hahn
Eunice Hahn is a junior International Affairs major with a concentration in Foriegn Policy and Global Governance at James Madison University. She also has a minor in Asian Studies and is learning Korean and Mandarin Chinese. Eunice is interested in US relations with North and South Korea, and would like to work for the government or an international organization involved with the East Asia region in the future. After graduating in the spring of 2023, Eunice hopes to continue her education in graduate school.
Jonathan DelSordo
Jonathan DelSordo is a senior Public Policy Major and Environmental Science Minor at James Madison University. Jon is fascinated with solving complex real world problems. With a keen interest in the environment, Jon hopes to work aiding in the creation of environmental policy or improvement of environmental education. Outside of the classroom Jon is a part of the JMU Club Swim team as well as an avid enjoyer of music and sports of any kind.
Nicholas Bjacek
Nicholas Bjacek is a senior marketing major with a concentration in professional sales at James Madison University. He worked with the JMU Center for Global Engagement as a Global Ambassador and served on the social media and advisory committees. Additionally, he has worked closely with companies like Ricoh USA on sales research projects throughout 2021, and hopes to have a career in sales as an account executive. Nicholas is also a classically trained pianist of 14 years and spends most of his time outside of class practicing and studying classical music.
Robin Lagodka
Robin Lagodka is a senior International Affairs major with a specialization in European Comparative Studies at James Madison University. He has interned at JMU X-Labs and Penacity LLC, a cybersecurity company based in Maryland this year. Outside of the classroom Robin enjoys picking up new hobbies. Most recently he has worked on lockpicking, learning music theory, and playing the piano. He speaks four languages; Polish, German, Russian and English, and his passion is arm wrestling.