New Jersey Leadership Collective’s mission is to train leaders who are committed to moving the communities they serve and the Garden State forward. They aim to make progressive change to legislation and policies through building collective power and taking collective action. They are a network of inclusive leaders who have the expertise to implement change and provide the skills and connections needed to make progress a reality.
Of the 25 selected fellows for this year, three have ties to the Bloustein School.
Dash Barany (MPP ’25, MSW ’25) is a recent dual-degree graduate who received master’s degrees in Public Policy and Social Work, specializing in social justice policy and advocacy, from Rutgers University. Upon graduation, they were awarded the Rutgers’ School of Social Work Outstanding MSW Student in the Management and Policy Specialization and Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Student Service Award. They had the privilege of being an Eagleton Institute of Politics Graduate Fellow, and currently serves as the President of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus.
In previous roles, Dash worked on the Mikie Sherrill for Governor primary campaign, training and coordinating canvassers in Middlesex County. As a Policy Fellow with New Jersey Policy Perspective, they researched and advocated for more progressive immigration and criminal legal system policies. Dash proudly served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in New Brunswick, New Jersey, working as the Communications and Special Events Coordinator for PRAB, Inc.
As a life-long resident of New Jersey, Dash aspires to advance racially and socially equitable public policy while serving the great people of the Garden State.
Katy Temple (MPP ’27) is a public policy professional and communications and outreach specialist with a deep-rooted commitment to journalism, free expression, and civic engagement. She currently serves as the Outreach Advisor to Congressman Rob Menendez in New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District, where she develops and executes community engagement strategies, represents the office at public events, navigates federal issues for stakeholders, and translates complex policy issues into clear, accessible communications.
Previously, she worked in the State of New Jersey’s Office of Appointments as a Senior Aide to Governor Murphy, managing board and commission nominations and navigating legislative and intergovernmental processes. Katy’s career is grounded in a lifelong connection to journalism. She is a former student journalist and editor-in-chief who successfully advocated for student press freedom in New Jersey. Her advocacy and academic interests center on the essential relationship between a free press and a healthy democracy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University and is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy from the Bloustein School at Rutgers University. Katy brings experience across government, nonprofit advocacy, and education, with a focus on thoughtful communication, democratic institutions, and public service.
Awn Rizvi (MPP ’24) currently serves as Policy Advisor to Governor Phil Murphy on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), where he helps close opportunity gaps through a whole-of-government approach and people-centered policies.
Born in Trenton and raised in East Windsor, Awn is a proud native New Jerseyan driven by a mission to serve the Garden State. His commitment to public service is rooted in his upbringing as the youngest member of a Pakistani Muslim household and identity as a queer Muslim. Awn joined the Governor’s Office as a Policy Intern in the summer of 2023, subsequently served as the Governor’s Wealth Disparity Task Force Fellow, and returned full-time as a Policy Analyst before being appointed to Policy Advisor. A proud graduate of Rutgers University, Awn earned his Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in 2024, and a B.A. in Political Science from Monmouth University in 2021.