Rutherford, NJ— Felician University MBA graduate Michael Chiaradio is entering public service for the first time as he campaigns as a Democrat seeking to representMississippi’s 3rd District. Running one of the biggest field operations in the US, encompassing all or part of 22 countries, his goal is to develop a campaign infrastructure supported through mutual aid, meeting immediate community needs while building long-term trust, volunteer capacity, and local leadership across the district. 

Chiaradio first developed his passion for innovation and leadership during his college baseball career. Having traveled to over 40 states and played in the inaugural season of the Empire Professional Baseball League, he gained firsthand insight into the improvements needed to expand participation and ensure equal opportunity across the baseball and softball industry. 

From increasing visibility for local women’s sports teams and holding a position with Maximus Inc., a global government contractor that supports the Affordable Care Act, he became invested in the culture of political policies and the value of listening to the needs of underserved and overlooked communities. Chiaradio would later relocate from his hometown of Teaneck, NJ, to Shubuta, Mississippi, where he currently owns and operates a regenerative farm. 

When Chiaradio went to vote at his local polling site in 2024, he noticed only one candidate was running for the House seat for Mississippi’s 3rd District. Believing that competition is what drives growth and pushes our country to our highest potential, he felt inspired to use his knowledge as a farmer and prior experience working with Maximus Inc. to launch an economic-facing campaign that prioritizes intelligent public investment, rural development, and our competitive advantage as a country with over 36 million small businesses. 

Chiaradio recently appeared on the American Small Business League (ASBL) podcast, where he connected his experiences of living and owning a farm in one of the U. S’s most rural districts to the challenges faced by small businesses every day. Rather than slowing businesses down and keeping them away from their daily tasks to obtain qualifications and equipment to carry out their operations, he believes small businesses deserve to work in an environment where access to capital is streamlined, and regulatory approvals are quicker and easier to secure. 

Mississippi’s 3rd district is undoubtedly one of the most complex districts in the American South, as the geography of MS-03 primarily consists of large stretches of farmland and low-density communities. These obstacles can pose threats to job opportunities, access to healthcare, and essential transportation infrastructure, making it difficult for locals to thrive in their communities from a sustainable and financial standpoint. 

Campaigning in regions such as MS-03 can be an intimidating task for most candidates, requiring extensive travel to reach audiences that already suffer from voter disengagement tied to a lack of choice and distance from polling centers. As a result, candidates can grow fatigued over time as they introduce ideas that may be less familiar to the district. 

While these political and geographical challenges would ultimately complicate anyone’s campaign efforts, Chiaradio views these disadvantages as motivation to visit voters to reassure them that their needs stand at the forefront of the campaign’s purpose. In the podcast episode, he mentioned that he sometimes drives for over four hours, driving two hours one way and back, just to speak with them for an hour. 

Chiaradio is hopeful that his policies will resonate with voters, regardless of whether he wins the election in 2026. By having real conversations with small businesses and local community members, he believes we can foster a universal hope that these policies will one day exist and relieve our nation’s people of the stress they face while making a living for themselves and their loved ones. 

This holiday season, Chiaradio, alongside local community members, spent the weekend before Thanksgiving giving back through a turkey and sweet potato giveaway, followed by volunteering at a local food drive where hot meals were served. To learn more about his campaign initiatives and ongoing efforts, visit his official website: https://michaelachiaradio.com 

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Michael Chiaradio’s dedication to innovation, public service, and policy development is a testament to the value of pursuing a Master of Business Administration. Though politics and business are fundamentally different, both sectors share a common goal by understanding the needs of the public and impacting their lives in ways that move communities forward. 

“Felician’s MBA program had a major impact on how I approach this campaign,” said Chiaradio. “I sharpened my skills in Statistics and Accounting, and I developed my understanding of both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Believe it or not, I still have some of the economics textbooks and periodically refer to them. However,the most important aspect of the program was the social learning component. I had amazing classmates and several truly life-changing professors. Felician pushed me to think critically and to always lead with purpose, and I’m grateful for the foundation it helped build.” 

Having an MBA not only enhances one’s critical thinking and problem-solving abilities but also provides flexibility to apply them to any role, no matter the industry. Felician’s curriculum empowers students to design their own future in an inspirational and meaningful way, whether it’s through our in-person/hybrid or online model.  

To learn more about our MBA program, visit our website: https://felician.edu/academics/school-of-business/graduate-programs/mba-in-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/  

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Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and has been recognized as the #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the thirteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is proudly sponsored by Felician Sisters International (FSI). For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.