Karine Jean-Pierre, who lived in Hempstead for part of her childhood, urged students to “stay curious, stay engaged and stay in the race.”

Jean-Pierre was the first Black person to be White House press secretary as well as the first openly gay person to hold that role.

“When you break a glass ceiling, you break it for so many people, not just for you, and the power of people seeing you in that role matters," she told students.

Jean-Pierre is now registered as an independent and shares her story in her recent memoir: "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House Outside the Party Lines."

She signed copies of her book at the Hofstra event.