“My goal was college,” said Escalante, who hopes to attend law school. “That was my dream in Venezuela, and my goal was to continue following on my dreams as much as I could.”
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Undergraduate Public Policy Student Spotlights
Finding Voice, Building Change: A Path to Policy and Community
“Don’t be intimidated by the small size of the public policy major. There are a lot of opportunities at Rutgers that policy students would be interested in. Use the resources available and don’t limit yourself. I started my college career thinking I would only be willing to work in LGBTQ+ policy, but through the work I’ve done and the classes I’ve taken at Rutgers, I realized I want to focus on the broader topics of social justice and community action.”
Bridging Technology and Policy Through Public Service
If you’re interested in public service in any form, give the public policy major—or at least the intro classes—a try. It’s a comprehensive major with a variety of courses that target different policy areas, such as healthcare, disability, education, and more. Students can discover new pathways that may be intriguing to them. I also learned how to adapt my writing and communication skills more efficiently for a policy or public service-oriented space, which is invaluable no matter your career.”
Weaving Policy, Purpose, and Possibility
“I can’t remember exactly what caused it, but I can remember feeling incredibly connected to defending my environment. The stubborn nihilism and anger I had when I was young became critical and curious about the practicality of a clean energy transition or protecting forests. I fell in love with navigating stakeholders and impacts—and the art of compelling someone to choose the right decision. Public Policy is the most practical major for those considering work in a state/federal agency or legislative body. The professors are incredibly passionate about making policy changes and are filled with expertise—go to their office hours!”
Bloustein public policy undergrad named to New Brunswick BOE
Ashley Caldwell, a public policy at the Bloustein School, has been tapped to fill a vacant seat on the New Brunswick Board of Education after serving as a student representative during her senior year of high school.
Living With Institutional Barriers Inspires a Social Justice-Focused Future
With a deep appreciation for the cultural diversity of her hometown. Amisha wanted to reflect this passion in her academic career. After learning about public policy she said she “felt the stars align and knew this was the place for her.”
Exploring Socioeconomic Inequalities and Possible Solutions Through a Public Policy Lens
With a deep appreciation for the cultural diversity of her hometown. Amisha wanted to reflect this passion in her academic career. After learning about public policy she said she “felt the stars align and knew this was the place for her.”
Navigating risks and trade-offs while formulating concrete remedies to problems
As someone who believes generating constructive change first requires an acute sense of limits, Matthew Mai believes studying public policy analysis is critical for learning how to utilize finite resources in the pursuit of strategic objectives.