Buccino Leadership Institute Sponsors Annual Experiential Learning Trip to Washington, D.C.

The Buccino Leadership Institute (BLI) hosted its third annual experiential learning trip to Washington, D.C. The three-day excursion offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at federal leadership in action. 

Students gained firsthand insight into the inner workings of the Supreme Court, FBI Headquarters and the Pentagon, bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world governance.

A cornerstone of the trip was an exclusive visit to the Pentagon, where students were hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Adam Scher, a former Army ROTC instructor at Seton Hall University and current member of the BLI Advisory Council.

“Experiences like this are pivotal for students to develop leadership skills outside the classroom, and I am grateful to share some of my lessons with Buccino Leadership Institute students,” said Scher, strategic communications advisor for Joint Interagency Task Force 401. "I’m proud of my time at Seton Hall, where I had the opportunity to train leaders of character, both in and out of uniform.”

Scher led the cohort through the historic corridors of the nation’s largest office building, blending architectural history with lessons on command and crisis management. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion on modern defense leadership, led by Scher and Major Joseph Amoroso. 

“We are fortunate to have Scher on the Advisory Council. He contributes to the Institute’s success year-round. His tour of the Pentagon and the lessons he shared along the way gave our students an inside look at leadership in complex, high-stakes environments,” said Andrew Simon, Ph.D., interim executive director and professor of psychology. 

The trip also served as a testament to the program’s commitment to "learning by doing." In partnership with the administrative team, Pirate Planners, an internal BLI initiative, coordinated site visits and travel logistics for 18 attendees. The team included Justin Lotito, Maddie Yanni, Joey Brennan, Iggy Grynaviski, Torrance Liddell, Justin Rhodes and Elan Thomas.

"Being able to plan the trip and return to Washington, D.C. for the third time has been a fulfilling experience,” said Liddell. “Working alongside the creative minds of Andrew Simon, Justin Lotito and Joey Brennan resulted in very efficient planning! From the Supreme Court to the Pentagon, and all the other locations in between, I explored what it meant to be a servant leader. Thank you to the Buccino Leadership Institute for the amazing opportunity!"

Beyond the scheduled tours, students used their time to explore the monuments and museums, further immersing themselves in the city's cultural and political fabric. They returned to the South Orange campus equipped with new perspectives on governance, a stronger bond with their peers, and practical insights into what it takes to lead at the highest levels of public service.

“As a co-founder and co-president of Pirate Planners, this year’s D.C. trip was really a full-circle moment for me," said Yanni. "It was an amazing opportunity to dive deep into political and governmental leadership and experience that Buccino family feel. I’m grateful to both my Pirate Planners team members and everyone who joined the trip for making it such a valuable experience." 

For more information about experiential learning at Buccino Leadership Institute, please visit here.

Categories: Education, Nation and World