Bloustein School MCRP candidates Bobby Johnson and Julia Kohn have been selected for the Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program. Over 200 master’s candidates apply to the program each year, with only a few selected as finalists for the prestigious program.
The Leadership Fellow Program is a two-year rotational program for leadership and public service in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan region. It offers on-the-job experience in business functions, including planning, finance, security, facility operations, human resources, and other areas. Leadership Fellows are involved in four rotational assignments designed to develop a strong foundation in business acumen, adaptability, and knowledge of Port Authority operations, to build future leaders within the organization. Upon completion, Leadership Fellows are often considered for key positions in the agency.
Bobby is from West Berlin, New Jersey, and is a 2023 graduate of Towson University in Towson, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Planning.
“I have long been interested in understanding how people’s movement shapes our built environments, which has led me to concentrate in Transportation Planning and Policy,” he said. “I was drawn to Bloustein for its strong, accredited planning program and its strategic location in the Northeast.”
Prior to joining Bloustein, Bobby served as an AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Member, working on projects in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico. While attending Bloustein, he has worked for the Voorhees Transportation Center as a Graduate Research Assistant. In this role, he has supported the Safe Routes and Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Centers in several ways, notably contributing to the development of the New Jersey Target Zero Action Plan. Both experiences strengthened his passion for public service and deepened his interest in urban and transportation planning.
In his professional career, Bobby hopes to help create transportation practices that support a more inclusive and efficient future for urban centers. He was drawn to the Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program for its rotational structure and the opportunity to gain experience across a wide range of the Port Authority’s operations. The program will provide Bobby with the opportunity to further explore his interests in transportation planning while gaining the experience and tools needed as he grows into a leader in the field.
Julia is from New York City and completed a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies at Cornell University before pursuing her Master’s in City and Regional Planning at the Bloustein School.
She was attracted to the Bloustein School because of its close-knit student body and alumni network, extensive coursework and research opportunities, and impressive reputation. Within the MCRP program, she is concentrating in Transportation Planning and Policy, with additional interests in GIS, community development, and land use planning.
“I was drawn to the Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program for its rotational structure and emphasis on public service,” she said. “Last summer, I was fortunate to serve as an intern at the Port Authority and was exposed to various lines of work and met many former Fellows who led admirable career journeys.”
As a leadership fellow, Julia hopes to contribute to improved accessibility, government and community relations, efficiency, and customer experience within transportation systems while building strong connections in the field as well as her skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration.
Julia has worked as a Research Assistant at the Bloustein School’s Voorhees Transportation Center for the last three semesters. In addition to her summer internship at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Aviation Department, she is currently a Planning Intern at Phillips Preiss Grygiel Leheny Keller LLC. Julia is also the 2025-26 President of the Bloustein Enthusiasts and Advocates for Transportation (BEAT) student organization.