Stephanie Fantazzi
Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning, Class of 2027
Certificate/Specializations: Community Development, Social Justice and Health
Hometown: Dover, NJ
Activities at Rutgers: President, Bloustein Social Justice Committee
Stephanie Fantazzi’s journey back to Rutgers wasn’t just a return to the familiar. It was the beginning of a renewed mission to create change in the places that need it most.
“Throughout my life, I had always had the urge to help others,” she said. “In my undergrad years, I started to foster that feeling into a passion for helping those who never had opportunities afforded to them to make something of themselves.” As a Rutgers alumna, Stephanie knew where to go when she was ready to take the next step: the Bloustein School.
Stephanie’s journey to graduate school was far from linear. Originally, her plan was to work for the FBI via an officer’s career in the Navy, and she studied for a dual bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminal Justice. “I worked full-time at Rutgers while attending classes full-time at night in order to take advantage of tuition remission. Being a first-generation American, this was almost necessary to be able to afford my education. Unfortunately,” she said, “my grades suffered.”
Rather than officer’s school, after graduating in 2014, she enlisted as a Seaman Recruit. A medical discharge ended that chapter, and several years of rediscovery followed.
“I took a few years trying to figure out what to do next. I went back to school for an Associate’s in Broadcasting Arts & Media and graduated cum laude. I had many different types of jobs, but none of them felt like I was making any sort of progress in life or difference in the world,” she continued.
“Fast forward to 2024, and I realized that I wanted to make a change. My first thought was to go back to my alma mater and see what brought me passion. And this time, I would make it my main focus, study hard, and take advantage of every opportunity provided to me.
Stephanie applied to the Master of Public Policy program with the goal of pursuing a path shaped by both advocacy and a drive to understand how communities function. “As I thought about what I’d want to change in the world, I realized that everything starts with policy and advocacy. If we want change, we need to be able to mobilize people with a shared interest and pass laws to support those interests,” she said.
She started to think about how policymakers could better help the incarcerated gain skills and opportunities needed to succeed in their communities. “I knew I wanted to look into how communities operated, and how they could be improved to better serve their inhabitants,” she said. “I wondered—can we create a system tailored to the needs of specific communities so that they will flourish into safe and thriving neighborhoods?”
“This led me to add the Master of City and Regional Planning to my MPP program,” she said. “I believe both studies are crucially linked to what I would like to pursue.” She’s now working on both of her goals—learning how to lead in policy while developing community programs to revitalize neighborhoods.
“People’s environments—where they live—greatly influence their behavior. If I can better understand how communities can be improved, I can reduce instances of crime and poverty. That’s why I added the MCRP program to the MPP I was already pursuing.”
At Bloustein, she serves as President of the Bloustein Social Justice Committee and recently began an internship with the Kensington Corridor Trust. “The program de-commodifies real estate assets and transitions them to neighborhood control,” she said. “It’s a pioneering model of local economic development that ensures long-term affordability and keeps control within the community.”
Stephanie is midway through the three-year MPP/MCRP program and is thrilled with her experience so far. “Courtney Culler and Greg Marrero in the Graduate Student and Academic Services department have been great sounding boards when you question yourself or are trying to make decisions in life. They are relatable and always welcome you into their office with open arms. I am happy to be able to have such a lovely support system in the school.”
As cliché as it sounds, her advice to future students is to believe in yourself. “You are your number one advocate and cheerleader. If you have a dream, go for it. Find a path and keep chugging along.”
Outside of academics, Stephanie is an animal lover, gamer, and creative spirit. She volunteers at a local animal shelter and enjoys playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Stephanie also runs the color guard program for the Randolph Marching Band—where she met her biggest supporter, her husband Nick)—and holds a special passion for mental health advocacy. “Working for a mental health facility for several years while also battling my own struggles really put into perspective how environments can affect our wellbeing.”
Now, Stephanie is focused on building a future where communities are empowered to advocate for their own needs. “I hope to develop programs that allow communities to advocate for what they feel is best suited to their needs, and provide them with the tools to make it possible. The more I learn and the more people I work with in the MPP/MCRP programs, the more I can refine exactly what I need to do to fulfill my goals.”