Student and Alumni Spotlights
Master’s Programs
Public Policy
Advocating for Nature from Girl Scouts to Environmental Policy
Jenna Agnello Master of Public Policy, Class of 2027 South River, NJPersonal interests: Hiking, skiing, camping, kayaking, and other outdoor activities; attending concerts and listening to music; yoga An avid outdoorswoman, Jenna’s Gold Award Project—the final honor...
Pathways of Purpose: Changing the World through Public Policy
Jasmine Hoff Master of Public Policy, Class of 2025 Maplewood, NJSpecializations: Education PolicyActivities/Organizations: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)Personal interests: listening to different music genres, writing songs and...
Equity in Action: A Public Policy Journey
Awn Hasan Rizvi Master of Public Policy, Class of 2024 East Windsor, NJConcentration: Environmental Justice Activities at Rutgers: Outreach Coordinator, Rutgers Women’s Leadership Coalition; Founding Member, Bloustein Palestine Solidarity; Mentor, Bloustein Buddies...
Beyond Borders: Navigating Public Policy for Socio-Economic Progress
Beauty Okunbor Master of Public Policy, Class of 2024/ Master of Public Informatics, Class of 2025 NigeriaConcentrations: Education Policy, Economic Development of Marginalized CommunitiesActivities/Organizations: Social Media co-chair, Bloustein Graduate Student...
Quantitative Compassion: A Journey to Data-Driven Policy
Tarun Reddy Arasu Master of Public Policy/Master of Public Informatics, Class of 2024 Hyderabad, IndiaSpecializations: Energy Economics Activities at Rutgers: Treasurer, Rutgers Graduate Student Association; GSA Liaison, Public Informatics Student Group Personal...
Taylor Pickett-Stokes (MPAP/MSW ’24) takes the stage in “Black Girl Magic”
reposted with permission of Mercer County Community College A dual Master of Public Affairs and Politics/Master of Social Work candidate, Taylor Pickett-Stokes took to the stage at Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre March 1-3 with Virginia-based...
Urban Planning
Cultivating an Interest in Transportation Planning from Family and Community
Arnav Prakash Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2024 Kolkata, India Concentration: Transportation Planning and Policy Activities at Rutgers: President, Bloustein Graduate Student Association, 2023-2024; Student Assistant, Bloustein School Graduate Career...
Shaping Communities Though Urban Development and Affordable Housing
Ian Salzman Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2025 Omaha, NebraskaSpecializations: Housing & Community Development concentration, Real Estate Development & Redevelopment Certificate Personal interests: online chess, training for a half-marathon,...
Global Perspectives, Local Impact: A Quest for Affordable Housing Equity
Olubori ‘Bori’ Agboola Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2024 Lagos, NigeriaCertificate/Specializations: Affordable Housing/ Community Development and HousingActivities at Rutgers: Graduate Student Representative to the American Planning Association, New...
Alumna Susana Gonzalez, AICP, MCRP ’18, highlighted by Congress for New Urbanism
Susana Gonzalez, AICP, MCRP '18, was recently highlighted by the Congress for New Urbanism in their Latino Spotlight. ************************** Susana is an accomplished Colombian architect and urbanist currently based in Orlando since 2018. She completed her...
Rithikha Rajamohan MCRP ’23 debuts film “Sympoiesis” at the New Jersey Film Festival 1/28/23
MCRP candidate Rithikha Rajamohan (2023) created a film for an Experimental Filmmaking course last year with Professor Albert G. Nigrin titled "Sympoiesis". The short was chosen to screen at the 41st New Jersey Film Festival during an in-person and online shorts...
Max Toth MCRP ’23 is recipient of SAE Metro Section Fellowship
MCRP candidate Max Toth (2023) was recently awarded the New York City Metropolitan Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers Section Fellowship. The award was established to provide financial assistance to students enrolled at the Bloustein School who have an...
Spanning regional contexts for international planning and development
Divya Mahadevan Master in City and Regional Planning (MCRP), Class of 2023 Hometown: Kochi, India Certificate/Specializations: International Development/Community Development, Housing Personal interests: television, media, and film; geeking out about being part of a...
Alumni Profile: Music is inherent in building design
Mrunmayee Atre Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2018 A trained architect from Pune, India, Bloustein School alumnus Mrunmayee Atre, MCRP ’18, AICP, PP, LEED Green Associate, CAPM, believes that music resides in everyone through heartbeats and breathing. ...
From conservatory music to urban planning — putting the pieces together
Jeffrey Young Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2023 Hometown: Brooklyn, NY What led a conservatory-trained violinist and composer with a significant performance career to sign up for a master of city and regional planning degree at the Bloustein School?...
Bike advocacy inspires a public service career for former accountant
Ayla Schermer Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2021 Hometown: Jersey City, NJ Ayla Schermer is a former accountant turned passionate urban planner focused on creating safe, equitable, and sustainable streets and public spaces. Originally from Pittsburgh,...
Health Administration
Forging a Path in Healthcare Leadership
Briana Hernandez Master of Health Administration, Class of 2025 North Bergen, NJPersonal interests: Spending time with family, trying new cuisines, working out. After completing a bachelor of science in public health at the Bloustein School, Briana chose to continue...
A Family Legacy Inspires a Future Healthcare Leader
Theodore ‘Ted’ Fisher Master of Health Administration, Class of 2024 Eatontown, NJSpecializations: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Activities at Rutgers: Social Chair, Graduate Society of Healthcare Leaders; Student Associate, American College of...
Beyond the Clinical: The Path from Physiotherapy to Hospital Administration
Dipti Shah Master of Health Administration, Class of 2024 IndiaActivities at Rutgers: Vice President, Master of Health Administration, Bloustein Graduate Student Association Personal interests: hiking, exploring, traveling to experience different cultures, cuisines,...
From Clinical to Administrative: Changing Trajectories to Give Back Holistically
Rajisha Shah Master of Health Administration, Class of 2023 Mumbai, IndiaCertificate/Specializations: Lean Six Sigma Green BeltActivities/Organizations: President, Rutgers Graduate Society of Healthcare Leaders; Student Associate, American College of Healthcare...
MHA Candidate: Aa’ron Dennis
What Aa'ron says: As an Associate Director in Patient Transport, my mission has been to ensure the safety of our team, colleagues, and our patients. This meant procurement of the PPE needed for transports and providing the leadership skills necessary to manage the...
MHA Candidate: Thomas J. Kayal II
What Thomas says: At Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), I have been fortunate to be entrusted with the responsibility of managing multiple high-level projects, business plans, and contractual negotiations. The projects include medical research, business...
Public Informatics
Beyond Borders: Navigating Public Policy for Socio-Economic Progress
Beauty Okunbor Master of Public Policy, Class of 2024/ Master of Public Informatics, Class of 2025 NigeriaConcentrations: Education Policy, Economic Development of Marginalized CommunitiesActivities/Organizations: Social Media co-chair, Bloustein Graduate Student...
Quantitative Compassion: A Journey to Data-Driven Policy
Tarun Reddy Arasu Master of Public Policy/Master of Public Informatics, Class of 2024 Hyderabad, IndiaSpecializations: Energy Economics Activities at Rutgers: Treasurer, Rutgers Graduate Student Association; GSA Liaison, Public Informatics Student Group Personal...
Junghoon Lee, MPI ’24
Meet Junghoon Lee, a dedicated professional with a background in urban planning, now making strides in the field of Public Informatics through the Public Informatics at Rutgers University program at the Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and...
Dayana Toledo-Mendoza, MPI ’23
Nonprofit Maven and Rising Public Informatics Star Meet Dayana T., a dedicated professional at Rutgers University making waves in the nonprofit sector and a Master of Public Informatics graduate student at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers....
Elana Simon, MPI ’22
First-Gen. Grad and Energy Analytics TrailblazerElana Simon, Senior Research Fellow - Center for Law, Inequality, and Metropolitan Equity, is a 2022 MCRP-MPI graduate of the Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Through a careful...
Ali Jan, MPI ’21
Ali Jan is a highly skilled data analyst and an alumnus of Public Informatics at Rutgers University. With a careful selection of courses, research work, and an internship at the MPI program, Ali has honed his expertise in data analysis, statistical modeling, and...
Doctoral Program
Lauren Nolan, AICP
Dissertation Advisor Kathe Newman Research Interests Housing and mortgage lending Community economic development Land development and value capture Urban inequality Uneven development Teaching Experience Applied Multivariate Methods, Rutgers University (graduate)....
Ellen Oettinger White
Dissertation Topic/Title: Roadside Tree Removal: Causes, Consequences, and Who Decides Dissertation Adviser Dr. Robert Noland Research Interests/Personal Statement My dissertation focuses on roadside vegetation management practices within state highway agencies. I...
Cathy Y.H. Wang
Dissertation Topic/Title Expert Attitudes toward Performance-Based Funding for Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Approach in the Case of New Jersey Research Interests Public budgeting and finance Social policy and health Nonprofits and philanthropy My current projects...
Adam Scavette
Dissertation Title Essays in Urban and Regional Economics Dissertation Advisor Michael Lahr Research Interests Economic Development Urban and Regional Economics Community Development Applied Econometrics Labor Economics Teaching Assistant Experience Research Methods...
Lucas Marxen
Dissertation Topic/Title Public Informatics as Boundary Objects: Advancing Effective Decision-Making Dissertation Advisor Dr. William Hallman Research Interests My dissertation research is focused on the use of public informatics platforms to span the boundary between...
Undergraduate Programs
Health Administration
Scarlet Knight Begins Building a Healthcare Career from Amazing Athletics Experience
Chyna Arie Cornwell Health Administration, Class of 2024 Hometown: North Conover, NC Activities/Interests: Rutgers Women’s Basketball, relaxing, meditating, trying new restaurants and foods Chyna Cornwell was a highly recruited high school basketball prospect with...
Health administration: Seeking to make a difference in communities
Katherine Orefice Health Administration/Human Resource Management Class of 2023 Monroe Township, NJ Activities/Organizations: Eta Sigma Gamma honor society; Rutgers Italian Club Personal interests: spending time with family; playing with my dogs Nella and Talulah and...
Health administration: Providing flexibility and options to help you shape the career you want
Brandon Low Health Administration, Class of 2022 Princeton, NJInterests/Hobbies: mechanical crafting, homebrewing, spending time with family, hanging out with friends. Brandon worked at his parents’ restaurant growing up, and says the service industry is where he...
Health Administration Undergraduate: Sidrah Farooq
This past spring Sidrah worked with PWNHealth, a national clinician network that provides safe and easy access to diagnostic testing. PWN partnered with Verily Project Baseline, Quest Diagnostics, and other labs that are testing for COVID-19. What Sidrah says: As part...
Health Administration Undergraduate: Elizabeth Tomaselli
What Elizabeth says: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that telemedicine plays in increasing both the geographic and financial accessibility of healthcare. I'm proud to be able to continue to make healthcare more accessible through remote access...
Planning and Public Policy
Planning and Public Policy: Civic Engagement to Expand Representation
Nina Gohel Political Science/Planning and Public PolicyClass of 2023 Nina Gohel was part of the inaugural Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Initiative launched this year by Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway. This special internship provides select students...
Public Policy
Living With Institutional Barriers Inspires a Social Justice-Focused Future
Melody Nunez Public Policy/Minor in Political Science, Class of 2024 Hometown: Elizabeth, NJ Minors/Certificate: Political Science Activities/Organizations: Douglass Residential College, Amnesty International President; Rutgers Women's Gaming League Vice President,...
Exploring Socioeconomic Inequalities and Possible Solutions Through a Public Policy Lens
Amisha Mukhopadhyay Public Policy/Minor in Geography, Class of 2023 East Windsor, NJActivities/Organizations: SASHP Summer Reading Committee; Feminist Liberation of Rutgers; Douglass Residential CollegeSpring 2023 Internship: Isles, Inc., a Trenton-based environmental...
Navigating risks and trade-offs while formulating concrete remedies to problems
Matthew C. Mai Public Policy, Class of 2022 Hometown: Hackensack, NJ Minor: Critical Intelligence Studies Personal interests: reading books and magazines, particularly about military history, foreign affairs, and political thought, as well as biographies. Matthew Mai...
Public Health
Combining Natural Science and Public Health
Anjali Patel Public Health/Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Class of 2024 Hometown:Jefferson Township, NJ Activities/Organizations: Reach Out and Read, The Examiner, Voices of Diversity Student Advisory Board Personal interests: Reading, playing board games, sewing,...
Choosing the Bloustein School Opens New Perspectives in Public Health
Delmy Alexandra Cruz IV Public Health, Class of 2024 Hometown: Phillipsburg, NJ Activities/Organizations: Student Team Member for Colgate-Palmolive Sustainability Team for the Masters of Business and Science Externship Program Personal Interests: Snowboarding; playing...
From Curiosity to Compassion: A Journey into Public Health and Medicine
Jay Kavia Public Health/Minor in Biology, Class of 2024 Hometown: Princeton, NJ Activities/Organizations: Cancer Metabolism and Clinical Research Assistant at RWJMS, Resident Assistant, Managing Editor of The Examiner (Pre- Health Journal), Rutgers School of Arts and...
Public Health major Lara Fougnies is 2023 Chancellor-Provost Student Leadership Award recipient
With a passion for improving community health outcomes, Lara Fougnies believes that public health strategies are the most effective way to confront the root of health issues in the country. Graduating with honors with a major in Public Health from the Bloustein...
Turning A Passion Into a Career: From Pre-Med to Public Health
Aliyah Oberoi Public Health with certificates in Public Health Advocacy and Education, Health Disparities, Global Public Health; Class of 2024 Oakland, NJ Activities/Organizations: President, Rutgers Veg Society; Member, NJ Public Health Association; Member, Rutgers...
Urban Planning and Design
A Love of Green Spaces Changes a Career Path
Zoe McGowan Urban Planning & Design, Class of 2025Minor: Landscape Design Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ Activities/Organizations: Bloustein Public Service Association Communications & Public Relations Chair, Field Hockey, Delta Gamma Honor Board...
Disney Inspires Interest in Sustainable and Equitable “Cities of Tomorrow”
Michael Panchery Urban Planning and Design with a minor in SustainabilityClass of 2024 Hometown: Hillsborough, NJ Activities/Organizations/Positions at EJB/Rutgers: Innovation, Design, & Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA), D1 Men’s Ice Hockey Trips to Disney World...
Intersecting public service, community design and participatory planning
Justin Alexander Urban Planning and Design, Class of 2022 Hometown: New Port Richey, Florida Interests/hobbies: short story-writing, photography, urban sketching Justin arrived at Rutgers having been shaped by childhood interests in medicine and community service—and...
Alexander Liz
Hometown: Hackensack NJ Work Experience Student: At my first college I worked as a laboratory aid in the drafting department where I helped students complete and work through their drawings and exercises. At Rutgers I was proud to join the Habitat for Humanity E-Board...