BRIDGING A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SHORTAGE IN NEW JERSEY
THE FEMALE FUTURE OF POLITICS
TROPICAL GLACIERS IN PERIL
RUTGERS–CAMDEN RESEARCH SHOWS IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE ON HEALTH
GETTING SAVVY ABOUT CYBERSECURITY
FOR THE LOVE OF LANGUAGE A HAZY FUTURE
MEET OUR NEW FACULTY
LEADING THE WAY A PROVOST'S PASSION
RUTGERS LAW WELCOMES NEW DEAN
RESEARCH VICE CHANCELLOR IS CREATING AN IMPACT
ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS, ALL THE TIME
HOME FROM THE START
STUDENT
SHINING BRIGHT
HEADING INTO SPACE
BRINGING THE COMPETITION HOME
LEADING FROM A PLACE OF PURPOSE
ALUMNI SUCCESS
RETHINKING THE IVORY TOWER
BRAINS, HEART, AND COURAGE
ALUMNUS
ATHLETICS
HOLDING
Editors
Tina
Copy
Writers
Caroline
Shanida
Christina
Patrice
Alina
Lee
Dustin
Eileen
Creative
Creative
Karaamat
Creative
Magazine
A Message from the Chancellor
Thank you for reading the newest edition of Rutgers–Camden Magazine! Our university has had so much to celebrate in 2023. The articles you are about to explore represent just a few highlights of what our community has achieved this year in research, scholarship, and serving others. I hope this magazine is an introduction to faculty, staff, students, and alumni you may not have crossed paths with before. If you see them around campus, say hello, let them know you were moved by their story, and congratulate them on all they do to elevate Rutgers–Camden.
I wish to thank the individuals featured in the magazine for sharing not just their time and their stories, but also their passions and talents. Those passions and talents—which each member of our community possesses in a variety of forms—are the lifeblood of our university. I hope this magazine leaves you amazed, inspired, and ready to add to the story of your own Rutgers–Camden journey.
Sincerely
, Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D. Chancellor
Rutgers–Camden Ranked
by U.S. News & World Report as a Top University
U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Colleges rankings were released today, and Rutgers University in Camden saw some of its biggest gains and highest-ever rankings on the publication’s most prestigious lists. Rutgers–Camden came in at #49 in Top Public Universities, up from #61 in the 2022-2023 rankings.
The university made an even bigger year-to-year jump on the Best National Universities list, climbing 29 spots to reach the top 100 at an overall ranking of #98.
“Our rise in the rankings reflects hard work across the university,” Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis said. "These gains resulted from the excellence of our brilliant faculty and the aspirations of our gifted students. I am proud we have worked together to receive this recognition.”
According to Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Sandra Richtermeyer, "The latest rankings prove our faculty, staff, and students are flourishing. Their exceptional research and scholarship have propelled us forward and brought national attention to the quality of our academic programs."
The university—named in 2016 as New Jersey's first Purple Heart University—came in at #65 on the Best Colleges for Veterans list, up almost 20 places from last. In addition, two Rutgers–Camden schools earned high marks, with the School of Nursing ranked at #86 for its undergraduate programs. The school's jump from #93 comes amid the celebration of its 50th anniversary during the 2023-24 academic year. The School of Business attained the rank of #135 for undergraduate offerings and continues to offer its students a roadmap for lifelong success.
“The 2023-2024 rankings were our most successful yet,” Chancellor Tillis said. “It is because of our talented, innovative, and dedicated university community that we are able to continue moving upward.”
#49 Top Public Schools Up From #61
#98 National Universities Up From #127
#35 Top Performers on Social Mobility
#65 Best Colleges for Veterans Up From #83
#86 Undergraduate Nursing Program Up From #93
#135 Undergraduate Business Program
YEARS OF CARE IN CAMDEN
19 73–2023
School of Nursing reflects on rich history of public health, welcomes opportunity-filled future.
BY ALINA O'DONNELL
In the past five decades, the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden has grown from a small undergraduate nursing program that occupied a few shared offices to a robust, nationally ranked school with graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs, more than 125 clinical partners, and nearly 10,000 square feet of cutting-edge clinical learning spaces. So much has changed, and yet so much has remained the same.
“If we’ve learned anything from the last 50 years,” said Donna Nickitas, dean of the School of Nursing, “it’s that the School of Nursing–Camden—like the city it serves—is scrappy and resilient.”
The first chair of the nursing department, Alice C. Boehret—a retired First Lieutenant who served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II—accepted the role with a strong vision of a program that would “meet the needs of the community.” What remains resolute through all its iterations is a steadfast commitment to the public good.
“Although the wording of the mission of the School of Nursing has evolved over the years, the commitment to that initial vision remains unchanged and has been continued by a dedicated faculty and staff and a series of excellent leaders over the 50 years of nursing at Rutgers–Camden,” said Marie O’Toole, senior associate dean of the School of Nursing–Camden, who first joined the faculty in 1978.
In honor of the school’s semicentennial celebration, alumni joined current and former faculty in speaking about the challenges, innovations, and triumphs that have shaped the school into the powerhouse it is today.
O'TOOLE
The Rutgers University in Camden quad in 1974
NICKITAS
The Early Days
WHEN Rutgers University in Camden opened the doors of its nursing program in 1973, smoking was still permitted in hospitals, nurses wore caps and pinafore aprons, and patient records were kept by hand.
Even in its earliest days, Rutgers–Camden was different, said Donna Krakow SNC’76. For one, students did not rely on hospitals for their clinical rotations—a radical departure from the apprenticeship model of training that was standard throughout the United States.
At the time, the university was home to New Jersey’s only four-year, bachelor of science in nursing degree available south of Trenton. The original course catalogue advertised classes like “Sociology of the Family,” “Poverty and Urban Environmental Systems,” and “Migrant Health Care,” each designed to give students a broader understanding of how social conditions influence health. Clinical training was held off site, mostly in non-traditional community health settings.
“Camden went more toward a public health program as opposed to the traditional hospital-based nursing,” Krakow said. “Though it wasn’t popular at the time, I wanted to do more community-based nursing. We worked with Planned Parenthood, with health clinics throughout Camden, and even made house calls to patients.”
In a nod to the burgeoning women’s liberation movement, students were asked to trade in their uniforms for “street clothes” and lab coats.
“They said that you don’t need to see a white uniform to recognize someone’s profession. That was very novel at the time, and I was thrilled about it,” Krakow laughed.
Still, it was a challenging time to work in Camden. With the city still recovering from rapid deindustrialization and economic stagnation, poverty was at an all-time high. Malnutrition was a major problem, along with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart issues, and other chronic conditions common among low-income populations.
“I found that to be very, very rewarding,” Krakow said. “It’s so much easier to provide effective care when you see a patient in their living environment instead of just a hospital.”
As nursing students training in hospitals checked vital signs and changed dressings, Krakow responded to house calls throughout the city, where she performed blood pressure checks and administered diabetes medications.
Krakow credits her time at Rutgers–Camden with providing the foundational support she needed to pursue a career of impact. Through this model of learning, she developed the confidence and courage to care for all types of people in myriad settings. Her career has spanned all areas of health care, from bedside nursing to women’s health administration.
“When I took my first job in obstetrics, we started doing home visits—moms typically only stayed in the hospital for 24 hours, and then received a visit from a nurse,” Krakow said. “Of all my coworkers, I was the first one selected to do this, because I already had experience with home visits.”
Nursing faculty members in 1978: Dr. Alice Boehret, Dept. Chair and professor; Dr. Mary L. Hopkins, associate professor: and Mrs. Mary Kondracki, assistant professor.
A Courier-Post article on Rutgers Nursing classes from December 1973.
Donna Krakow SNC'76 re-visits her on-campus housing residence.
A Changing World
THE 1990s and early 2000s were a period of incorporating new technologies, building relationships, and growing the school’s research portfolio. As the industry upgraded from caps and clipboards to scrubs and simulations, the nursing program continued to prove its agility under the leadership of Joanne Robinson.
During the 2008 recession, the nursing workforce flourished as caregivers came out of retirement or took on extra shifts to bolster their incomes. But as the job market rallied and other professionals returned to work, many of those same nurses cut back their hours, leaving institutions struggling to find nursing staff once again. Hospitals were also increasingly feeling the weight of an aging population and dealing with a rise in chronic disease.
With a $47 million state grant, Rutgers–Camden was charged with addressing this critical shortage. In 2011, the nursing program was elevated to the School of Nursing, with Robinson as its inaugural dean.
Blazing New Trails in Nursing Education
ROBINSON thought strategically about how to best utilize the school’s newfound resources to prepare for the growing demands of a vulnerable population.
"We really struggled with [the question of whether we should] get primarycare-provider nurses, these advanced practice nurses, out on the street quick, quick, quick with a master's degree, which would be about half the time," Robinson said in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer "But we thought the degree of the future, the degree of the 21st century, is the DNP.”
Robinson focused on what the future of nursing education would look like. With a strong foundation in public health issues, policies, and legislation, she knew DNPs would be best suited to meet increasingly complex patient needs.
In 2014, the School of Nursing–Camden launched two new programs: the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Education Program. Simultaneously, Robinson was managing the integration of the Stratford campus of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey into the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden. The nursing programs and personnel of the Stratford campus were transferred to the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden in July of that year.
“Uniting the nursing programs and faculty of the two programs ensured continuity for students, an education that was available locally, and robust collaborations right here in in South Jersey.”
The establishment of these two new programs, coupled with the UMDNJ merger, more than doubled the school’s enrollment and ushered in a new era of visibility, setting the stage for continued growth and success in the region. In the years that followed, the school deepened new roots in the community with the establishment of health clinics at two separate subsidized housing complexes, a school-based health center at LEAP Charter School, and a string of new partnerships with New Jersey Farmers Against Hunger, the Center for Family Services, the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Project H.O.P.E., and more.
• Funded by a $250,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the school launches the Rutgers–Camden/ Cooper Collaborative for Upward Mobility in Nursing, an initiative to encourage health care paraprofessionals from underrepresented populations to
• The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is launched. • The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education program is launched.
ROBINSON
The nursing programs and personnel of the Stratford campus of UMDNJ were transferred to the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden in July of 2014.
Rutgers University in Camden becomes the first in-state institution south of Trenton to offer a four-year, bachelor of science in nursing degree.
The nursing program expands and adopts the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden name.
The New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act is approved, integrating Rutgers University with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
A Harbinger of Good Health
BY 2017, the School of Nursing had outgrown its humble beginnings in Armitage Hall and made the landmark move to Fifth and Federal streets, breathing new life into a previously overlooked corner of Camden. Today’s nursing students swap notes and hold study sessions in an ultra-modern triangular building with floor-to-ceiling windows sporting views of the Philadelphia skyline. The glittering 107,000-square-foot-building sits proudly next to City Hall—a symbol of innovation and a hope in a community on the rise.
As new technology and changing population demographics demanded better infrastructure, the Nursing and Science Building provided ample expansion for the school’s teaching and learning spaces. The building is home to $62.5 million worth of facilities, including cuttingedge simulation spaces and a case-study room designed for an interactive approach to instruction.
While the façade may have changed, the state-of-the-art facility and those training and studying within it remain committed to the school’s enduring mission. As the city of Camden continues to battle concerning levels of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, paralleling its high rates of poverty, the school counters with an emphasis on communitybased health care. Students train and prepare to serve all populations with compassion and cultural competency.
“Our students don’t just make formulaic decisions,” O’Toole said. “Through our simulation exercises, we teach them to practice awareness of patients’ identities, religious affiliations, and more. How do their religious beliefs influence whether they will be compliant with medications? Do they have access to a scale at home? These are all examples of questions that might come up as we assess their clinical skills.”
The Next 50 Years
JUST TWO YEARS after Donna Nickitas took the helm as the school’s second dean, the School of Nursing faced its greatest challenge to date—a global pandemic. Nickitas piloted the school's crucial efforts as it provided medical care and screenings for homeless guests at a local church, administered more than 100,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to at-risk populations throughout South Jersey, and pitched in to assist overburdened school nurses with COVID contact tracing—all while transitioning to an online learning format virtually overnight. The School of Nursing–Camden emerged from this battle stronger and with a new designation as a National League for Nursing Center for Nursing Excellence—a title awarded to just 23 nursing programs in the country.
Today’s nursing students share the same ambitions as their counterparts 50 years ago—a call to champion better health and well-being for the communities they serve. The program’s more than 4,000 graduates have gone on to work in nontraditional health care settings, from hospitals to community-based clinics, nonprofit organizations, and long-term care facilities.
• A school-based health and wellness center at the Leap Academy University Charter School is launched.
• Clinics at two local, underserved housing complexes are established—Branches of Centerville and Ablett Village.
The School of Nursing –Camden moves into the 107,000-square-foot Rutgers University Nursing and Science Building.
“When you start by asking what challenges your community is facing, you are well on your way to true innovation. We can’t always predict what trials await us, but what we can do is listen.”
DONNA NICKITAS , Dean, School of Nursing
More than 100,000 vaccinations were administered throughout South Jersey in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The School of Nursing–Camden is named a National League for Nursing Center for Excellence.
• Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen awards a proclamation to the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden in honor of National Nurse Practitioner Week.
• A full-scale, door-to-door vaccination campaign throughout the city of Camden is launched.
• Received a four-year, $1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to launch the first-in-the-nation Clinical Instructor and Preceptor Preparation (CLIPP) Academy.
When asked how she’s preparing for the next 50 years, Dean Nickitas paused. While she has some goals and ideas of her own, she is convinced innovation must originate with the lived experience of those in need. Just as the first cohort of graduates did, the School of Nursing–Camden will continue to live and grow alongside, engage with, and learn from the expertise of its community. 2015 2017 2021
• A new partnership with AtlantiCare addresses the region’s critical nurse shortage by creating an equitable opportunity pipeline to high-demand nursing jobs.
Two grants totaling nearly $3 million have been awarded to Assistant Professor Maria E. Solesio in the Department of Biology at Rutgers University in Camden. Her research aims to clarify the regulation of mitochondrial physiology, including bioenergetics.
The grants—$949,958 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more than $1.9 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—will support Solesio in her research to understand how mitochondria—the parts of the cell where most of an organism’s energy is produced—become dysregulated when stress is present. When mitochondria malfunction, cell physiology is disrupted, and this can cause cells to die. The energy from mitochondria is critical to functions ranging from the movement of bacteria to the heartbeats of mammals.
“This chain of deleterious effects is well known,” Solesio said. “But the exact mechanisms that drive mitochondria to dysregulate and eventually fail under stress conditions, such those found in human diseases, are not yet fully understood in mammals.”
An Award-Winning Commitment to Research–and Education
Biology professor’s research focuses on the study of mitochondrial dysfunction in common diseases, but she is also creating opportunities for diverse students to learn
BY EILEEN REINHARD
Solesio added that mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) could play an important role in these mechanisms. “The bonds of polyP are similar to those of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the source of energy for use and storage at the cellular level), and because multiple studies show that mitochondria contain large amounts of polyP, it is possible that this compound could be somehow involved in the regulation of cellular bioenergetics, as an alternative or complimentary molecule to ATP.”
Solesio and her team will carry out lab experiments to better understand mammalian bioenergetics. She believes these findings will further the understanding of many plant and animal conditions where mitochondrial health and the generation of energy are impaired. Her long-term goal is to unravel the mechanisms driving mitochondrial dysfunction and failure in human disease. Her hope is to propose the metabolism of polyP as a new and promising pharmacological tool for neurodegenerative conditions where this specific energy dysregulation is a factor.
As a scientist, Solesio, of course, understands the immense potential for biomedical outcomes resulting from of her work but that is not her only focus. The motivation for doing her research is also heart-felt.
“I would like to improve people’s lives,” she said. “Research, at its most basic, is a search to solve a problem. And if that solution helps people to live better, live longer, that is the real worth of the outcome.”
An even more immediate ambition for Solesio is that her mission is also educational. While Solesio is committed to having her grant awards increase the knowledge of mitochondrial biology, she is also deeply committed to broadening the diversity of the research workforce.
Solesio’s lab includes Rutgers–Camden undergraduate students from under-resourced communities as lab assistants, as well as providing these students with the opportunity to co-author scientific reviews before graduation. Her lab also involves graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral students, many of them also belonging to underrepresented communities in biomedical research.
“We are truly a team,” Solesio said. “We are a workforce that reflects many diverse demographics, and the results of our work apply to a diverse world. By including diversity in the lab, we are increasing the impact of the work we do.
“I would like to improve people’s lives. Research, at its most basic, is a search to solve a problem. And if that solution helps people to live better, live longer, that is the real worth of the outcome."
MARIA E. SOLESIO, associate professor
“I am very proud of my lab members.”
Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas S. Risch noted that Solesio’s research is potentially game-changing for the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. “And importantly, by being awarded grants such as these, Dr. Solesio can engage graduate and undergraduate students directly in cutting-edge research,” Risch said. “This allows students to work side by side with leaders in their field to create new knowledge that benefits us all.”
Bridging a Primary Health Care Shortage in New Jersey
An HRSA grant worth more than $2.5 million is bringing change for the better to the challenging healthcare landscape of Cumberland County
BY EILEEN REINHARD
Two facts: the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the overall employment of nurse practitioners (NPs) is projected to grow from 2023 to 2031 at a much faster rate than the average for all occupations. The second fact is that Cumberland County in New Jersey ranks 21st out of the state’s 21 counties for healthcare outcomes.
Cumberland is the state’s poorest county and has long been considered the state’s least healthy county. But thanks to a more than $2.5 million grant awarded to the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden (RSNC) by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), there will be increased training available for NPs—and these NPs will be applying their skills and experience in support of the people of Cumberland County.
Nurse practitioners have emerged as an important part of the solution to the primary care workforce shortage—a deficit fueled by a rapidly aging population and a limited supply of new primary care providers. This is according to Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Advanced Nursing Practice and Clinical Assistant Professor Joseph Cipriano, who served as the grant’s principal investigator.
“Nursing is consistently ranked as the most trusted profession,” Cipriano said. “This program is an opportunity for nurse practitioners to build upon their nursing education. Like myself, many nurse practitioners obtain their doctoral degree to care for patients at the highest degree of education and preparation.”
For Angela M. Kelly, clinical associate professor at RSNC, who served as the grant’s co-principal investigator, the HRSA funding is personal.
“I grew up in Cumberland County and practiced there for over 20 years,” Kelly said. “I know the county’s profound need for improved access to primary care. In underserved rural communities with great need, and where there is an acute shortage of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners can improve access to care, reduce wait times, and provide more personalized care to patients.
“To truly serve this community makes me very proud.”
"This program is an opportunity for nurse practitioners to build upon their nursing education.”
JOSEPH CIPRIANO, associate dean of graduate programs and advanced nursing practice and clinical assistant professor
It is acknowledged that nurse practitioner residents trained in underserved communities have an increased likelihood of continuing to practice in these communities. This supports the RSNC goal of sustaining a dedicated pipeline of providers in order to expand access to primary care in southern New Jersey.
The HRSA grant will be administered over four years by RSNC and will support training for NP residents who will complete their clinical hours at primary care sites managed by CompleteCare Health Network (CCHN). CCHN is the second largest of New Jersey’s federally qualified health centers, with seven primary care health facilities in the southern part of the state. Most of CCHN’s patients (68 percent) live in Cumberland County.
The NP traineeship program takes about a year to complete. The program is committed to expanding access to maternal health providers within underserved communities. All NP residents will complete in-person clinical rotations in both behavioral and maternal health with clinical faculty preceptors in those specialized areas. The program will also help to promote wellness and resiliency for NPs in the workforce, as it is crucial for maintaining highquality patient care and preventing burnout.
“Nurse practitioners often work long hours and have heavy workloads, with many complex patients to manage,” Cipriano said. “All our nurse practitioner residents will attend a monthly mindfulness and resiliency retreats incorporated into their program schedule. Residents will also undergo career development mentoring and coaching throughout their time in the program.”
As the number of NPs entering practice increases and legislation changes, NPs will function more and more autonomously, and their responsibilities will grow in complexity and importance. The opportunities provided by the HRSA funding are set to expand and accelerate RSNC’s ability to meet the primary health care needs of complex and underserved communities.
*This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,533,682 with 30% of the participant stipend financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
Angela M. Kelly, clinical associate professor at RSNC, served as the grant’s co-principal investigator
The Female Future of Politics
Electoral expert analyzes opportunities and challenges for women in government
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
On the surface, the data on women serving in American politics looks better than ever. Women’s political representation has surged within all levels of government. Women make up 28 percent of the 118th United States Congress, the highest percentage in history. The 2022 elections led to a history-making 12 women now serving as governors.
A full third of the 100 largest U.S. cities in the United States (33) had female mayors in 2023, an increase from 27 in 2019. But behind these numbers is a sobering reality.
“Women continue to be underrepresented at every level of office, despite recent gains.”
KELLY
director of research
the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP)
Dittmar will also tell you there is far more to representation in politics than gender — she has written about it in two books, emphasized it when teaching her students on the Rutgers–Camden campus, and informed the public about it as a recognizable face in the media, where she lends her expert commentary to discussions of women in politics in such outlets as the BBC, CNN, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.
Much of Dittmar’s scholarship identifies the challenges to achieving gender parity in political institutions. “Representation is not simply about numbers,” Dittmar said. “The reason ‘representation matters’ is that those numbers represent distinct perspectives that women contribute to policymaking and democratic deliberation.”
As an undergraduate at Aquinas College with a triple major in political science, sociology, and Spanish, Dittmar discovered that the intersection between women and politics piqued her interest. Later, it would serve as the foundation of her academic work and her professional career. Dittmar credits her professors for sparking a passion for politics and giving her the space to discover the political field of study that most interested her. After a few semesters conducting course-based research, she narrowed her path to the role of women in governing bodies domestically and abroad.
DITTMAR, associate professor of political science for Rutgers University in Camden and
at
Two opportunities to work in government brought her even closer to her field of research. As an undergraduate, she was an intern for former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, now the U.S. Secretary of Energy, in the Office of the First Gentleman, Dan Mulhern. “Dan is someone who was, and is, very aware of the gender dynamics of being a male spouse to a woman executive,” Dittmar said. “So, working for him and having the opportunity to meet Governor Granholm offered me important insights into gender and politics that I later tapped into in my own research on gender and the presidency, masculinity and politics, and experiences of women executives.”
While finishing her Ph.D. at Rutgers, she joined the office of the U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow; the highly selective fellowship program offers firsthand opportunities to understand the legislative process through full-time staff appointments. “Working in a congressional office motivated me to pursue a new line of research on gender, race, and congressional staff,” Dittmar said. “I knew that political science needed to better account for these factors, especially in understanding concepts of diversity and representation in government institutions.”
When applying for doctoral programs, Dittmar had been drawn to Rutgers and its Center for American Women and Politics, which, for more than 50 years, has been a national resource for nonpartisan scholarly research on women’s participation in the U.S. political system. “I even included my desire to eventually work full-time at CAWP in my statement of purpose,” Dittmar recalled. “As far back as when I was an undergraduate student, I understood that CAWP was the central hub for all things women and U.S. politics, and I was eager to be a part of it.”
Dittmar joined CAWP soon after her acceptance into the Rutgers Ph.D. program as a part-time graduate research assistant. After completing her degree and congressional fellowship, she returned to CAWP in a full-time capacity as a research faculty member. She then joined the political science faculty at Rutgers–Camden, where she splits her time as an associate professor within the College of Arts and Sciences and her role as CAWP’s director of research.
Dittmar’s work as a researcher and author has paralleled history-making moments in politics. Her second book, A Seat at the Table: Congresswomen’s Perspectives on Why Their Representation Matters, was published by Oxford University Press in 2018, dubbed the “Year of the Woman,” when a record number of women ran for and won congressional seats in midterm elections. The book is co-authored by Kira Sanbonmatsu, professor of political science, and Susan J. Carroll, professor emerita of political science, who are also on the Rutgers faculty.
Dittmar and her co-authors received substantial access to legislators, interviewing three-quarters of the women serving in the 114th Congress. A Seat at the Table, which followed Dittmar’s first book, Navigating Gendered Terrain: Stereotypes and Strategy in Political Campaigns (Temple University Press), argued that “party and race/ethnicity are the two most complicating factors to a singular narrative of women’s congressional representation.” She reflected on her findings with present-day perspective.
“On the plus side, we are seeing more women—and more diverse women along racial/ethnic, age, and ideological lines—in office since we published our book. However, in more recent work and engagement with elected women, we have found that the divisiveness has grown in ways that has made working across party lines—and along gendered lines—even more difficult.”
Dittmar has written about the possible implications of the Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade but said it’s too soon to tell if it will drive more female candidates to run for office. Dittmar forecasts 2024 as the election cycle to watch to determine if women from both political parties will run, and “how many of them discuss Dobbs as motivating their candidacy or use the abortion issue as a primary plank for their political campaigns,” she said.
Dittmar’s latest research project analyzes women’s power and representation in five states, reviewing gains and setbacks with a focus on gender, race, and political party — what Dittmar calls “axes of both identity and positionality that are not fully separable in U.S. politics.” The report, titled “Rethinking Women’s Political Power,” was published this fall and continues to contextualize the definition of representation.
“In looking at the representation of women in U.S. politics, it's important to remember that women are not monolithic in their experiences, opportunities, or influence,” Dittmar said.
“It’s essential that the full range of these experiences and voices be heard in government so that our political institutions can best serve the diverse communities they are meant to represent.”
KELLY DITTMAR
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Tropical Glaciers in Peril
Why the decline of these little-known natural resources is a major concern
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
Tropical glaciers – the term itself sounds like a contradiction.
And yet, in warm, equatorial locations like Indonesia, the Eternity Glacier lies high above sea level in the island province of Papua. On the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, ice formations coexist with the vast, dry savannas of East Africa. At least for now. With rapidly rising global temperatures, tropical glaciers are in danger of disappearing from the planet for good.
“Glaciers in general, and tropical glaciers in particular, are among the most sensitive indicators of a warming climate,” said Daniel Shain, professor of zoology in the Department of Biology at Rutgers University in Camden. “Their current rate of melting is alarming.”
Shain authored a chapter on tropical ice masses in a recently published textbook, Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation, which examines species and ecosystems that are threatened by humanity’s expanding footprint. Among the ecosystems currently in danger are glaciers: massive formations of slowly moving ice, snow, and water that have been compressed into solid masses over many centuries. Some date back as far as the last Ice Age, more than 10,000 years ago.
There are several distinct glacier types, Shain explained. “Maritime glaciers are typically close to the ocean, at lower elevations, and never freeze solid,” he said. “Compare them to continental glaciers, which are typically inland, at high elevations, and freeze solid over winter, so ice temperatures plummet.” Glaciers found along the slopes of mountain ranges near the equator are categorized as maritime glaciers and, because of their location, are often referred to as tropical glaciers.
Glaciers serve as massive freshwater reservoirs and are essential to life on Earth. Tropical glaciers are significant because they can sustain a surprisingly wide variety of life while supporting and shaping downstream ecosystems.
“Tropical glaciers are critical for the microbial life within the ice, as well as the flora and fauna that live around it,” Shain said. “They serve as resources for animals and humans to cool off, and some small animals are known to stockpile their food in glaciers for long-term storage.”
Tropical glaciers also help to moderate seasonal variations in the flow of mountain rivers and ensure a steady supply of fresh water for drinking, agriculture, and other uses.
More than one-sixth of the world’s people— as well as plants, animals, and other living organisms—have come to rely on these glaciers resources throughout South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Yet climate change and global warming are set to permanently destroy the Earth’s tropical glaciers and complicate survival for all who rely on them.
Daniel Shain, a professor of zoology in the Department of Biology at Rutgers University in Camden
Fox Glacier in West Coast, New Zealand
Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index, source: NASA/GISS
According to climate scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the average global temperature on Earth has increased by nearly 1 degree Celsius (about 2 degrees Fahrenheit) since measurements began in 1880, with the past nine years being the warmest ever recorded. The results are already being felt by many across the globe, as extreme—and destructive—weather events are becoming more common.
For areas that depend on tropical glaciers, their rapid reduction portends the disappearance of a way of life. “Some glacial field sites that I started visiting as little as 20 years ago are completely melted, and life associated with these glaciers is gone,” Shain said, noting that the disappearance of these ecosystems can have wider catastrophic consequences.
For example, in the Andes Mountains of South America, tropical glaciers have long fed the rivers and tributaries that flow into the Amazon basin. They are also some of the most quickly melting glaciers in the world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization estimates that the region has lost between 30 and 50 percent of its ice cover in just the past 40 years. The result: once vibrant wetlands are now dry, and concerns around water shortages have increased.
The problem is at crisis levels in parts of Bolivia; a study by the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés predicts that the Tuni Condoriri glacier will fully melt in the next 30 years, leaving the surrounding region—home to nearly 4 million people—with limited drinking water and reduced ability to generate electricity through hydroelectric power.
Despite this, tropical glaciers are not classified as an endangered ecosystem by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global authority on the status of different global environments and how to safeguard them. The IUCN maintains a “Red List of Ecosystems” that identifies the relative risks to various locations around the globe, which include the tidal flats of the Yellow Sea in Asia and the Great Mayan Reef in the Caribbean Sea.
“Tropical glaciers should be classified by the IUCN as endangered, without question. The problem is that most people are unaware that tropical glaciers exist, so they are mostly ignored.”
DANIEL SHAIN
“Tropical glaciers should be classified by the IUCN as endangered, without question,” Shain said. “The problem is that most people are unaware that tropical glaciers exist, so they are mostly ignored.”
Significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases to slow the warming of the planet is the surest way to fight the changes due to climate change, including the loss of tropical glaciers.
“I am concerned it may be too late for tropical glaciers, unfortunately,” Shain said. “The best approach is to educate the general public about the biological, economic, and cultural richness of glaciers in hopes that we will learn how important it is to reduce our carbon footprint and take the necessary steps to do so.”
The Andes Mountains of South America
The Tuni Condoriri glacier in Bolivia
Rutgers–Camden Research Shows Impact of Gun Violence on Health and
Well-Being of Neighborhoods
Criminal Justice professors received $277,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to explore environmental neighborhood risks that may perpetuate gun violence
BY PATRICE HARLEY AND EILEEN REINHARD
Gun violence is tied to poverty, unemployment, broken families, disengaged youth and racial segregation, according to a study by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers.
Published in the Journal of Urban Health, the study found that people living in disadvantaged communities face gun violence at higher levels that are harmful to the health and well-being of whole neighborhoods.
“Many of America’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods are stuck in a vicious cycle of violence and collateral damage that is almost impossible to escape,” said lead author Daniel Semenza, director of interpersonal research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and assistant professor in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health and in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice at Rutgers UniversityCamden. “Directly addressing gun violence can be a key means of reducing health inequalities where people are suffering the most.”
Many of America’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods are stuck in a vicious cycle of violence and collateral damage that is almost impossible to escape, says Semenza.
In the study, researchers examined close to 16,000 neighborhoods in 100 cities in the United States from 2014 to 2019.
The researchers measured shootings and neighborhood health using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over a six-year period. The health outcomes included mental and physical health as well as health behaviors throughout the community including smoking cigarettes, participation in physical activity or exercise and amount of sleep.
They outlined a series of evidenced-based solutions to reduce gun-related violence, including policing initiatives, communitybased street outreach programs, community environment improvement and addressing poverty and residential segregation. Longterm investments are paramount for reducing firearm-related violence and improving health in disadvantaged communities.
Semenza said reducing shootings in disadvantaged communities is integral to addressing broader disparities in health throughout the nation. Estimates from previous research indicate that firearm violence costs Americans more than $550 billion annually, including losses related to quality of life.
“We have accepted too much violence in too many communities for far too long,” said Semenza. “We are seeing the impact it has on many aspects of well-being. The longer we choose to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the problem, the more damage will be done to Americans all over the nation.”
Semenza and his co-investigator, Associate Professor Richard Stansfield were awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for their exploration of environmental and neighborhood dynamics. Their research found that local socioeconomic conditions can predict occurrences of gun violence and community well-being.
“We show that high levels of poverty, unemployment, and especially youth disengagement are correlated with crime and violence,” Semenza said. “All this concentrated disadvantage creates perpetuating cycles of crime and violence, including gun homicides and non-fatal shootings.”
The data collected during the study shows that as gun violence increased over time, overall neighborhood health and well-being worsened.
“Shootings impact the families, friends, colleagues, and members of community-based organization working to prevent gun violence,” Stansfield said. “Any serious effort to improve community well-being must focus on gun violence reduction and prevention—and those efforts must extend beyond the direct victims of gun violence.”
Semenza and Stansfield believe that the uniquely high rate of gun violence in the United States links to extraordinary human and financial consequences. Their study unequivocally shows that the implementation of evidence-based policies and programming can effectively lower shooting rates and reduce high rates of concentrated disadvantage.
“A failure to act will have enduring consequences for years to come as gun violence continues to destroy individual lives and whole communities,” Semenza said.
Any serious effort to improve community well-being must focus on gun violence reduction and prevention—and those efforts must extend beyond the direct victims of gun violence.
(left) Dan Semenza, assistant professor, (right) Richard Stansfield, associate professor, department of sociology, anthropology, and criminal justice
RICHARD STANSFIELD
From the Top
Examining CEO Compensation
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
The numbers seem unreal:
$253 million to the CEO of a private equity firm, $226 million to the CEO of a major tech company, and $168 million to the CEO of a leading fitness brand. These figures aren’t for a lifetime or a career's worth of service; they are salaries for one year of work.
Blue- and white-collar employees alike have taken notice. Over the summer, members of the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild went out on strike, shutting down all of the major Hollywood movie studios and the television industry, demanding higher wages, and criticizing the exorbitant packages enjoyed by executives at most of the studios.
This was followed in September by a strike by the United Auto Workers against the major American automakers, citing among their grievances the drastic difference between the pay of the average worker and the compensation received by the CEOs of all three companies. According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans approve of labor unions, with support for unions having shown steady growth over the past decade.
Executive compensation has exploded in recent decades as companies have sought to retain top talent while driving shareholder value. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the ratio of CEO pay to the wages of average workers in their company jumped from roughly 20-to-1 in 1965 to about 399-to-1 in 2021. The ratio began expanding suddenly in the late 1990s when stock-based (or incentive-based) compensation became popular.
As CEO salaries continue to skyrocket, a business researcher considers how compensation packages influence executive decisions
Workers picket outside of the Ford Assembly plant as the UAW strike against the Big Three U.S. automakers continues on October 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. The strike, which started on Sept. 15 at three locations, has now been expanded to 43 facilities nationwide. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Layla Silver (C) pickets as striking SAG-AFTRA members picket with striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) members outside Paramount Studios on September 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Rong Ma, an associate professor in the School of Business at Rutgers University in Camden, recently published an article with several co-authors examining how the size and structure of a CEO’s compensation package can influence their willingness to take risks that result in significant economic ripple effects.
“If approached correctly, incentive-based executive compensation helps align the interests of leadership with those of the company and the stockholders,” Ma said. “But if corporations fail to understand how their CEOs will respond to incentives, the opposite can be true.”
Understanding this connection is critical for two reasons: It advances the larger discussion on executive compensation in an age of ever-expanding CEO salaries, and it can help companies understand whether their compensation packages support the organization’s priorities and goals. In other words, are companies and shareholders getting what they pay for from executive leadership?
Executive compensation is often a diversified offering of cash, benefits, and stock designed to motivate decision-making and performance. At their peak in 2001, stock options, which offer recipients the choice of whether or not to purchase stock at a given price, accounted for more than 50% of executive pay at most major U.S. companies, while restricted stock, which differs from stock options in that it is a direct gift of stock that cannot be sold for a defined period, has become more prevalent in recent years.
Ma was curious whether restricted stock grants could change an executive’s willingness to take risks when making critical decisions. She suspected that restricted stock would cause executives to respond differently to risk depending on their “regulatory focus,” a psychological term that describes how individuals evaluate and pursue the goals set before them.
Ma hypothesized that individuals with a “promotion-focused approach”— in other words, CEOs motivated by achievement and growth—would have a higher tolerance for risk-taking when given restricted stock as part of their compensation. Comparatively, CEOs with a “prevention-focused approach”—those motivated by caution and vigilance—would gravitate toward more conservative decisions when given restricted stock.
"If approached correctly, incentive-based executive compensation helps align the interests of leadership with those of the company and the stockholders," says Ma.
“Most of the previous literature focuses on stock options, which offer the opportunity but not the obligation to purchase stock at a set price by a certain date,” said Ma. “While considerable evidence shows that stock options motivate executives to adopt longer time horizons and accept greater risk, it has also been found that stock options tend to lead CEOs to make larger bets, which can produce either big wins or big losses.”
She emphasized that experiences, values, and personalities shape an executive’s interpretations of strategic challenges. As a result, CEOs are likely to respond to the same incentives differently depending on their perceptions and psychological characteristics.
Ma conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of 490 companies from the Standard and Poor’s 500 over a 13-year period, as well as a review of previous research on company letters to shareholders found in annual reports and publicly available financial information. To determine regulatory focus, she completed a content analysis of CEO letters to shareholders, which researchers have found to be a reliable indicator of executive perspective. The results confirmed her suspicions: Restricted stock grants resulted in a higher level of risk-taking for promotionfocused CEOs and lowered risk-taking for prevention-focused CEOs.
“Our findings show that loss aversion, something companies may want to a certain degree in a CEO, may not be a universal attitude because regulatory focus plays a role when it comes to an individual’s choices regarding risk,” Ma said.
Ma emphasized that because the effect of restricted stock on risk-taking varies across CEOs, organizations may only achieve their goals by gaining a better understanding of an individual CEO’s outlook.
“Incorporating CEO regulatory focus into hiring decisions may allow companies to achieve their strategic goals more effectively by maximizing compensation effectiveness,” Ma said. “Companies may need to adopt a more holistic approach and design more customized compensation packages that reflect an executive’s appetite for risk to maximize the effectiveness of their CEO’s equity-based compensation. This knowledge may allow CEOs to assess their own decisions more clearly, which should result in more effective and appropriate strategic planning overall.”
It’s research that truly gives new meaning to the age-old adage: “Know thyself.” However, it remains to be seen whether that will be enough for the average worker—like those who walked the picket lines this summer and fall—especially if the ratio between executive compensation and an average wage doesn’t become more aligned over time.
Giving Voice to the Voiceless
Inside a law professor’s mission to help Kenya’s legal system work for all Kenyans
BY DUSTIN PETZOLD
In the United States, the universal right to counsel is as synonymous with the legal system as a judge’s gavel or a box seating twelve jurors. And yet, in other parts of the world, criminal defendants unable to afford attorneys can find themselves without any representation in court.
J.C. Lore III, distinguished clinical professor and director of trial advocacy at Rutgers Law School in Camden, has spent much of his career empowering those without the guaranteed right to counsel to learn legal skills and benefit from the expertise of others. With this work comes frequent overseas travel, and in August 2023, he and a team of advocates journeyed across the Atlantic to Naivasha, Kenya. In a country where only those accused of capital offenses are provided attorneys, Lore and his partners with organizations like the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and Justice Defenders are fighting to provide adequate legal representation for every citizen.
For Lore, this international work is nothing new. Over the past decade, he has made his expertise available to those in need around the globe, making stops in countries like Nigeria and India. However, his recent trip to Kenya was unlike any other, as it showcased the astonishing impact that the right kind of training can have on an entire nation's legal framework.
“I’ve been fortunate to be supported by organizations like NITA, and Rutgers has always been behind me,” Lore explained. In Kenya, his expertise in trial advocacy allowed him to tackle a range of issues. His approach trained legal professionals alongside inmates and paralegals within Kenyan prisons, creating an interconnected framework of institutional knowledge.
However, the program in Kenya held a special place in Lore’s heart, primarily because it addressed critical issues he had witnessed throughout his career. Kenya, like many countries, lacked a comprehensive public defender system. People who couldn’t afford lawyers often found themselves in court without any understanding of the proceedings or unable to receive legal representation at all.
J.C. Lore III, distinguished clinical professor and director of trial advocacy
“The right to a lawyer, except in the case of capital offenses, is often not guaranteed," Lore explained. In Kenya, the wheels of justice turn excruciatingly slowly, with trials sometimes taking five to ten years to conclude. Many defendants didn’t understand the outcome when they were eventually sentenced. This sluggishness in the legal system led to overcrowded prisons and the wrongful conviction of many individuals.
Enter Justice Defenders, an organization that is working to revolutionize the justice system in Kenya. Lore recounted some of the group’s achievements. "Inmates are trained to be paralegals," he said. These inmates help their fellow prisoners navigate the legal system, pushing their cases forward and even assisting in appeals for wrongful convictions.
But it is not just inmates who are involved; guards also play a crucial role. The program fosters a collaborative environment where inmates and guards work together to further their education and practical skills. The results have been staggering: Initial success shows the potential to dramatically reduce Kenya's prison population, expedite trials, and secure the release of wrongful convicts.
Perhaps even more remarkable is the transformation that has occurred within the prisons themselves. “Prison violence is down, bad behavior is down, and the overall mood has completely changed,” Lore said. “Inmates now have the means to make themselves heard, and the entire atmosphere within the prisons has shifted.”
The impact of Justice Defenders has expanded to 18 prisons in Kenya, with Uganda considering a similar program. During his trip, Lore conducted intensive training sessions, with 50 to 60 people attending each day. “It was really emotional,” he said. “We didn’t always know what to expect, but what we found was warmth and commitment from people who just wanted to learn.”
Adding a personal touch to Lore’s experience in Kenya, his two oldest daughters, Olivia and Sadie, played a crucial role. They dedicated some of their time to volunteering at a shelter for street children, while inside the prisons, they assumed the roles of witnesses, acting out a case file authored by their father and adding authenticity to the training sessions.
The case Lore created involved a dispute between two neighboring families, a familiar scenario in Kenya. In this instance, two teenagers had engaged in a consensual relationship, which had later come to light, resulting in a false accusation of sexual assault due to a family disagreement. Through their training and dedication, Lore and his daughters helped shed light on what participants could learn from a complex case such as this one.
Lore encouraged others to support programs like Justice Defenders, both domestically and abroad. He emphasized that these programs frequently need witnesses, administrative assistance, and general research support, roles that do not require a legal degree.
“We probably could not have pulled off anything like this in the United States,” Lore said, noting the recent addition of an online J.D. program. “When you see firsthand that inmates finally have an outlet to voice their concerns, it provides so much motivation to continue and expand the work.”
J.C. Lore III, and his team of advocates speak in Naivasha, Kenya.
Experts in Flight
School of Business professors examine the changing state of travel and the airline industry
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
It would be easy to conclude from recent data that airlines and the travel industry are thriving. According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, the number of travelers passing through American airports has returned to normal levels, and a May 2023 industry report found that, on average, hotels expect revenue not only to increase as compared to the year before but to exceed 2019 levels by more than 100%.
At the same time, delays, cancellations, and other travel headaches have become all too common due to extreme weather and staffing shortages. According to FlightAware, a company that tracks flight data, an average of 30,000 flights across the globe are delayed daily, with about 9,000 of those representing U.S. domestic flights. When more than 4,000 flights are delayed in the U.S., travelers generally begin to feel the impact. On the ground, hotels are booked but short-staffed; a recent report found that nearly 80% of hotels are struggling to find workers.
“The U.S. airline industry is evolving,” said Ram Gopalan, associate professor of practice in the School of Business at Rutgers University in Camden. He has spent over a decade at blue-chip travel and tourism companies, using mathematical analyses to solve organizational and logistical challenges. “In 2020, tourism and the airline industry took a significant hit because of the pandemic—volume dropped nearly to zero as operating costs increased.”
While revenues have bounced back, post-COVID, to more robust levels in the past year, Gopalan noted that some of the weaknesses revealed during the pandemic, combined with challenges that already existed, have led to the industry's current state. Unfortunately, experts estimate that it may be years before those weaknesses and challenges can be addressed adequately, meaning the delays and cancellations may be here for the foreseeable future.
Aviation: A Mix of Private Companies, Public Interest, and Government Regulation
While it is often referred to as the aviation industry, commercial air travel in the U.S. is managed and controlled by a mix of private companies (the airlines), public entities (the municipalities that operate the airports), and government regulatory bodies (the Federal Aviation Administration, among others). The current issues facing the industry are spread equally among them and will require a coordinated effort to address them correctly.
Ram Gopalan, associate professor in the department of policy and public administration
For the airlines, the primary concern is staffing. Over the past several years, airlines offered buyouts and retirement packages to manage costs. This happened even as the industry was facing an anticipated tsunami of retirements; it’s estimated that over the next 15 years, nearly 50% of the commercial airline workforce will be forced to retire under the mandatory retirement rule for pilots.
“Pilots are increasingly in short supply,” said Gopalan. “While it affects different airlines in different ways, the sheer volume of pilots that will retire in the next decade will be a significant problem for the industry.”
Gopalan noted that this will be harder for carriers with varied fleets because not all pilots are qualified to fly every type of airplane. The situation is made even more difficult because of the time it takes to train new pilots—about two years. The U.S. House of Representatives in July 2023 approved a bill raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67; however, the measure has yet to be taken up by the Senate.
Airports, which are traditionally managed by their local government authorities, face an uphill battle as well. Many airport facilities are in desperate need of modernization. Airports Council International, a leading industry organization, estimates that nationally, U.S. airports face a $151 billion backlog of projects, including upgrades to runways and terminals, baggage handling systems, and ground transportation.
Gopalan sees this as an opportunity. “Technology has a role to play here, and the right investments now can pay dividends well into the future,” he said. "Modern construction can add Internet-connected sensors to warn of impending failure and other structural degradations, and airports should leverage this now as they renovate to allow for better maintenance, planning, and reliability in the future.”
The final piece of the puzzle is the federal government—specifically the Federal Aviation Administration. Like the airlines, the FAA is facing a shortage of workers—in fact, the Department of Transportation estimated about a 3,000-worker shortfall at the beginning of the 2023 summer travel season. By law, air traffic controllers must retire at the age of 56, and the agency will not hire anyone over the age of 31 so individuals can gain tenure and experience during their careers. On top of that, the primary system the FAA uses to manage air traffic was deployed in 1993, and some supporting systems are nearly 40 years old..
“ The FAA has a very tough job and does well at managing the enormous volume of air traffic the U.S. sees on a daily basis. At the same time, I think there’s no question that more investment and additional resources for the agency and its air traffic controllers make sense .”
RAM GOPALAN
In testimony given to Congress in early 2023, an FAA representative did emphasize that a modernization project for the primary air traffic control system is underway and should be completed by mid-2025; and the agency is looking to hire 1,500 new air traffic controllers by the end of this year.
Thriving Through Changing Times
Despite the shifting landscape, airlines and the travel industry are seeing a notable increase in passengers.
“The pandemic severely restricted travel at best, and many people stopped traveling altogether,” said Briance Mascarenhas, professor of management at Rutgers School of Business–Camden. His research includes a focus on the international airline industry. “With most of the pandemic-era travel restrictions now lifted, people eager to travel have been unleashed.”
The data bear this out. In one recent survey, 49% of respondents expected to travel more in 2023 than they did the previous year, and 87% expect to travel at least as much as they did in summer 2022. While delays and disruptions still happen regularly, travelers seem prepared to face these challenges and take them as an inevitable part of the experience.
One effect of the increase in travel is that tourism-related businesses are now among the country’s fastest-growing employers. This hiring binge has helped keep the U.S. unemployment rate at a record low, even as other sectors, like tech, are experiencing cuts.
Aircraft manufacturers have also seen a spike in orders from airlines looking to expand capacity. According to a recent industry report, more than 1,400 commercial airliners were ordered in 2023, surpassing the number sold in 2019. This reflects the increased demand from the traveling public and the forecasting the airlines have done regarding expected growth.
The outlook isn’t entirely rosy: Inflation has affected consumers’ choices, with some opting for less extravagant locations or more moderate hotels and restaurants. “The number of people traveling will slow as interest rates rise to contain inflation, but when or how that might have a substantial impact remains to be seen,” said Mascarenhas. He added that disruptions were caused by extreme weather due to climate change and political instability around the globe.
For now, however, the traveling public is keeping calm and carrying on. It’s an attitude that the industry would be wise to adopt as they work to move forward and modernize, said Gopalan. “Everyone involved—from the federal government to the airlines, to the airports, and the cities and states they serve—needs to work together to manage changes we know will happen in the years to come.”
MASCARENHAS
Handle with Care
Predictive modeling has transformative potential in diagnosing medical conditions—but its complexities provide a tough test for scientists
BY ALINA O’DONNELL
Imagine a future where potentially fatal diseases like leukemia can be predicted before any cancerous cells are present in the body. Thanks to artificial intelligence, that reality is closer than it may seem. AI has the potential to revolutionize cancer care, from early detection and diagnosis to treatment decisions. If developed and used responsibly, these systems could go a long way in improving health care delivery and patient outcomes, say Rutgers–Camden experts.
Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence that attempts to simulate the behavior of the human brain, allowing it to “learn” from large sets of data, said Iman Dehzangi, an assistant professor of computer science with the Rutgers University in Camden College of Arts and Sciences and a leading expert in applications of AI in health care. As a scholar of bioinformatics and computational biology, he develops machine learning tools to address challenging problems in biology, including cancer detection and analysis. To do so, he trains models to analyze historical data and identify patterns that can be used to predict future outcomes.
“To create a coherent system, provide generalized outcomes, and represent the whole population, we try to collect as much data as possible,” he said. “The more data, the better.”
The problem is that the algorithms are often built on data sets that reflect inequities that have long plagued U.S. health care. In medicine, racial and ethnic minorities have long faced barriers to receiving care. Because wealthy, predominantly white individuals tend to make more use of health care, algorithms learn to flag them for extra medical attention, Dehzangi said. These biases can become immortalized in data, and deployed at scale in sensitive, high-stakes ways.
“To create a coherent system, provide generalized outcomes, and represent the whole population, we try to collect as much data as possible. The more data, the better.”
IMAN DEHZANGI
“When you are trying to build a model, it normally skews toward the majority class,” Dehzangi said. “Data can come from different sources across economic groups and ethnicities, but it likely includes some bias towards the majority group. If I have 900 samples from one ethnic group and 100 samples from all the rest, the dominant pattern represents the 900. Even if I correctly predict those 900 and incorrectly predict the rest, the model would be considered 90 percent accurate.”
These disparities are particularly pronounced in the case of breast cancer, said Bonnie JeromeD’Emilia, an associate professor in the School of Nursing–Camden. In a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, JeromeD’Emilia and her co-authors wrote, “Racial and ethnic minority women continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage and with greater tumor size and higher-grade tumors, important predictors of cancer mortality.” Reasons for these disparities are complex, but they stem from minorities’ lagging access to high-quality care.
Iman Dehzangi, assistant professor of computer science in the Rutgers University in Camden College of Arts and Sciences, and a leading expert in applications of AI in healthcare
Bonnie Jerome-D’Emilia, an associate professor in the School of Nursing–Camden
“Issues like health insurance, transportation, and child care can be major barriers to seeking preventative care,” Jerome D’Emilia said. “In minority populations, we also see a distrust of health care providers in general. These individuals are less likely to have primary care providers who remind them to get mammograms and other routine screenings. All of these factors and more contribute to these groups being severely underrepresented in health care data."
While social, economic, and behavioral factors are important, Dehzangi said, evidence also suggests that demographic factors can influence the biological and molecular mechanisms of cancer. For example, a recent study found that eight genes responsible for DNA repair are expressed differently in tumors from Black women than tumors from white women. These molecular differences correspond with changes in how quickly breast-cancer cells can grow and have critical implications for the course of treatment. Findings like this illustrate the need for more inclusive data sets that look at the complex interplay of biological, genetic, and lifestyle factors in each patient, Dehzangi said. The results generated by AI can be used to identify risk factors for breast cancer, make a diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan. In the context of breast cancer—the fifth leading cause of death worldwide—even the smallest missteps can have life-or-death consequences.
In a recent article published in the Journal of Biomedical Informatics, “A Review on Deep Learning Approaches in Healthcare Systems,” Dehzangi called on developers to favor “explainable AI” systems that share the reasoning behind their diagnoses, allowing stakeholders to question the underlying decision-making processes.
“ Issues like health insurance, transportation, and child care can be major barriers to seeking preventative care .”
Dehzangi also stressed the importance of evaluating a model’s performance on more than just accuracy alone. While intuitive and easy to measure, accuracy—which essentially is the number of correct predictions divided by the total number of samples—tends to mask imbalance. Other metrics, like sensitivity and specificity, can give a fuller picture.
“Say the model is trained to interpret mammogram images,” Dehzangi said. “If most of our samples are collected from middle-age, white, Caucasian women, it’s likely that all those images would help us identify that specific pattern much more effectively. Among different ethnicities, there are different indicators of cancer. In this case, the class with a higher occurrence may be correctly predicted, leading to a high accuracy score, while the minority class is being misclassified. This gives the wrong impression that the model is performing well when it is not.”
The more we know about a model, the more we can question its inner workings and anticipate its limitations, Dehzangi said. As researchers continue to navigate this path, transparency around the sourcing, composition, and interpretation of data is key to developing AI systems that are not only intelligent, but fair and trustworthy.
“When predictive health care tools first began to emerge, there was a lot of emphasis on accuracy,” Dehzangi said. “Now, we’re seeking to answer questions like, Why are we accurate? How we are accurate? How do we explain our model? If we cannot answer these questions, how can we be sure we are serving the right purpose?”
BONNIE JEROME - D'EMILIA
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
Getting Savvy About Cybersecurity
Persistent and ever-increasing attacks by bad actors highlight the pressing need for more sophisticated approaches to data security
Technology has changed nearly every facet of modern life, making things easier, faster, and more convenient. It also has opened the door for criminals to steal not just money but something that has become increasingly valuable: data. Individuals and corporations face the daily challenge of ensuring the extraordinary volumes of information shared across the internet and internal networks are kept secure.
"Bad actors have always been a threat to maintaining a secure network,” said Sheikh Rabiul Islam, an assistant professor of computer science at Rutgers University in Camden, where he leads the university’s Cybersecurity, Accountability, Fairness, and Explainability Research Group. “As systems and networks become more complex and interconnected, the opportunities for possible breaches multiply.”
According to Security Magazine, a leading industry publication, there are more than 2,220 cyberattacks every day, or one every 39 seconds. From successful phishing attempts to malware or misuse by authorized users, this amounts to more than 800,000 attacks a year. The data companies and organizations keep on their networks is the most common target.
“The primary challenge faced by organizations in terms of data security is data breaches, which involve compromising the confidentiality of information,” said Islam. He added that in addition to attacks made directly against an organization’s networks, third-party apps, software, and mobile devices create additional susceptibility.
The rise of remote work has added to the complexity of fighting off cyberattacks. People working from home could potentially install unapproved software, or their remote location could make it hard to set up conventional protections like firewalls. An analysis by a leading virtual office contractor found a 238 percent increase in cyberattacks since 2019.
Remote work also has accelerated the adoption of cloud computing, further increasing network vulnerability. A 2022 report found that nearly 39 percent of businesses had experienced data breaches in their cloud environments in the previous year.
“Any compromise that can occur on local computers or devices can also occur in the cloud—and I would argue that the risk is even higher in the cloud,” said Islam. “Cloud providers cater to multiple companies, resulting in extensive sharing of resources such as computing power and storage, creating a potential vulnerability for attackers to exploit.” Islam noted that, like the cloud, mobile, and devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) further expand the opportunity for a network to become compromised.
Outside partners and third-party vendors also open the door to potential issues of concern.
Many of these attacks go unreported. However, according to Black Kite, an independent organization that assesses cyber risk, third-party data breaches nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022, with health care providers being the most common target.
“Any software, including third-party applications, could potentially harbor a backdoor, whether intentionally designed or unintentionally present,” said Islam. “Not all service providers can be trusted, and any of them—trusted or not—could fall victim to a data breach.”
Islam urged companies or organizations with third-party software providers to thoroughly review their service-level agreements and clarify expectations about potential security breaches. Interestingly, while the scope and likelihood of possible threats are expanding, the methods for combating them remain surprisingly familiar. Up-to-date antivirus software, now commonly referred to as antimalware software, has been in use since the 1980s, continues to play a significant role and, according to Islam, it should be installed or activated on all devices within a network, including computers, servers, smartphones, and tablets.
Another critical step is to adopt multifactor authentication. “I cannot say this strongly enough: use multifactor authentication for every application and device that accesses a network,” said Islam. “This way, even if one form of authentication [such as a password] is compromised, an alternative form of authentication [such as a one-time code sent by text] can offer temporary security.”
Keeping software updated, insisting on strong passwords, and training users to be cyber-smart are additional simple but essential ways to keep networks safe. “Urge users to avoid using the same password across various platforms and to exercise extreme caution when dealing with possible phishing emails,” said Islam. “This classic and still widely used method is a prime way for attackers to steal information. It’s beneficial for everyone to possess a foundational level of IT literacy.”
As organizations and individuals become more sophisticated in battling cyberattacks, criminals will undoubtedly develop new ways to hack into the troves of data now stored across the globe. “No one is entirely safe from cyberattacks as long as they are connected to the internet in some way,” said Islam. The trick is to stay vigilant and remain one step ahead.
Sheikh Rabiul Islam, an assistant professor of computer science at Rutgers University in Camden
For the Love of Language
Ana Laguna has shared her passion for Spanish history, literature, and culture with Rutgers–Camden students for over two decades
BY DUSTIN PETZOLD
Ana Laguna sits on the national council of the Miguel de Cervantes Society of America, but as a teenager, she was “tired” of 17th-century author. He and his iconic literary creation, Don Quixote, were both indelibly linked to her hometown of La Mancha, Spain, and Laguna longed for something new.
When Laguna came to the United States to study comparative literature, she gained a different appreciation for Cervantes, reading his poems, short stories, and epic novels alongside the works of Shakespeare and Machiavelli. She realized Cervantes was one of the most prominent Spanish humanists of the 17th century, and that his challenges to patriarchy, social pressures, and political turmoil hold just as much weight today as they did hundreds of years ago.
“I draw inspiration from Cervantes and the principles of classic humanism from the 16th and 17th centuries,” Laguna said. “Understanding why the diverse, culturally rich society of this period succumbed to the inquisitorial demands of a dominant culture is critical to confronting similar threats today. To truly unravel and challenge the deep-seated biases of our world, it is useful to learn from those who formidably defied or defeated those social pressures and imperatives before.”
Laguna described the Spain of Cervantes’s time as a historically tolerant nation, the only society in the world where Islam, Judaism, and Christianity coexisted peacefully, albeit imperfectly. “All of that ended because there are always people who believe they have a privilege that should not be shared,” she said. “Deciding whether to embrace diversity or resist it is the main friction of society. The Inquisition was not just a conflict of religious differences, but of diverging visions for society.”
Although Laguna’s scholarship deals with weighty, often dark questions, she is firm in her belief that writing and language are powerful tools in the effort to educate and overcome. She always wanted to write and felt a pull to “leave the ivory tower behind” even while pursuing a life in academia. Her bilingualism proved an asset in breaking down those walls and creating access for others; as a doctoral student at Purdue University and during her postdoctoral studies at the University of Chicago, she volunteered as a medical interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients.
Don Quixote, the adventure of the fullers. Antique Illustration. 1882
LAGUNA
Laguna’s desire to help others and make education more accessible continued to radiate when she arrived at Rutgers–Camden in 2002. Although she has racked up a seemingly endless list of publications and awards—she recently won the Cervantes Society’s Murillo Article of the Year award and the Martin Stevens Award from the Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society—she does not to lose sight of her role as a teacher and a writer of curricula.
“My classes are punctuated with numerous ‘OMG’ moments,” said Laguna, who has designed three academic programs and over 40 courses at Rutgers–Camden. “Witnessing these realizations is the greatest reward for the countless hours I have spent designing and updating what I teach.” Laguna helmed the Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish program until 2017, and she created the award-winning Spanish for Health Professions program at the beginning of her Rutgers–Camden career. This program equips healthcare professionals to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients, underscoring the transformative role a humanities-based education can play in addressing systemic disparities.
As much as Laguna is at home in the classroom, she is just as comfortable taking her students beyond its four walls. A course on cookbooks and Spanish culture that culminated in a trip to Spain remains a highlight of Laguna’s career.
“It was incredible!” Laguna said. “I invited the students—many of whom had Hispanic roots through Latin America—to explore Spain with curious minds and open hearts, to make the experience part of their story on their very own terms.”
The group travelled through Spain tracing and tasting the historical path that shaped the country’s hybrid culinary tradition. “We are what we eat and whom we choose to eat with," Laguna said. "Food is a major driver of inclusion and exclusion. As the saying goes, 'We don't need higher walls, but longer tables.’”
As one of Rutgers–Camden’s most decorated and longest tenured humanities professors, Laguna is determined to advocate for the study of language, literature, and history no matter where her next 40 courses may lead her.
"The impact of the humanities on our students cannot be overstated,” Laguna said. “It is our responsibility to champion and nurture them. If we neglect to do so, or if we fail to take them seriously, the joke is on us."
Don Quixote at Plaza de Espanan in Seville, Spain
Laguna and a group of Rutgers–Camden students in Seville, Spain (photo courtesy Ana Laguna)
A Hazy Future
Is smoke and tainted air quality from wildfires near and far our new normal?
IBY CHRISTINA LYNN
t looked like something out of a science-fiction fever dream: familiar sights and skylines in Camden and the surrounding area were painted with a thick, orange-brown haze. People moved through dense, acrid smoke that enveloped every space imaginable, then were cautioned to stay indoors, as color codes indicated the air quality was too dangerous for outdoor activity.
FOR WEEKS OVER THE SUMMER, residents from one area of North America experienced the aftereffects of another—in this case, an unprecedented amount of wildfire activity emanating from multiple provinces within Canada. The resulting influx of smoke led to dangerous air quality levels in and around the Rutgers University in Camden campus, which fluctuated by the day.
Many along the East Coast were, and might still be, unprepared for such weather-related phenomena. David Salas-de la Cruz, associate professor of chemistry and member of the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology at Rutgers–Camden, believes this event should spark the very real potential for wildfire to continue to impact the area, as “environmental problems do not recognize specific borders,” he said.
David
The 2023 Canadian wildfires upended every previous statistic. While it’s typical for the country to experience some fire activity each year, more than 10 times the area—roughly the size of the state of New York—burned by the end of this summer than the previous year.
This scale is important to know when discovering what's lurking inside that campfire smell. Wildfire smoke is a complex cocktail of particulate matter and gases, which release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides.
As smoke is carried into the upper atmosphere, “these gases can chemically react with emissions from vehicles and industries, creating an environment conducive to producing other dangerous compounds like ozone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),” a chemical byproduct of burning coal, oil, gas, and wood, Salas-de la Cruz explained.
Salas-de la Cruz, associate professor of chemistry and member of the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology at Rutgers–Camden
“Determining who bears the costs associated with pollution or other climate-related events raises questions, ones that demand serious consideration due to inequities on how that impacts our society.”
DAVID SALAS - DE LA CRUZ
Smaller, airborne particles in wildfire smoke are particularly nefarious as they can travel greater distances and have ample time in the atmosphere to undergo reactions with other gases like PAH, Salas-de la Cruz said. The size of the particulate matter also increases the potential health risks with a wildfire event. The smaller the particle, the more easily it can penetrate the respiratory system, which could lead to reduced lung function and inflammation of the heart and blood vessels. Those with pre-existing heart conditions or asthma are especially vulnerable to adverse effects.
The summer’s heat and smoke contaminants may have also exacerbated ozone pollution. Particulate matter acts as a kind of catalyst to hasten the sunlight and chemical reaction process, creating more ozone, which is further damaging to respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency developed the Air Quality Index, or AQI, to gauge how clean air is depending on the area. The higher the number, the worse the air quality and associated health risks. “The AQI focuses on measuring the concentration of particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter. To put it in perspective, a human hair is about 50 microns wide—these particles are incredibly tiny,” Salas-de la Cruz said.
During periods of wildfire pollution, Philadelphia experienced AQI readings exceeding 250—code purple—categorized as very unhealthy to hazardous, he added.
The smoke’s effects are not limited to humans; air quality impacts wildlife and waterways as well. Salas-de la Cruz noted animals experience health consequences comparable to humans. “Consider this: when vegetation burns, it generates particulate matter and gases containing nitrogen and phosphorus. Subsequently, when it rains, these particles settle down and are carried into ecosystems, including waterways,” he explained. “This surplus of nutrients leads to heightened algae blooms, causing a reduction in oxygen levels in the water. This, in turn, affects the health of marine life.”
Salas-de la Cruz said there are some steps toward minimizing poor air quality at home, such as outfitting each member of the home with a well-fitting N95 mask and having a proper air filtration or air conditioning system. However, he noted these protocols could pose challenges for individuals who either cannot locate or afford these items.
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires covers Washington, DC.
Rutgers University–Camden Welcomes
New Faculty for 2023-24 Academic Year
Rutgers University in Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis is pleased to extend a warm welcome from the entire university community to the 21 educators and scholars joining the faculty at the start of the 202324 academic year. These individuals have become part of the Rutgers–Camden faculty following highly competitive selection processes, demonstrating exceptional standards of research, scholarship, and professional experience.
“This year’s new faculty cohort exemplifies Rutgers–Camden's continued elevation as a student-centered research institution,” Chancellor Tillis said. “Each member has a proven record of outstanding scholarship, and I look forward to witnessing their contributions to our university.”
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
JULIO ALICEA
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Julio Alicea is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. He received a doctorate in education and a master's degree in public policy from the University of California, Los Angeles; a master of arts in teaching from Brown University; and a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and anthropology from Swarthmore College. His research interests include education, race and ethnicity, ethnography, and social policy.
SUJOY CHAKRAVARTY
Associate Professor of Health Sciences
Sujoy Chakravarty is an associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences.
He received a doctorate in public policy and management, master of philosophy degree in health policy, and master of science degree in economics from Carnegie Mellon University; a master of philosophy and arts from Jawaharlal Nehru University; and a bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Calcutta. As a health economist, he researches economic and statistical modeling of claims as well as hospital discharge and survey-based data to evaluate the effects of state and federal policies on health outcomes.
HONG FANG
Assistant Professor of Physics
Hong Fang is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics. He received his doctorate in materials physics from the University of Cambridge and his bachelor’s degree in physics from East China Normal University and Bielefeld University. He has worked in various fields at the intersection of neutron physics, condensed-matter physics, materials science, and physical chemistry. His current research is on the use of atomic clusters (rather than individual atoms) in material development.
YOONA KANG
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Yoona Kang is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. She received her doctorate in cognitive psychology from Yale University and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on how social experiences influence the health of individuals and groups. She examines evidence-based prevention strategies, such as compassion, purpose in life, and mindfulness interventions, and integrates neurocognitive and social network tools to understand and prevent health risks among diverse populations.
ALLISON PAGE
Associate Professor of English and Communication
Allison Page is an associate professor of English and communication. She earned a doctorate and a master of arts degree in communication studies from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of arts degree in music and French from the University of Iowa. Her research interests include slave narratives, Black feminism, feminist theory, and the use of technology in policing.
SHEIKH RABIUL ISLAM
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Sheikh Rabiul Islam is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. He holds a doctorate in engineering and computer Science from Tennessee Tech University, a master’s degree in computer science from Tennessee Tech University, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information technology from Islamic University of Technology. His research interests include cybersecurity and Big Data analytics. Particular topics of specialization include artificial intelligence, predictive modeling in finance and cybersecurity, and digital forensics.
CLAIRE STRICKLIN
Assistant Teaching Professor
Claire Stricklin is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of English and Communication. She received a doctorate in digital media from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master of arts degree in English from the University of Wyoming, and bachelor of arts degrees in English and writing from Ithaca College. Her research interests include multiplayer gaming and tabletop gaming.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Christopher Thomas is an assistant professor of criminal justice in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, affiliated with the graduate program in prevention science. He earned a doctorate from the City University of New York Graduate Center/John Jay College of Criminal Justice; a master of science degree in philosophy, policy, and social value from the London School of Economics; and a bachelor of arts degree in math and philosophy from Columbia University. His research interests include racial inequality and punishment, the economic and demographic dynamics of pretrial justice, and the criminological consequences of climate change.
YOUWEN (WARREN) ZHANG
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Youwen (Warren) Zhang is an assistant professor of chemistry. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science degree from Lanzhou University. His research interests include the medical diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and sepsis, with applications in drug delivery and vaccines.
School of Business–Camden
JOSE R. BELTRAN
Assistant Professor of Human Resources
Jose R. Beltran is an assistant professor of human resources.
He earned a doctorate from Iowa State University, specializing in meta-analytical methods and Big Data applications in management. He also holds master's and bachelor's degrees in business administration from New Mexico State University. His research interests include strategic leadership, honesty and humility in upper echelons, and the impact of generative artificial intelligence.
JOSEPH REGINA
Assistant
Professor
of Human Resources
Joseph Regina is an assistant professor of human resources. He holds a doctorate and a master's degree in industrialorganizational psychology from the University of South Florida and a bachelor of business administration degree in human resource management from Temple University. His research interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion; the role of gender in the workplace; burnout; and occupational health psychology.
LEI (MATTHEW) MA
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Lei (Matthew) Ma is an assistant professor of accounting. He holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of Utah, a master of science degree in accounting from Bentley University, and a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Sun Yat-sen University. His research interests include financial reporting and risk management.
School of Nursing–Camden
SHARON ANDRESS
Assistant Teaching Professor of Nursing
Sharon Andress joins the Rutgers–Camden faculty as an assistant teaching professor of nursing after having served as adjunct clinical faculty. She holds a doctorate of nurse practice and educational leadership from Post University, a master of nursing science degree from Wilmington University, and a bachelor of nursing degree from Widener University. She has an extensive clinical background in diverse acute care settings, which includes 18 years of critical care in inner-city emergency departments. Her research interests include cardiac resuscitation simulation for novice nurses.
KIMBERLY M c GUINNESS
Clinical Instructor of Nursing
Kimberly McGuinness is a clinical instructor of nursing and a board-certified adult nurse practitioner in primary care. She holds a master of science degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of science degree in registered nursing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She has spent the last decade delivering care to vulnerable populations, working to close gaps in care and improve quality of life for patients with chronic conditions and complex social needs.
MELANIE RODRIGUEZ
Clinical Instructor of Nursing
Melanie Rodriguez is a clinical instructor of nursing. She holds a doctorate of nursing science from Widener University, a master of nursing science degree from Drexel University, and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University. Her professional experience largely lies in pediatric nursing, including primary care, school nursing, and emergency medicine. In addition to caring for children and adolescents, she has experience in adult trauma medicalsurgical nursing and clinical rotations in a variety of specialties, including psychiatric nursing, community nursing, and pediatrics.
EMMANUEL PETERS
Assistant Teaching Professor of Management
Emmanuel Peters is an assistant teaching professor of management.
He earned a doctorate in management sciences from the University of Iowa, a master of science degree in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University, and a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Sri Venkateswara University. His research interests include supply chain design and medical device supply chains. He has over 20 years of industry experience in supply-chain management at Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.
Rutgers Law School
ADAM CR EWS
Assistant Professor of of Law
Adam Crews is an assistant professor of law. He received his juris doctor from the University of Virginia and a bachelor of science degree from Truman State University. His research interests include administrative law, federal courts, and statutory interpretation. Before entering academia, he represented major financial institutions in high-stakes civil litigation and government enforcement matters.
J.D. KING
Professor of Law
J.D. King is a professor of law. He holds a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, an LL.M. in advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center, and a bachelor of arts degree in history and religious studies from Brown University. His research focuses on indigent criminal defense systems and the right to counsel, as well as criminal defense and prosecution ethics.
CRESCENTE MOLINA
Assistant Professor of Law
Crescente Molina is an assistant professor of law. He holds a juris doctor equivalent from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a doctorate of law from the University of Oxford, and an LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include philosophical issues within private law, contract law, and international commercial arbitration.
SEEMA SAIFEE
Assistant Professor of Law
Seema Saifee is an assistant professor of law at Rutgers Law School. She holds a juris doctor from Fordham University and bachelor of arts degrees in English and psychology from Cornell University. Her scholarship explores how individuals and communities most harmed by mass incarceration have produced knowledge and developed strategies to reduce prison populations. Previously, Saifee was a senior litigator in the post-conviction unit at the Innocence Project in New York, where she also directed the Innocence Project clinic.
Sandra Richtermeyer’s journey from a Wyoming high school student interested in computer science to the role of executive vice chancellor and provost of Rutgers University in Camden has taken her more than 1,700 miles across the country, but the physical distance fails to capture the depth and breadth of her experiences along the way. During her undergraduate days, Richtermeyer expected to spend her life as a programmer and analyst, but the three and a half years she spent working toward her bachelor of science in information systems and accounting didn’t seem like enough.
“I was a first-generation college student, and I felt like I rushed through my degree,” Richtermeyer said. “Other than my professors, I didn’t have many role models who had received advanced degrees, but continuing my education felt right because there was so much more I wanted to learn.”
After graduation, Richtermeyer became a CPA in Denver and began to teach part-time night classes, where she discovered that her zeal for teaching matched her love for learning. “I would work all day as a CPA, teach two nights a week, go to grad school two nights a week, and come home after 10:00 p.m. still full of energy,” Richtermeyer said.
A Provost's Passion
New Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Sandra Richtermeyer recalls her path to Rutgers–Camden and looks at
the possibilities ahead
BY DUSTIN PETZOLD
“These experiences opened my mind to many research questions I wanted to explore, so I thought about a Ph.D., but I didn’t really understand what that entailed, and I was nervous to do it. After I completed a master of science degree in information systems from the University of Colorado Denver, I decided to enter the MBA program at the University of Colorado Boulder. After earning two master’s degrees, I felt more prepared to start a doctoral program. I was fortunate to continue at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I was already familiar with the business school. I completed my Ph.D. in business administration with an emphasis in accounting, and then I was on my way to launching an academic career.”
A childhood spent in Wyoming and Colorado had filled Richtermeyer with the urge to travel; family ties eventually brought her to the Midwest, where she would spend 12 years on the faculty at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, eventually becoming accounting department chair, associate dean of the business school, and in a university-wide role as director of faculty programs for mission and identity. Next, she moved to the Boston area, joining the University of Massachusetts Lowell as the dean of the Manning School of Business. Although business will always hold a special place in her heart, Richtermeyer is equally committed to the growth and success of all academic units at Rutgers–Camden, where she began as provost in June.
“The role of Rutgers–Camden provost has evolved over the years, but my main goal is to provide excellent support for all of the university’s academic affairs,” Richtermeyer said. “I enjoy collaborating with faculty groups to support shared governance and create a positive academic culture on campus.”
Although her background is rooted in technical disciplines such as accounting and information systems, Richtermeyer emphasizes that being “people-centered” is critical to her role. She believes it is essential for provosts to support an academic environment where both students and faculty can thrive. A firm believer in the power of storytelling and social media, she wants to build strong connections with the Rutgers–Camden community both online and in person.
“Great academic programs are rooted in the passion of faculty and students,” Richtermeyer said. “Numbers can tell a story, but there needs to be a foundation of excitement. Rutgers–Camden is highly engaged with the community, and I am inspired by listening to what our community members say.
“We all learn in different ways—listening, reading, doing,” Richtermeyer said. “The more open you are with people in allowing them to learn and communicate in ways that make them feel comfortable, the more you build trust. I strive to be a servant leader who sits down with people to solve problems and improve their lives. I get my energy from being around people and helping them. Higher education can be very complex, but it doesn’t have to be—I love to bring clarity to challenging issues and help people find their purpose.”
RICHTERMEYER
Rutgers Law Welcomes New Dean
Johanna Bond brings transformative leadership to Camden and beyond
BY SHANIDA CARTER
Johanna Bond, an accomplished academic leader and legal scholar, became the new dean of Rutgers Law School in July 2023. She joins Rutgers after serving as Sydney and Frances Lewis Professor of Law, an endowed chair in the School of Law at Washington and Lee University, where she previously was associate dean for academic affairs. Bond also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the university’s Africana Studies and the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies programs.
“An accomplished legal scholar and a strong academic administrator, Professor Bond is uniquely qualified to serve as the dean of Rutgers University Law School,”
– Antonio D. Tillis, chancellor of Rutgers University in Camden.
“Professor Bond brings an intellectual trajectory that complements the scholarly focus of law faculty in Camden,” Chancellor Tillis continued. “As an academic administrator, she has a proven track record with leading a diverse faculty, financial management, pedagogical innovation, fundraising, and alumni development. Further, her commitment to a student-centric approach to legal education and focus on civically engaged and experiential learning aligns well with the values of Rutgers–Camden.”
As a tenured professor, Bond focuses on women’s rights in sub-Saharan Africa, women’s rights within the United Nations, and the application of critical race feminism in the context of human rights. Her most recent book with Oxford University Press, Global Intersectionality and Contemporary Human Rights, is the culmination of more than two decades of scholarship related to global human rights. She is a recipient of the Lewis Prize for Excellence in Legal Scholarship, the Ethan Allen Faculty Award for Scholarship, and was twice named a Fulbright Scholar.
At Washington and Lee, Bond also chaired the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion on the President’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee, served on presidential and provost search committees, and restructured the first-year curriculum and designed a new first-year legal writing program.
Bond works with the entire Rutgers Law School community to elevate the school to national prominence.
“I am thrilled to lead Rutgers Law School, an extraordinary institution with an outstanding faculty and a long history of justice-oriented community engagement,” Bond said. “Rutgers Law has a deep commitment to access, diversity and inclusion, public service, and excellence, and I am honored to join the Rutgers Law community as its next dean.”
Johanna Bond, Dean, Rutgers Law School
Research Vice Chancellor is Creating an Impact
The new Vice Chancellor for Research at Rutgers–Camden delivers on a longstanding reputation for pioneering research and academic excellence as the university seeks to expand its Carnegie Classification from R2 toward R1.
BY EILEEN REINHARD
Newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Research Thomas S. Risch, Ph.D., brings to Rutgers University in Camden a broad and dedicated understanding of the value of research at the university level—along with his personal experience as an innovative scientist and committed environmentalist. He recognizes the timely opportunity at Rutgers–Camden to elevate the university’s Carnegie R2 status toward R1, and is excited to take the lead on galvanizing the momentum needed to execute this key change in the university’s classification.
Risch earned more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience prior to accepting his position at Rutgers–Camden. He served as vice provost for research and technology transfer at Arkansas State University—also a Carnegie R2 institution—where he was responsible for the strategy and implementation of a highly visible campaign to promote the growth of research funding and scholarly productivity. Risch was also executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, where he oversaw research in various areas, including genomics, radioactive materials, and health sciences.
Risch has successfully journeyed through years of teaching biosciences to excelling in deep, executive experience at ASU. He is recognized as a leader who can provide vision and strategic direction to research initiatives across Rutgers–Camden’s schools, departments, centers, and institutes. And he is a leader who is championing research collaborations within Rutgers–Camden and across Rutgers, as well as with other research institutions, increasing the university’s impact and recognition while encouraging external investment in research enterprise.
Risch holds a doctoral degree in zoology from Auburn University, a master’s degree in wildlife management from Frostburg State University, and a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies from Stockton State College (now Stockton University).
RISCH
Yet Risch knows that almost anyone with whom he discusses his Ph.D. dissertation on the social behavior of southern flying squirrels will reference the most well-known representative of that species, Rocket J. Squirrel, a.k.a. Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Without missing a beat, Risch argues that Rocky has much to offer by way of understanding the animal kingdom. Even though Rocky is a cartoon character, Risch recognizes that this singular and beloved creature (and others like him) can serve as welcome ambassadors and entry points for those curious about, and interested in, the study of animal behavior.
Risch is confident that no matter how he brings dedicated learners and researchers to the table of understanding animals and their relevant ecosystems, this work, more than ever, is essential for the wellbeing of the planet.
“Ecosystems are what sustain the planet,” Risch said. “One seeddispersing bird or animal can create new forestation. But start to remove links in this chain, like destroying animal habitats or polluting waterways, then the systems degrade and ultimately fail."
“I experienced the connectivity of life during my summer camp days in the Adirondacks. My love of the outdoors led me to want to study wildlife. Fortunately, I found an academic pathway.”
Risch’s career path began as a helicopterborne mosquito control inspector over Ocean County’s salt marshes at the Jersey Shore, but his personal commitment to biosciences is wide-ranging, from teaching to publishing his own research. He recently mentored an Arkansas State student, Dinesh Neupane, whose research in Nepal focuses on the trouble, and danger, caused by elephants’ increasingly too-close interface with humans and how they wreak havoc upon homes and properties. More importantly, this research highlights how human/elephant habitat conflict brings distress to the elephants who are simply doing what elephants in the wild do.
“The elephants are trying to survive,” said Risch. “But their habitat loss is causing them to invade villages. This is a problem for the villagers and for the elephants as herds search for increasingly scarce food sources.”
Risch is enthusiastic about helming research at Rutgers–Camden, where he is a powerful advocate for connecting students at the university to exceptional opportunities for hands-on research. “Because this is a small, engaged community of students, they are able to participate in leading-edge faculty research from as early as their sophomore year,” Risch said. “And that is something to celebrate.”
Dr. Risch removing a bat from a net in Nicaraugua
Dr. Risch installing a detector to record flying squirrels in South Carolina during his dissertation research
Dr. Risch removing a flying squirrel from a live trap
ON COOPER STREET
Advocating for Students, All the Time
Vice Chancellor Marsha Lowery and the Division of Student Academic Success use a personal approach to help students thrive
BY LEE OWEN
When Marsha Lowery was the same age as many of the students she now works with as Rutgers University in Camden’s vice chancellor for student academic success, she experienced a striking and unsettling discovery: Not all of her fellow undergraduate students had access to the resources they needed to meet their basic needs.
“It really made me see the disparity between growing up in a middle-class family and the experience of someone who did not,” said Lowery, who is from the Philadelphia suburb of Haverford. “Some of my friends and peers couldn’t afford textbooks and weren’t able to complete all their assignments. They didn’t have access to SAT prep or exposure to foreign language or advance placement classes in high school—things that were more the norm for me or someone from my background. Obstacles like this can even keep students from graduating on time.”
It was this epiphany that pushed Lowery toward the professional path she has chosen: to positively impact the lives of young people in any way she can. Now in her eighth year at Rutgers–Camden, Lowery leads the Division of Student Academic Success, which oversees crucial programs and services that support the university’s students as they progress toward graduation and their future careers. In many cases, these careers have the potential to transform the lives of entire families and communities.
Marsha Lowery, Vice Chancellor for student academic success
“As my world expanded, though I was not rich by any stretch, I realized that, comparatively, I lived in a space of privilege. It made me ask what it would be like if everyone had an even playing field. I feel very strongly that college is what breaks the cycle for many of us; if you can achieve success [in college], you are much more likely to have a better future for yourself, your family, and those around you.”
Lowery’s focus on knocking down barriers led her to initial positions with the Philadelphia Youth Network, the city’s Women’s Resource Center, and Upward Bound (in the latter program, she worked with a student named Malcolm Kenyatta, who is now the Pennsylvania state representative for a North Philadelphia district).
She initially arrived at Rutgers–Camden in 2015 as director of the Educational Opportunity Fund, a statewide program that supports firstgeneration college students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Lowery became the university’s assistant chancellor for student academic success in late 2016, and was promoted to vice chancellor in February 2022.
A key priority for Lowery and her office’s 50+ fulland part-time staff members, success coaches, and peer tutors/coaches is to help close racial equity gaps in graduation rates among the student body. Lowery co-leads a strategic planning group (known informally as the “Data Nerds”) to address this and other challenges. “
We have so many opportunities here to close equity gaps for our students, since we’re an accessoriented institution,” Lowery said. (More than half of Rutgers–Camden students are first-generation college students, and more than 50 percent of the student body identifies as nonwhite, qualifying the school for Minority Serving Institution status.) “Our role is to ensure that all of our students are retained through graduation, but we do have a particular focus on historically underrepresented students to ensure they’re graduating at rates equal to their peers.”
Within Rutgers–Camden, the Division of Student Academic Success resides at the intersection of academic affairs and student affairs. “Most student success offices at universities are housed in either enrollment management or student affairs, but our place allows us to be highly collaborative across the board and not just serve a subset of student needs, but to truly serve the entire person,” Lowery said. “Success can be measured by many different statistics, whether it’s four-year graduation numbers or retention rate. But numbers don’t tell the whole story; they don’t always show the true impact we’re having.”
• Camden Fellows
• Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS)
• Office of Disability Services
• Office of Retention
• Office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising
• Educational Opportunity Fund
• Mountainview/NJ-STEP
• Raptor Connect (EAB/Navigate)
• Student Success Coach Office
• TRiO Student Support Services
From the beginning, Rutgers–Camden places a high priority on acclimating new community members (including students) into the fabric of the school. In advance of the start of the 2023–2024 academic year, Student Academic Success partnered with the offices of enrollment management and student affairs on a number of enhancements to the school’s Scarlet Raptor Welcome student orientation.
“We’ve added success sessions to help students focus on what they need to know before they even set foot in a classroom,” Lowery said. “Things like how to advocate for oneself, available resources, and opportunities for engagement. We’ve also added sessions for parents and families as well. We know the obstacles our students face; they may be working full-time jobs or taking care of younger siblings, and if they have family responsibilities that don’t allow them to focus on being a student, it will be more difficult for them to find success here. So, in a proactive way, we’re having these conversations with parents so they can begin thinking about things they can do for their children—our students—so the students can fully focus on the college experience they want to have.”
In her role, Lowery frequently welcomes large groups of students or prospective students to campus; she describes these opportunities as one of the things she loves most about working at Rutgers–Camden.
“I tell them I wasn’t the greatest college student and didn’t have the highest GPA,” Lowery said. “But your possibilities are not limited because you might not meet some kind of expectation other people have decided they have for you. Your options are truly endless. It’s not anyone’s job here to define what you are capable of; you have to decide that for yourself and then you work toward that in whatever way you are most able.”
ON COOPER STREET
Home From The Start
Scarlet Raptor Welcome orientation activities aim to instill a sense of belonging
At this fall’s annual Scarlet Raptor Welcome—Rutgers University in Camden’s official orientation program for its new students—the stage for the event was intentionally rotated to feature the campus as a backdrop. (In previous years, the Philadelphia skyline across the Delaware River was visible beyond the stage.)
While subtle, it was a message to the students joining the community: This is your home.
BY LEE OWEN
The data is consistent: The deeper college students immerse themselves in life on campus, the higher their chance of a smooth journey to graduation and a walk across the platform (and into the “real world”) with diploma in hand. It’s no surprise, then, that Rutgers–Camden’s Division of Student Affairs is committed to ensuring students truly feel at home from the moment they set foot on campus.
Students enter the Scarlet Raptor Welcome
“Whether a student lives on campus or commutes here, if we don’t meet them where they are and help them get involved, we’re missing the mark,” said Allison Wisniewski, who serves as Rutgers–Camden’s campus dean of students, executive director of student life, and Title IX coordinator; she has worked on campus since 1997. “More than four decades of research supports that engagement outside the classroom is a true marker for increased retention and graduation rates. It also helps our students become better people overall, and their holistic development is enhanced by being involved.”
Vice Chancellor Mary Beth Daisey, who oversees all student-affairs programming and nearly 70 full-time employees (along with a total workforce of more than 120, including student workers and part-time coaches within the 15 departments) champions the same approach.
“We want our students to feel at home
and also to be comfortable asking different campus offices for help and connecting with their peers as soon as they can,” Daisey said. “All our students balance multiple priorities while they are here; some have families, some have jobs, and they all have school work.
“The tenacity and work ethic of our students is so inspiring—both our student leaders, who have ideas they want to implement to improve this community, and the students who struggle during their journey here. Struggle is a part of life, and it can be a life lesson you carry with you forever. Our students work hard and really care about their fellow students and want to make things better for the students who will follow them here.”
Among the tangible campus examples of students working to help solve problems for their peers is the newly expanded and renamed Scarlet Raptor’s Nest food pantry, which celebrated a grand re-opening in September when its larger footprint opened in the on-campus Camden Apartments complex. The food pantry began serving students in 2017 as a project of the Student Wellness Center, and has provided critical support to those wrestling with food insecurity ever since. (Food insecurity is a concern for college students nationwide; an estimated 20 percent of those attending college lack consistent access to adequate nutrition.)
“If we’re able to help meet the needs of a student, it’s one less thing a student has to worry about,” Wisniewski said. “Food and money are constant stressors for students, and if we can alleviate some of those concerns for them, they can focus more on simply being college students.”
Left, Matthew Brodsky, SGA president, welcomes incoming students to campus. Below, Opportunities are created for students to form new friendships and a strong sense of community.
The Scarlet Raptor Nest food pantry re-opened in September 2023
A Degree
Decades in the Making
71-year-old doctor of nursing practice student aims to continue providing and promoting quality medical care around the world
BY ALINA O'DONNELL
At an age when many of her contemporaries are settling into retirement, Veronica Charles is just getting started on the next chapter of her nursing career. For the 71-year-old Charles, who recently received the United Health Foundation’s Diverse Clinician Advancement Scholarship in support of her work, earning a doctor of nursing practice degree isn’t a bucket list item to cross off—it’s part of her ultimate goal to help as many people as possible.
Charles completed the requirements for her bachelor of science in nursing at Widener University in 1993, but didn’t officially graduate until 2017, as her diploma was withheld due to unpaid fees. In the meantime, she worked a number of less lucrative jobs—in settings including nursing homes and home care—to make ends meet.
“As a single parent, I had to put food on the table and a roof over our heads,” Charles said. “Some weeks, I would put in 100 hours. I slept in my car between jobs. Coming home, I would be so tired, I would have to pull over on the side of the road and sleep to keep myself safe.”
Still, Charles made time to focus on those less fortunate. She and her two children would often drive through medically underserved communities, providing screenings of blood pressure, blood glucose, and vital signs to individuals in need.
When Charles’s children moved out on their own, she expanded her mission to different regions and even overseas. She has spent the last 20 years volunteering in health clinics across the United States and internationally, from the Caribbean to Nigeria, Liberia, India, the Philippines, and Sierra Leone, where she was born and raised.
“Many of the issues I’m addressing, like lice and ringworm, are easily curable with over-the-counter medication—treatments we take for granted in the United States,” Charles said. “When you see how people welcome you and are thankful for simple things—when you see the changes and how much better their body feels, it is very rewarding.”
Charles initially enrolled in Rutgers–Camden’s doctor of nursing practice program in 2017, but was forced to put her plans on hold when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer that same year. Her initial prognosis was grim, but after several months of hospitalization and fighting through multiple complications, she was declared cancer-free. Charles said this experience was the final push she needed to cross the finish line.
Charles’s degree—as well as the funding from United Health—will give her the autonomy and credentials to provide more robust care in her future travels. When she graduates in 2025 as a nurse practitioner, she looks forward to returning to Africa and educating communities on lifestyle changes and disease prevention.
“I may not have the money to take care of everybody, but teaching simple things would be a blessing,” Charles said.
Charles is proud of her journey and grateful to be recognized by the United Health Foundation. She feels her story is a testament to the power of hard work and determination.
“For somebody to think about me and to say I am worthy of something I had never received in my life, it is a very welcome gift,” Charles said.
CHARLES
Full of Scarlet Spirit
Spend any amount of time on the Rutgers University in Camden campus, and you’re liable to bump into Kaila Crozier CCAS’22. Depending on the day (or the hour), she may be in front of a classroom as a student teacher, working an athletic contest, or helping to organize a TEDx event.
In fact, students, employees, and visitors to campus may have already rubbed elbows—or scarlet-colored Raptor wings—with Crozier and not even known it; Crozier frequently dons the Scarlet Raptor mascot costume for games and events in the community, providing her an ideal forum to exude what she calls Scarlet spirit.
“It brings me joy to be able to connect with people to promote Rutgers–Camden at different events and help showcase different clubs and organizations,” said Crozier, who is from nearby Cherry Hill and is pursuing a master of arts in teaching after graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in English.
How a set of Raptor wings led an alumna to discover the campus’s “true heart and soul”
“Honestly, it’s a lot of fun to just walk around in the Raptor suit and be goofy. Since no one knows who you are, you can have a different identity and act like somebody else. Getting to see kids smile is great. I think at every event, there’s always at least one moment where I say, ‘That was cute.’ That’s why I do what I do.”
As Crozier can attest, the Scarlet Raptor has even had the opportunity to flock with some fellow feathered friends; one of Crozier’s favorite experiences as the mascot came at an off-campus event that featured penguins from Camden’s nearby Adventure Aquarium. “The penguins looked like they were caught off guard by this person in a bird suit,” Crozier remembered with a smile. “It was really funny and a lot of fun.”
Crozier gained acceptance to Rutgers–Camden during an “Instant Decision Day” event during her senior year at Cherry Hill High School East. Crozier met with representatives from the Office of Admissions and received a same-day acceptance. “It relieved a lot of stress for me,” Crozier said.
After spending her first year making the 15-minute commute from home to campus, Crozier says she ramped up her participation in campus activities as a sophomore—and her involvement hasn’t stopped since. “Being part of the Photography Club helped me connect with others on campus, and I really started to see the value of getting involved,” she said; she would eventually join the staff of the university’s Gleaner student newspaper and assist the athletic department with promotions and game management. When she wasn’t donning the Raptor costume, Crozier became a different kind of fixture at Raptor athletic events as a public address announcer for several sports, including soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball.
“Working as an announcer at games helped me gain self-confidence and has also helped with leadership skills,” she said.
“Getting involved helped me see that our campus and this community have true heart and soul. It’s something you truly have to experience for yourself to understand. That’s why I tell people to be as involved as you can when you’re a student here; it will really determine your outlook and your perspective.”
As she nears the completion of her graduate degree in spring 2024, Crozier is still evaluating different potential career paths, but knows she wants to land in a field where she can make a positive impact on others and the world. “Whether it’s through teaching or counseling or some sort of administration, I’ve come to realize how important it is to have people in your life that are careful and considerate,” she said. “I’ve been lucky to have all these great opportunities here.”
CROZIER
BY LEE OWEN
Shining Bright
Formerly incarcerated student conducts laser research at Princeton
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
Computer science major Wali Palmer recently completed a research internship at one of the nation’s Ivy League institutions. It has been a journey for the junior, who took his first courses at Rutgers University in Camden “behind the wall.”
While incarcerated at a state prison on multiple charges, Palmer applied to take college courses through the NJ Step Program. NJSTEP is a partnership between the State of New Jersey Department of Corrections and New Jersey State Parole Board and higher education institutions that offers an avenue to higher learning in prison and support with the transition to college post-release. Admission to NJSTEP is a multi-step process. With entry tests, an essay, and a screening, the selection process for Palmer to enter the NJSTEP program took three years, after which Palmer earned his associate degree in liberal arts before enrolling in classes at Rutgers–Camden.
He wanted to learn more about electrical engineering and chose computer science as the closest major to his passion last fall. That was the easy part. Palmer was living under restrictions in a halfway house, and a compounding of issues led him to withdraw from classes in what he recalled was a “disastrous” first semester. By the following spring, things started to fall into place. “The whole experience of being in college and doing things that I never imagined I'd be doing, it's liberating, because it's opened new doors. Everybody should have an opportunity to open new doors,” Palmer said.
“Loss is gonna happen, period, in life, and you're going to lose. But it's what you do after you lose that matters."
That semester, he learned of an opportunity at Princeton University through its Prison Teaching Initiative program, which pairs formerly incarcerated students with faculty to provide research opportunities in STEM fields. The nine-week summer internship would have Palmer commuting more than two hours one way each day, taking three modes of public transportation to intern at Princeton’s School of Engineering.
It was all worth it for Palmer, who worked alongside Claire Gmachl, Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering, and her research team. He learned to design for a kind of semiconductor laser called a quantum cascade laser using software the team had developed in their lab. Gmachl’s team is working to optimize these lasers, where they can be used in a range of applications, from detecting illnesses to counterintelligence.
That “you could use lasers to be able to do those things was next-level stuff. That was revelatory for me,” Palmer said.
Having never been exposed to this material before, Palmer took his best educated guess on the material compositions, trying to emulate the tutorial the team gave him as much as possible.
“Every day brings about a new opportunity and journey. I didn't plan to take computer science, I didn't plan to even be going to the Princeton internship. It’s just an opportunity that presented itself.”
“I was thinking that with just my intuition, it would be somewhat successful. But the laser that I initially designed was no good, it was not a good laser,” he said. After reviewing Gmachl’s research and some trial and error, he landed on what he described as a “good, really actionable laser.”
Palmer was awe-inspired by both the physical spaces and the community he discovered through his internship. “People who didn't know me, didn't know why I was there or what I was there for, didn't look at me like ‘Whatcha doing here,’ you know? The place itself, the university, was a wonderful experience,” he said.
His future may include graduate school, but Palmer hasn’t stopped to think about that just yet. One thing that has crossed his mind is connecting more youth with computers, especially with computer programming. He would love to offer community programs that teach kids how to code. In the meantime, he is eager to move forward in his major and “gain a greater understanding of computers. It goes hand in hand with that in everything, computers are the future,” he said. “So that's why I don’t intend to go anywhere.”
PALMER
Heading Into Space
Rutgers–Camden Jack Kent Cooke Scholar has her eyes set on NASA
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
Growing up in Pflugerville, a small town outside of Austin, Texas, Amber Traylor dreamed of changing the world but was unsure if she would get the chance.
“I grew up in a low-income household where no one in my family had graduated from college,” said Traylor, a first-generation honor student studying chemistry at Rutgers University in Camden. “When I graduated from high school, I had to work to support myself, and continued on that path for the next several years."
Traylor, who has been named a Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholar by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, is among 60 high-achieving community college students selected from a pool of more than 1,700 applicants to receive this scholarship, designed to allow students to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible.
“Ms. Traylor exemplifies our hopes for all Honors College students: she has embraced the opportunities for students in the Rutgers–Camden community through her advocacy, her service to the Camden community, and her eagerness to develop robust relationships among her peers,” said Lee Ann Elliott Westman, director of the Honors College at Rutgers–Camden. “These early investments of her time and energy will be an asset to her and her fellow Rutgers–Camden Honors College students. We are privileged to work with exceptional students such as Ms. Traylor every day.”
Traylor has overcome many obstacles, such as a tragic, life-changing hitand-run accident in her late 20s, which left her unable to work and with a great deal of debt.
“I met an amazing mentor who asked me a profound question: what do you really want to do with your life?” said Traylor. “I knew I wanted to help people, and I knew I wanted to go to college, so she convinced me to enroll in a local community college.”
“I can’t afford a four-year university, but the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is allowing me to do just that, and it is a tremendous relief,” said Traylor. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses—including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees—for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree and can be as much as $55,000 a year.
Along with financial support, Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars also receive comprehensive educational advising to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year college, opportunities for internships and to study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of more than 3,000 Cooke Scholars and alumni.
“It’s so amazing to have someone in my corner working to ensure that I am successful and can achieve my dreams,” Traylor said. “The Foundation pushes each scholar to dream big and experience everything this time in our lives has to offer. I cannot imagine my life without their support.”
Traylor, who studied carbon capture technology and was a NASA Community College Aerospace Scholar during her time in community college, is thrilled to use the opportunity provided by the Cooke Scholarship to further her academic career at Rutgers–Camden.
“Since coming to Rutgers–Camden, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many people that inspire me and are fueling my passion for chemistry, especially organic chemistry," said Traylor. Once she completes her undergraduate studies, she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in chemistry or biochemistry. However, there is one thing of which she is certain.
“I want to change the world and make it a better place for people who have struggled like me.”
TRAYLOR
Bringing the Competition Home
After witnessing the benefits of STEM Olympiad, Syeda Aiman Nadeem worked
to help Rutgers–Camden host the event
BY DUSTIN PETZOLD
It an aIt could be tempting to conclude that science is in Syeda Aiman Nadeem’s blood, but the Rutgers–Camden senior would likely have a more complex view on the roles of nature and nurture. While exploring her love of biology at her high school in Pakistan, she frequently found herself at the top of her class in the study of genetics. Today, she dreams of researching RNA and applying her findings to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. But as much as she looks forward to a career of life-saving research, Nadeem is also making the most of her college experience. One extracurricular activity that has especially resonated with her is STEM Olympiad, a team event characterized by collaboration, puzzle solving, and fun.
STEM Olympiad uses activities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to connect students from a variety of majors and backgrounds, Nadeem explained. It’s a friendly competition, with students inside and outside of STEM fields participating.
Nadeem had first participated in STEM Olympiad back in Pakistan, but when she arrived at Rutgers–Camden, she found that the school didn’t have a team. She moved to start a club herself, getting help from Kwangwon Lee, associate professor of biology. She logged on to the Rutgers app to find like-minded students interested in joining; professors Anthony Geneva, Nathan Fried, and Amy Savage also came on board as faculty advisers. With the framework assembled, it was time for the games to begin.
“After forming a solid team, we held several meetings to make sure everyone was on the same page,” Nadeem said. “The fun part began when we designed and tested activities, recruited actors, and marketed the event.” The students and faculty designed puzzles and challenges themed around a crime scene, so Kimberlee Moran, associate professor of chemistry and director of the Rutgers–Camden Forensic Science program, helped set up an engaging and realistic murder mystery to be solved.
“While my original intention was to make the event inclusive of other colleges, we opted to hold the inaugural STEM Olympiad with teams from our own campus,” Nadeem said. “Now, with the upcoming second annual event, we’re excited to broaden our horizons and extend invitations to neighboring colleges. By expanding our reach, we’re not only creating new opportunities but also helping our students make connections beyond our campus.”
Nadeem’s efforts to bring a new event to campus did not go unnoticed; in April of 2023, she received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Engagement at the Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement (DICE) Awards ceremony. The Rutgers–Camden STEM Olympiad was recognized for its embrace of ethnic diversity and for welcoming students from a variety of academic disciplines.
“It was rewarding to see different majors working together as a team, each
bringing their own thoughts and ideas,” Nadeem said.
“Non-STEM majors had fun in the world of STEM without feeling singled out, and everyone walked away from the experience having learned something new.”
As Nadeem’s time as an undergraduate nears its end, she has set up the STEM Olympiad for long-term success on campus. Reflecting on the legacy she has created at the university, she also spoke about the impact Rutgers–Camden has made on her.
“There is a strong sense of community and students are provided with abundant opportunities,” Nadeem said. “There’s a unique closeness that allows us to truly thrive. The friendly atmosphere and ample resources for growth set us apart from many other institutions.”
NADEEM
Leading from a Place of Purpose
Campus SGA president’s name may be coming to a ballot near you
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
The 2016 election cycle left an indelible impression on a young Matthew Brodsky. “I knew I really wanted to get involved in politics and policy and create change,” Brodsky recalled. “It just happened. I mean, I went through a bunch of other phases growing up—dinosaurs. Baseball is something I still love. But politics has always just stuck. And I knew that's where I was meant to be.”
Brodsky, now a senior political science major at Rutgers University in Camden, has never wavered from that political pursuit. With a congressional internship on his résumé and future plans that include public office, Brodsky serves as Student Governing Association (SGA) president, advocating for student organizations and civic engagement, particularly around voter registration.
A College of Arts and Sciences student, Brodsky is the student lead of the RUC Votes, a nonpartisan group whose goal is to increase campus voter engagement and education. Last year, the coalition helped Rutgers–Camden win the state’s Ballot Bowl, a competition among New Jersey colleges and universities to register the most voters and secure the most pledges to vote.
The RUC Votes Coalition project stemmed from Brodsky’s work as a Bonner Civic Scholar, which prepares students for public service leadership through community-based partnerships. The program, which includes 300 hours of service per year, is “just a really rewarding opportunity,” said Brodsky; he credits that work with preparing him for acceptance into the Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award Program.
“I would always tell my parents it's not a matter of if I go to D.C., it's just a matter of when, because I love the city,” Brodsky said.
“I visited my sophomore year of high school with my family and said I need to work here at some point. The trouble was finding financial support to do the internship because D.C. is expensive.” The Eagleton award covered expenses for Brodsky to intern for Congressman Greg Casar of Texas last summer. Working on constituent and policy-related issues within the House of Representatives felt surreal for Brodsky.
“Just being there on the Hill, you run into people you only see on C-SPAN or CNN. Now these people are real. And you get to see some of the drama that might happen on the Hill,” he explained. “But I loved it. I like to be able to work in environments that are constantly changing, kind of fast, because I like to be on my toes. And it makes you feel like you’re a part of something when things are constantly happening. I like that feeling.”
As SGA president, Brodsky said his role (and the organization’s) is to serve as an advocate when students have concerns. “We meet with key players at the university to actually make something happen or make improvements to something that we believe just isn’t working in the best possible way for students here,” Brodsky said. He is committed to supporting student organizations; “I want to give them the ability to express their creativity and do amazing events,” he said. The SGA is also seeking to increase student access to graduate test prep programs, including the GRE and GMAT, as well as on-campus programs that prepare students for graduate school.
Brodsky is considering enrolling in a public policy or public affairs master’s program after he graduates this spring. He eventually sees himself running for public office; to serve has been “a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” he added. He explained his long-term career goal:
“I just want to be someone who can help enact meaningful legislation that can change people’s lives for the better.
It sounds so clichéd. But to me, if I look back on my life when I’m 60 or 70 and I feel like I haven’t benefited a group of people—or just one person—in some way, I won’t feel like I’ve done enough in my life. I just need to do that; it’s a must for me.”
BRODSKY
Rethinking the Ivory Tower
Prentiss
Dantzler GSC’16 researches the intersection of race and urban housing policy at home and abroad
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE DIPLOMA in hand, Prentiss Dantzler returned home after years in the Pennsylvania suburbs and grew concerned with what he saw in his West Philadelphia neighborhood. Public housing had been fenced around, doomed for demolition. His father’s home was in foreclosure amid a looming housing crisis.
“I was increasingly interested in changes within the city and around the region and concerned with how these changes were impacting Black communities,” Dantzler said.
Dantzler soon enrolled at Rutgers University in Camden, earning a master of science in community development and a doctoral degree in public affairs. Since graduating, he has expanded his own educational practice, where he teaches at the highest levels of academia and conducts research at the nexus of housing policy, urban poverty, race, ethnicity, and community development.
Dantzler teaches sociology, urban policy, and community development courses as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Through his instruction, he wants students to learn the causes of social inequalities and imagine an alternative future. He draws upon his experience at Rutgers–Camden, where, as a graduate student, he was immediately impressed by the high-level commitment of faculty to advance change.
“Given that many of the faculty work in more applied spaces, such as urban inequality, criminal justice, education reform, community-based organizations, and political advocacy, my approach to scholarship has focused on addressing important questions while also suggesting policy recommendations to create meaningful change for those not able to advocate for themselves,” Dantzler said.
Brains, Heart, and Courage
Ph.D. graduate in childhood studies shares how lessons from “The Wizard of Oz” shape his life and work
BY CAROLINE BROBEIL
Dantzler recalled a pivotal moment as a grad student that affirmed his academic and professional calling. He was preparing for the course Logic of Social Inquiry in a shared office space with other research assistants. As one of the younger, less experienced students in the program, he was overwhelmed and questioned whether he should continue. As the cohort met to discuss the day’s readings, someone else expressed similar feelings, which elicited a shared relief and resolve among the group.
“I quickly realized that this was what graduate school was all about: working with others to solve problems,” Dantzler said. “This became a common practice for us and was the main reason I continued in the program. My cohort deserves as much praise as the faculty and staff at Rutgers-Camden in shaping my academic journey.”
Dantzler’s research took on a distinctly Canadian focus when he joined the University of Toronto in 2021. He is leading a mixed-methods study on social housing and neighborhood change in his adopted hometown, working with a team of student researchers to collect data on housing inequality. He explained that Canada, like the United States, is undergoing a housing crisis, with salaries that have not kept up with the cost of living.
“What is clear is that people in Camden, Philadelphia, and Toronto have housing issues, and those issues are not adequately being solved by state actors and institutions,” Dantzler said. “For me, the values and practices within community development hold opportunities for what’s possible in an increasingly unequal society.”
Dantzler was awarded the 2023 Jane Addams Best Article Award by the American Sociological Association’s Community and Urban Sociology section for his article “The Urban Process Under Racial Capitalism: Race, Anti-Blackness, and Capital Accumulation,” which appeared in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and the City. It is difficult to speak of such inequality without turning an eye to higher education, where, according to a 2020 study, just 3 percent of instruction was led by Black men. Dantzler was inspired by Black mentors while at Rutgers–Camden, and he cited dissertation work from Black scholars at area universities.
“Scholarship is a political project. And many scholars of color embed a political praxis within their work,” Dantzler said. “In many ways, our work is challenging canonical thinking within the field. My career has been, and continues to be, intentionally and unintentionally shaped by a broader community of Black scholars from the past and present.”
AS A QUIET, CREATIVE boy growing up on a cotton farm in northeastern Louisiana, Ryan Bunch GSC’23 would look forward to the annual network television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz. Watching Dorothy travel from a black-and-white Kansas prairie to a colorful fantasy world filled with magical creatures that could sing, dance, and fly, he was filled with hope that there was more beyond the limits of his small southern town. Since then, his love of L. Frank Baum’s book series and its myriad offshoots for page, stage, and screen has expanded and endured; earlier this year, he was named the new president of the International Wizard of Oz Club. But who is the man behind the curtain?
“I grew up in a rural community where I was a queer, creative misfit,” said Bunch. “Oz and other fantasies helped me cultivate a strong sense of my interior self despite my extreme shyness in real life, much like Dorothy’s friends, who found brains, heart, and courage within themselves.”
DANTZLER
BUNCH
Alumnus Champions Diversity, Inclusivity in Public Service
Executive Master of Public Administration alumnus advocates for greater representation
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
JOE FORTE GSC’20 has held progressively higher-ranking roles in New Jersey government. But it’s his current position as deputy chief of staff and chief diversity officer at the New Jersey Department of State that best reflects his innate passion for inclusivity and public service. For the longtime state government leader and Rutgers University in Camden Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) alumnus, identity both influences and drives his diversity work.
“Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community grants me a unique perspective that reinforces the understanding that we are all interconnected,” Forte said. “This awareness drives my commitment to making sure everyone is valued and respected, regardless of their background.”
Growing up with a disabled family member gave Forte a “profound appreciation for the importance of assisting others.” He launched a career in public service, finding this avenue to be “the most impactful way to create meaningful change.” He cut his teeth as an intern, then worked his way up to outreach director, deputy chief of staff, and chief of staff positions in the New Jersey state legislature.
Forte sought to further his education in a graduate program while still serving in the public sector. He found such an offering in the EMPA program at Rutgers–Camden through the recommendation of a friend who had thrived in the program.
“The strong presence of Rutgers alumni in state and local government assured me of the program's relevance and applicability to my career goals,” Forte said.
The EMPA program gave Forte the skills needed for leadership roles in government. He credited Angie McGuire, program director, with influencing his academic career. “She oversaw the capstone process, and I am so grateful for her leadership,” he said. “Her class was particularly engaging and boosted my understanding of the subject matter.”
Forte also expressed thanks for the ongoing relationships he has maintained with faculty in the program. “Staying connected with several professors has been valuable, offering continued mentorship and leadership guidance that I deeply appreciate,” he added.
With cohorts limited to 20, EMPA student groups are intentionally small— and that is precisely how Forte found lifelong friends. He recalled two standout memories that bookended his master’s program experience. He connected with two students at orientation, “and our instant connection assured me of lasting friendships.” During capstone week, the entire cohort went on an off-site trip, which “not only provided a memorable experience but also helped strengthen the bonds within our group,” he said.
Forte later served for the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, at which point his advocacy for diversity and inclusion firmly took root. “There, I focused on recruiting and community outreach to promote opportunities within the government,” he said. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Forte to convert more than 500 community outreach events to virtual platforms, “highlighting the vital role of collaboration with community groups, colleges, universities, and veterans,” he explained.
The statewide business news platform ROI-NJ recognized Forte in 2023 by placing him on its inaugural list of Leading Figures in New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ Community. ROI-NJ cited Forte’s longtime work in state government as well as his role as vice chair of the N.J. Democratic State Committee LGBTQ Caucus. He was also appointed New Jersey’s co-chair for President Biden’s Presidential Inaugural Committee National Day of Service event. So where does he see LGBTQ+ representation for leaders in government? “At all levels.”
Bunch, who graduated with his doctorate in childhood studies from the Graduate School at Rutgers University in Camden, is the author of Oz and the Musical: Performing the American Fairy Tale, published by Oxford University Press in 2022, which explores the impact of the story and its many adaptations on American culture.
“When I was younger, the Oz club was an important connection to a new community of people with whom I shared a common interest,” said Bunch. He believes time spent at the conferences throughout the years both connected him with like-minded friends and inspired him to think critically about children’s culture and popular entertainment at an early age, eventually leading to the academic work he does now.
“After getting a master’s degree in historical musicology, I was working in a variety of different jobs, but I always wanted to study childhood from a cultural and political perspective,” Bunch said. “The childhood studies program at Rutgers-Camden was perfect for me, not only because it’s the only such program in the country, but also because I was already teaching in the music program at Rutgers-Camden, so it already felt like my academic home.”
And, as Dorothy herself famously said: There’s no place like home.
FORTE
COURT Holding
Biology major, artist, and volleyball star?
It’s all in a day’s work for Isabella
Choice
BY CHRISTINA LYNN
At 10 years old, Isabella Choice took up volleyball for fun in her hometown of Tallahassee, Fla. Now, the 6'2" senior, who plays the middle and outside hitter positions for the Rutgers–Camden Scarlet Raptors, is considered one of the top players in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
As a junior, Choice led her team with 279 kills (unreturnable offensive plays) and 74 blocks; she finished second with 42 service aces. That same year, Choice earned NJAC Second Team honors. In the classroom, the biology major and Honors College student is on a pre-med track and regularly graces the dean’s list.
Choice started to play volleyball in fifth grade, both in school and on club teams. There, a volleyball touring agency scouted her for international play. At 15, she was selected to represent the United States at a competition in Europe, where her team finished ranked fifth in the world.
When it came time to look at universities, Choice and her family searched all over the Southeast for a school that offered competitive volleyball as well as biology courses to support her pre-med aspirations. When she expanded her search to the Northeast, she discovered Rutgers University in Camden’s academics—and a warm welcome from the Scarlet Raptor volleyball program.
“I walked into the locker room, and the entire team was there to greet me,” Choice said. “Coach [David] Gurst had a Rutgers–Camden jersey with my number and name over the locker. I knew that I had found my college.”
Photo courtesy of Jack Verdeur
COURT
This past summer, the same agency that recruited Choice to play abroad in high school chose her and her Rutgers–Camden teammate Dyamond Free to compete in a European tour. The team was stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then visited several countries before heading to Croatia for a four-day tournament.
Choice checked off those signature European experiences on the trip: reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, seeing the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, and taking a gondola ride in Venice (on her birthday). She loved handling the currency and learning to say “thank you” and “hello” in the native languages of the places she visited.
One evening, Choice’s team shared a family-style meal with counterparts from Bosnia. “It was not like in America, where each person orders a separate entrée,” Choice said. “In Bosnia, eating together means something different. I loved that welcoming feeling.” During the meal, they learned about the Bosnian War and its profound impact. “There are still bullet holes in many buildings where people live,” she said.
Choice also strengthened her game on the trip. Under European volleyball rules, players in middle hitter positions must serve the ball, and Choice welcomed the challenge. "I loved serving the ball to a win,” she said. “I loved expanding my game by developing defensive strategies against various styles of play.”
Back at Rutgers–Camden, Choice crafted her fall schedule to prioritize her responsibilities for school first.
“Academics have always been a condition for playing volleyball ever since I started in middle school,” Choice said. She has consistently taken summer courses to keep her academic workload more manageable during volleyball season.
Choice also carved out space for her art minor, which stems from a longstanding love of painting and photography. Courses like Intro to Art History I and Philosophy and the Arts helped to develop her passions. She has also won several art contests, but for the moment, she prefers to save her competitive fire for the volleyball court.
“I am painting to relax,” Choice said. “I have a wall of paintings in my apartment that I love to share with my teammates.”
She credited her family for providing a solid support system at home, despite the distance. “My father played basketball in college and then professionally for 10 years abroad,” Choice said. “And my mom is a lawyer. I have watched them both work hard. My parents have instilled a strong work ethic in me.”
With the arrival of her senior year and her last season of college volleyball, Choice wants to soak up every moment before graduation and medical school.
“I also want to win as many games as we can this year,” Choice said.
Choice visited Paris, France as part of her international competition and tour.
Choice representing the United States in international competition.
Left,
Right,
Photo courtesy of Nikkita Hovell
Gem by the River
Once without a home, Rutgers–Camden baseball now occupies one of the most beautiful ballparks in the sport
BY DUSTIN PETZOLD
Just beyond the outfield of the Camden Athletic Complex, the majestic Ben Franklin Bridge strikes a powerful pose against the city skyline. Ambitious batters may even dream of sending a home run sailing far beyond the left-field fence to land with a splash in the Delaware River. A day at the ballpark couldn’t come with much more aesthetic appeal; in February of this year, NCAA.com named the complex one of the 11 best backdrops in college baseball. But for Scarlet Raptor baseball’s players and coaches, the facility’s visuals are merely a small part of its appeal. After the program cycled through a series of temporary homes—and even spent a season with no home at all—the new baseball diamond, completed prior to the 2022 season, represents the support of a community and an investment in the team’s future.
Through the end of the 2018 season, Scarlet Raptor baseball played its home games at Campbell’s Field, which had formerly hosted the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Demolition of Campbell’s Field began in December 2018, and although the Rutgers University Board of Governors had approved a $7.5 million redevelopment of the site the in 2017, the fruits of this effort would be years away, sending the baseball program into a challenging period.
The team spent the 2019 season playing home games on the fields of multiple New Jersey county colleges and at the Maplezone Sports Institute in Aston, Pennsylvania—28 miles from the Rutgers–Camden campus. In 2020, the team played just six games—including two home contests at Rider University—before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the season. The program then made the difficult decision to play the entire 2021 season on the road.
“The team didn’t let it affect them, but it was definitely not ideal,” said Rutgers–Camden Director of Athletics Jeff Dean. “Parents and families were loyal and wanted to watch their kids play, but they had to travel everywhere and follow them around.”
"I was a first-year coach when the pandemic hit, and trying to recruit kids without a field was extremely challenging," said Ryan Kulik, head coach of Rutgers–Camden baseball. "We used to have to practice on the soccer field while the softball team and the track and field team were also practicing. At times there were four or five different sports out there at once in the community park. I don't miss those days at all!"
The grand opening of the Camden Athletic Complex was held on May 2, 2022, but the team ushered in a new era of Scarlet Raptor baseball at the facility long before that. They played their entire 2022 slate of home games on the new field, opening the season by winning both games of a February 27 doubleheader against Oneonta. On April 2, Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a matchup against conference rival Kean University.
“Once the kids knew it was going to be their home, there was relief,” Dean said. “With the surface, turf, and backdrop, it is the top field in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The players, coaches, and families are very thankful to have it.”
DEAN
Shortstop Giacomo Antonicello fields a ball with the iconic Philadelphia skyline in the background
KULIK
The effects of the new field immediately showed up in the clubhouse and box scores. The 2022 season saw the team win more home games than it had since 2015, and in 2023, the Scarlet Raptors boasted a stellar 14-3 home record en route to their first winning season since 2018. Though the season saw the team navigate ups and downs, their new home provided a constant sense of pride.
The baseball facility is managed by the Camden County Parks Department, which also operates the neighboring multipurpose field and track. Rutgers–Camden receives priority usage for practices and games, but the field hosts other teams and leagues within the community.
“It is wonderful to see the whole community making use of the field,” Dean said. “More folks from around the baseball world are getting to know our program, and more students are coming to our games. When the weather warms up in April, it’s not hard to find a perfect day or night to go to the ballpark.”
Dean has seen word spread across campus of the team’s unbeatable new ballpark experience; he noted that the university’s different athletic teams make a concerted effort to attend each other’s games and lend support. The complex has also proven to attract the attention of recruits, who are drawn to the opportunity to play games under bright stadium lights and on the grounds where professional ballplayers once laced up their cleats. For the Rutgers–Camden baseball program as a whole, the sight of the Ben Franklin Bridge beyond the outfield fence carries a rich symbolism of the team’s safe passage out of an uncertain past and into winning years ahead.
Author's note: Jeffrey Dean passed away on Jan. 22, 2024, after more than 30 years of service to Rutgers–Camden. On behalf of the many student-athletes, alumni, and campus community members who considered him a cherished colleague, mentor, and friend, this story is dedicated to his memory.
Above, Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis, City of Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, Dana Redd, and New Jersey Assemblyman Bill Spearman were among those who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Below, Chancellor Tillis wishes players luck ahead of their game versus Kean
Rutgers University–Camden
303 Cooper Street Camden, NJ 08102-1519
CAMDEN.RUTGERS.EDU
Ranked #49 in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Public Colleges and Universities, Rutgers University–Camden is a diverse, research-intensive campus of approximately 6,100 students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels and more than 1,000 faculty and staff members. Located in Camden, N.J., directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, the university is uniquely situated to serve a tight-knit local community while achieving global reach. A U.S. Department of Education-designated Minority Serving Institution, Rutgers–Camden is regarded as a national model for civically engaged urban universities. Recently, Rutgers–Camden earned Carnegie classification as an R2 research university due to a high volume of internationally recognized research, creative output, and scholarly activity.
