Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy

NAHSE NJ Conference: Fostering Excellence in Healthcare Leadership
2023-11-18 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Bloustein School, Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
The NAHSE New Jersey Healthcare Leadership Conference in partnership with Rutgers University Bloustein School is an exciting event that brings together healthcare professionals and leaders from across New Jersey. Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and valuable knowledge sharing.
At this in-person conference, you’ll have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about healthcare leadership. Our esteemed speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including innovative strategies, emerging trends, and best practices in the healthcare industry.
Whether you’re a seasoned healthcare executive or just starting your career, this conference offers a unique platform to expand your knowledge, gain fresh perspectives, and foster meaningful connections. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn from industry experts and exchange ideas with fellow professionals.
Take your healthcare leadership skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot and be part of this engaging event!
REGISTER HERE

CAREERS: Excel Pivot Tables
2023-11-17 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
Join Marcie Anszberger of OTEAR for live, virtual 90-minute Excel workshops, geared to Bloustein undergraduate and graduate students.
REGISTER: https://go.rutgers.edu/ExcelPivotTables

Intelligent Informatics at Rutgers: Open Data & Artificial Intelligence
2023-11-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Slides
Poonam Soans – NJOIT Open Data Center
Rakesh Kumar – Benefits and Challenges of Generative AI
Policy Dynamics of Open Data and AI
Summary
by Julia Esguerra
The Open Data + AI forum was held just before Thanksgiving on November 17th, hosted by the Public Informatics at Rutgers University program in collaboration with The New Jersey Big Data Alliance, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub, and Rutgers University OARC. The well-attended virtual panel featured an insightful panel discussion where we heard from four speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds, covering topics ranging from open data initiatives and technological advances to societal reactions and the media’s role in the AI landscape. The forum started with welcoming remarks from Dean Stuart Shapiro, who expressed the boundless opportunities and considerable challenges in the intersection of open data and AI, highlighting the need for diverse disciplines to constantly recalibrate in response to technological impacts, and emphasizing the importance of building bridges between technical and non-technical perspectives to successfully balance the promises and risks of technological advances.
The first speaker was Poonam Soans, the state of New Jersey’s Chief Data Officer, who highlighted New Jersey’s open data portal, emphasizing its standards and best practices for data sharing and transparency. The portal, data.nj.gov, includes diverse datasets such as public employee payroll records, performance budgeting, state expenditures, and more. Poonam discussed the advantages of open data, emphasizing its one-time effort for data input, broad accessibility across departments and to the public, and the potential for citizens to build applications on top of the data. She also stressed the importance of making open data AI-ready by establishing a solid foundation of data governance.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar provided a fascinating presentation, featuring an interesting video on the potential of AI technology in robotics, where he demonstrated how a robot could search for a person in a room hiding behind furniture! He focused on the technological advances introduced by Large Language Models (LLMs), emphasizing their state-of-the-art performance in Natural Language Processing (NLP), diverse task capabilities, and potential for robots to navigate environments using 3D scene graphs. Dr. Kumar acknowledged challenges such as biased results and lack of explainability in AI. He emphasized the dynamic nature of knowledge, suggesting that there is hope and opportunity in what can be learned tomorrow.
Prof. Clinton Andrews then discussed societal reactions to AI advancements, particularly the challenges posed by chatbots like ChatGPT. He questioned whether society would do the right thing, highlighting the need for regulation and ethical considerations in the emerging AI industry. Prof. Andrews delved into the role of individuals, organizations, and government in shaping ethical practices in AI. He emphasized personal ethics, professional norms, and the influence of government policies in creating a responsible AI landscape. The discussion also touched on the role of public data in resolving issues of data ownership.
Bringing an integrated and multifaceted perspective, Rachel Rosenthal provided an enlightening perspective on the media. She explored the media’s place in the AI ecosystem, describing the traditional newsroom structure. She highlighted the challenge shared by the media and policymakers in understanding the scope of AI-related problems in order to propose effective solutions. Rachel discussed the difficulty of projecting ahead in the complex AI landscape. She emphasized the slow and messy process of policymaking, acknowledging the ongoing struggle to strike a balance between preserving innovation and protecting citizens in the context of AI.
The forum concluded with questions from the audience and an open discussion between the panelists moderated by Prof. Jim Samuel. In the panel discussion, speakers identified Large Language Models (LLMs) as a current AI technology with significant potential impact, emphasizing their role in providing easy access to knowledge and the ability to distill information. While cautioning about the need for expert user discernment, they acknowledged the potential for LLMs to complement human capabilities rather than serving as substitutes. Regarding the shaping of society, the panel highlighted both hopes and fears associated with AI and open data, emphasizing the potential for better communication and knowledge distillation and the need for adaptability. On the topic of AI regulation, the speakers expressed the view that regulation is necessary, envisioning a process of building upon existing frameworks and acknowledging the potential for a long and messy but innovative journey. They advocated for developing regulation from the bottom up, emphasizing AI’s life-changing use cases.

This event was hosted by the Master of Public Informatics program at Rutgers University, in collaboration with our partners, NJBDA, Heldrich Center, NEBigData InnovationHub & Rutgers OARC
This discussion was inspired by Bloustein research on the Garden State Open Data Index (GSODI).
Please email informatics@ejb.rutgers.edu for additional information.

Virtual Information Session: Graduate Program in Public Informatics
2023-11-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
You are cordially invited to join us at this virtual informational session for the – Bloustein School’s fall 2023 virtual information sessions for our Master of Public Informatics (MPI) degree and our Graduate Certificate in Urban and Public Informatics. Learn more the curriculum for our master’s degree and graduate certificate, how to apply, career services support for students and scholarship opportunities.
The GRE is WAIVED for all 2024 applications. The application deadline for spring 2024 admission is November 1st. The application deadline for fall 2024 admission with academic scholarship consideration is January 15th. The MPI is a STEM-designated master’s program.
All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.
RSVP required at https://go.rutgers.edu/ejbmpiinfo23

CAREERS: Evaluating Job Offers and Salary Negotiation
2023-11-16 16:30 - 17:45 | Virtual
Join Bloustein Career Development Specialists Cheryl Egan and Andrea Garrido for a workshop to learn tips and strategies about salary negotiation skills (which doesn’t only include negotiating for salary) as well as how to evaluate job offers. Hear from recent graduates who were successful in negotiating their salaries!
Please go to the following link to register:
https://go.rutgers.edu/EvaluatingJobsandNegotiations

Bloustein Research Seminar Series: Conservation practices, organizations, and urban environmental planning
2023-11-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Bloustein School, Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Presented by Andrea Restrepo-Mieth, Assistant Professor, Bloustein School.
This venue will enable our faculty to share research, build community, and extend our networks. Pizza will be served. The goal is for the seminar to include a mix of Bloustein faculty, occasional advanced PhD students, and external speakers who will present research talks. The seminar series is open to the entire Bloustein community.

Albert J. Holland Lecture: How AI Fails Us: Exploring the Ethics of AI and Social Media
2023-11-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Douglass Student Center, 100 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Eagleton is pleased to present the Albert J. Holland Lecture with Professor Saladin Ambar and political theorist Professor Danielle Allen. Join us for a fireside discussion about “How AI Fails Us: Exploring the Ethics of AI and Social Media” on Wednesday, November 15th at 7PM at Trayes Hall on the Douglass campus. Dr. Allen serves as Director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University and is a seasoned leader, public policy and public affairs expert, and distinguished academic and author. President Holloway will offer opening remarks.
Registration is required and may be completed online here.
The Arthur J. Holland Program on Ethics in Government honors the distinguished Rutgers alumnus and long-time mayor of Trenton. The program seeks to promote transparency and honesty in public affairs and to improve public policy and government practices by replacing cynicism and apathy with awareness. It provides opportunities for students, public officials and the general public to focus on practices that can be adopted by government entities and individual practitioners to serve constituents as responsively and ethically as possible. The annual program components include a public lecture and discussion, a workshop at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference, and occasional other initiatives.
Co-sponsors include:
Graduate History Association
Graduate Student Association
American Studies
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
School of Communication and Information (SC&I)

CAREERS: Evaluating Job Offers and Salary Negotiation
2023-11-15 16:30 - 17:45 | Virtual
Join Bloustein Career Development Specialists Cheryl Egan and Andrea Garrido for a workshop to learn tips and strategies about salary negotiation skills (which doesn’t only include negotiating for salary) as well as how to evaluate job offers. Hear from recent graduates who were successful in negotiating their salaries!
REGISTER BELOW.

Mapathon for Humanitarian Relief
2023-11-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Alexander Library, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
Celebrate GIS Day and Geography Awareness week! Together with fellow Rutgers students, staff and faculty, you will contribute geospatial data to OpenStreetMap, a free and editable map of the world that is used by communities, organizations and governments worldwide to address local development challenges and aid disaster response. Our project will be decided closer to the date. In past years, Rutgers students, staff, and faculty worked together on a mapping project to help NGO efforts with relief operations in Puerto Rico, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. No mapping experience or knowledge is necessary. Training will be provided. Join at any time during the scheduled event!
We will use the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap platform to contribute data. The selected project will be appropriate for beginners. If you’re looking for a head start, sign up for a HOTOSM account and check out these online tutorials about HOTOSM and their iD editor:

HOTOSM account and click ‘Sign Up’
“The iD Editor”
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Two Minute Tutorials

Sponsored by the New Brunswick Libraries and the Department of Geography.
Register at https://libcal.rutgers.edu/calendar/nblworkshops/mapathon

Rutgers Climate Symposium 2023
2023-11-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Douglass Student Center, 100 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Fostering collaboration among researchers and students from institutions in the greater NJ, NY, and Philadelphia region who are interested in climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, or other approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across disciplines representing climate science, human dimensions, technology, the arts, communications, and humanities.
This event is intended for students, faculty, and staff of academic and research institutions. A limited number of registrations will be available for unaffiliated members of the public upon request.
Featuring:
Orville Grey, International Institute for Sustainable Development
John P. Krasting, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Lisa Beth Robinson, East Carolina University
Benjamin Sovacool, Boston University
Kristen Thielking, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Register at https://ruclimatesymposium.rutgers.edu/

Virtual Information Session: Master of City and Regional Planning
2023-11-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
You are cordially invited to join us at this virtual informational session for the Rutgers – Bloustein School’s Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) program during the FALL 2023 semester. We are excited to share helpful information about the Bloustein School, the MCRP program, and answer any questions you may have regarding admissions, applications, career opportunities in the field and the curriculum. Program faculty and staff will be on hand to answer all your questions. Each session will last approximately 1 hour.

The GRE has been WAIVED for all 2024 applications. Work experience is not required of applicants. The application deadline for spring 2024 admission is November 1st. The application deadline for fall 2024 admission WITH consideration for academic scholarship and fellowship funding is January 15th.
All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.

RSVP required at https://go.rutgers.edu/ejbmcrpinfo23

CAREERS: Technology Policy Careers Panel (External Virtual Event)
2023-11-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Join the NASPAA Employer Relations Committee for a lively virtual panel on Zoom on careers in technology policy. This panel will be moderated by the Duke Sanford Technology Policy Graduate Student Club and is hosted by Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy’s Career Services Office. What do technology policy experts do all day? What skills do they use the most in their work? What career tips do they have for you? Panelists: Caitlin Chin, Fellow, Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS, Leisel Bogan, Director, Senate Modernization Project at TechCongress, Jenni Katzman, Director of Government Affairs at Microsoft, Justin Bryant, Lead, Global Sandboxes Forum at Datasphere Initiative, and Kyle Johnson, Director of Trade Policy at Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).
To receive the Zoom link, PRE-REGISTER HERE

Fighting for Ocean Justice
2023-11-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Rutgers Academic Building, 15 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Dr. Roxane Gay, the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies at Rutgers, will be joined by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for a conversation on the role of the ocean in climate solutions and how we can advance “ocean justice.”
Dr. Johnson’s books will be available for purchase at the event.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fighting-for-ocean-justice-tickets-705600509117
Speaker Bios
Dr. Roxane Gay, the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies, is an author, professor, editor, social commentator, and contributing writer for the New York Times. She is the author of best sellers Hunger, Bad Feminist, and Difficult Women, and has a newsletter, The Audacity, and a podcast, The Roxane Gay Agenda.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and writer. She is co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-editor of the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, and author of the forthcoming book What If We Get it Right?
Additional Information
Parking: Visitors may park in Lots 16, 26, 30, & College Avenue Deck. Guests must use this link to register for parking in advance of the event to avoid any citation. Special event parking and special event permits are only for visitors to the University which does not include free metered parking. Faculty, Staff, and Students must park in authorized parking locations according to their parking permit and should not register under the special event parking link.
Photo & Video Release: By registering for this event, you are also agreeing to give Rutgers University permission to record you and your registered guests’ (including minors under the age of 18) image and/or voice and grant Rutgers all rights to use these sound, still, or moving images in any medium for educational, promotional, advertising, or other purposes that support the mission of the university. You agree that all rights to the sound, still, or moving images belong to Rutgers.
About the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair
The Gloria Steinem Chair honors and draws to campus eminent scholars and practitioners to immerse the university community in debate and scholarship about new media, social change, and power structures.The Chair is an innovative collaboration among the Rutgers Institute for Women’s Leadership, School of Communication and Information and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the School of Arts and Sciences.

CAREERS: Virtual Career Drop-In
2023-11-13 11:00 - 13:00, 2023-11-06 11:00 - 13:00, 2023-10-30 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Meet with Andrea Garrido or Cheryl Egan for up to 15 minutes to answer any career/internship related question you may have. | To “drop-in”, click on:

All NYC Planning Schools Virtual Open House
2023-11-09 16:00 - 17:30 | External, NJ, United States
Join us for the FIRST-EVER virtual open house of all 8 planning schools in the NYC region! Come hear from alumni about why they got a graduate degree in planning and how it’s changed their careers. We’ll also explore what makes each program unique with chairs and directors of the programs.
The event will feature an alumni panel Q&A which includes alumni Jorge Santos. Mi Shih is a panelist/moderator as well.

Public Policy Listening Session
2023-11-08 16:10 - 17:50 | Virtual
This Listening Session will be held during the AFE Course
Hosted by

Professor Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Public Policy Program Director
Sahar Sherwani, VP of Public Policy Program for BGSA
Courtney Culler
Greg Marrero

Virtual Information Session: Graduate Program in Public Policy
2023-11-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
You are cordially invited to join us at this virtual informational session for Rutgers Bloustein School’s Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Public Affairs and Politics (MPAP), and Graduate Certificate in Public Policy. Learn more about the curriculum for our master’s degrees in public policy, as well as our graduate certificate, how to apply, career services support for students, and scholarship opportunities.
The GRE is WAIVED for all 2024 applications. The application deadline for spring 2024 admission is November 1st. The application deadline for fall 2024 admission with academic scholarship consideration is January 15th.
All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.
RSVP required at https://go.rutgers.edu/ejbppinfo23

CAREERS: MHA Career Planning Boot Camp
2023-11-07 16:30 - 18:00 | Virtual
This boot camp is designed for first-semester MHA students to begin planning their careers. Topics range from career planning to setting goals to an overview of resumes/cover letters / LinkedIn profiles to interviewing and more. Although this is designed for first-semester students, all MHA students are welcome to attend.
RSVP is required at the link below.

CAREERS: What’s Your Call to Serve: Launching a Career in Federal Government
2023-11-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
The Partnership for Public Service invites you to “What’s Your Call to Serve: Launching a Career in Federal Government,” a series of virtual sessions open to all students who are curious about public service opportunities and how to make a difference in their community through federal employment. This program will guide students through considering, applying and securing federal employment and will provide tools for researching opportunities and provide practical tips for applying for job opportunities.
Login details will be sent to those who register. REGISTER HERE

What's Next? Bloustein Undergraduates: Public Health Meet Wellness
2023-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual
Join us on Zoom for a career-oriented discussion with alumni working in areas where public health intersects with wellness.
Panelist career pathways include:
Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, Sexual/Reproductive Health, Mental Health, Addictions Counseling, and more!
Personal aspects of wellness will also be discussed!
Please register by Sunday, November 5th at https://forms.office.com/r/yLwqSYjvPY

Bloustein School Dean's Listening Session for Graduate Students
2023-11-06 16:30 - 17:30 | Bloustein School, Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
All master’s candidate students are invited to attend this discussion with Dean Stuart Shapiro.
RSVP HERE

Sponsored by: The Office of Student and Academic Servicesand BGSA

Dissertation Defense: Essays on Place-Based Policies
2023-11-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
presented by Adam Scavette

CAREERS: Field Trip to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
2023-11-03 11:00 - 13:00 | External, NJ, United States
SPECIAL EVENT: Career Panel and Networking Event
Must register by November 1st at the link below.
We’re excited to invite you to a Fall field trip to PANYNJ’s World Trade Center 4 location in lower Manhattan. PANYNJ is a long-time Bloustein employer partner where many of our students have gone on to have long and successful careers in a variety of focus areas.
Join recent MCRP 2023 graduate, Kelvin Russell, Leadership Fellow working in the PATH Director’s office who serves as a moderator of this panel comprised of some of Bloustein’s past Leadership Fellows who now have a variety of careers across PANYNJ: Carrem Gay, MCRP 2017, Manager, Policy & Business Performance, Aviation; Andrew Herrera, MCRP 2022, Leadership Fellow; Kevin O’Driscoll, MCRP 2006, Deputy General Manager of LaGuardia Airport; Chase Palmer, MCRP 2020, Strategic Procurement Advisor – Capital Projects; and Ai Yamanaka, MCRP, Senior Program Manager, Data, Technology & Innovation.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SINCE SPACE IS LIMITED.

CAREERS: Healthcare Outside the Hospital CEO Spotlight: Caitlin Zulla
2023-11-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Please join us virtually for an engaging conversation with Caitlin Zulla, CEO of Optum Health East, as she discusses her career journey, Optum Health, and invaluable advice for becoming a leader and pursuing a career “outside the hospital” setting. Moderated by Professor Jane Kaye.
REGISTER HERE

Anita Ashok Datar Lecture on Women's Global Health: Women's Rights as Human Rights: The Seeds of Transformation
2023-11-02 16:30 - 17:30 | Douglass Student Center, 100 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Join the Institute for Women’s Leadership, Rutgers Global, and the Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA) on November 2 for the Anita Ashok Datar Lecture on Women’s Global Health featuring Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, a Sri Lankan lawyer, diplomat, and human rights advocate, who served as the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and The Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict. Following her lecture, Dr. Coomaraswamy, Professor Charlotte Bunch, and Professor Radhika Balakrishnan will engage in a roundtable conversation to consider progress towards women’s full inclusion in the human rights agenda and the challenges that remain.
This event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider community.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anita-ashok-datar-lecture-on-womens-global-health-tickets-710266675747?aff=oddtdtcreator

Bloustein Research Seminar Series: Racial discrimination and mental health in the context of anti-Asian xenophobia
2023-11-02 16:00 - 17:30 | Bloustein School, Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Presented by Yen-Tyng Chen, Assistant Professor, Bloustein School.
This venue will enable our faculty to share research, build community, and extend our networks. Pizza will be served. The goal is for the seminar to include a mix of Bloustein faculty, occasional advanced PhD students, and external speakers who will present research talks. The seminar series is open to the entire Bloustein community.

2023 NJ Complete Streets Summit
2023-11-01 08:30 - 15:40 | College Avenue Student Center, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
The 2023 New Jersey Complete Streets Summit, sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The full-day event will be held in-person at the College Avenue Campus Student Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and is free to attend. Registration is open and will be required due to capacity constraints.
Complete Streets are streets designed for all road users based on the specific context and needs of your community. This biennial Summit brings together planners, engineers, public officials, health professionals, advocates, and others involved with shaping communities throughout New Jersey. Summit session topics will include institutionalizing Complete and Green Streets policies, lessons learned from implementation, and what is in store for the Complete Streets movement.
As part of the Summit, we will be presenting Complete Streets Champion and Complete Streets Excellence Awards to recognize individuals, groups, or communities who have worked to further Complete Streets policies or implementation in New Jersey.
If you are planning to drive to the Summit, you must register for a parking permit ahead of time.

CAREERS: Planning, Policy, Informatics Career Fair
2023-10-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Engage with alumni and employer partners who are seeking interns, fellows or full time employees now or in the future. This is a terrific networking opportunity. Past participating employers included: Choose New Jersey, Middlesex County Office of Planning, Mathematica, NJCC, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, NYC Housing Development Corporation, Clarke Caton Hintz, Passaic County Planning & Economic Development, AECOM, Applied Energy Group, NJOLS, Topology, Phillips Preiss, ANHD, and more!

REGISTER
