EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes one of our new professors in our nationally-ranked Urban Planning Program, Andrea Restrepo-Mieth. Her time in Colombia as a child to her graduate studies and her time in Southeast Asia led to her path working on water issues in the global South. She also describes her current focus on the impacts of climate change on water and water systems. They discuss good bureaucrats, and how planners and policymakers with the right technical, social, political, and economic tools — like our students at Bloustein — can make a difference by addressing and working towards solving issues like those Andrea studies. They conclude by talking about her current research, including an upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands this summer.

On this week's episode of EJBTalks Stuart welcomes Professor Shar Williams. The two talk about her undergraduate roots at Rutgers' Douglass College and the inspiration that led her on her path to an academic career in public health and biostatistics. Shar shares with Stuart the research she has done in areas of depression, anxiety, suicide and PTSD and the findings that show exposure to discrimination and socio-economic disadvantages impact health outcomes. She also talks with Stuart about her future projects including research on allostatic load where Professor Williams hopes to create an index of exposures to discrimination, economic disadvantages and cumulative life stress that likely have a physiological impact. Tune in for this and more!

This week on EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Jim Samuel, Executive Director of the school's Master of Public Informatics program Talking about his professional path from architecture to the business and finance sector, Professor Samuel explains how the global financial crisis inspired him to take a deeper look at the Big Data phenomenon. They also discuss the synergy between studying informatics and Bloustein School's other disciplines.  Jim concludes the episode by taking Stuart and listeners on a quick but deep dive into two current hot topics, Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT. He explains their meanings, uses, dangers, and what we need to be thinking about as these changes infuse society. Tune in the for this and more!

It's our eighth season opener of EJBTalks! This season we are focusing on our amazing new faculty. For our first episode, Stuart welcomes the new Director of our Health Administration program, Professor Ellen Kurtzman. Ellen talks about her compelling career path, from nurse to health policy educator to health administrator. She speaks to Stuart about the commonalities in the fields she has worked on and how at each stage she focused on improving the health care delivery system and improving the health care experience. The two then discuss her research on marijuana legalization, her newest project on Marijuana Use Disorder and the policy and practical implications we face now and in the future from cannabis legalization. Tune in to find out about this and more!

For our last #EJBTalks episode of 2022 Stuart Shapiro talks with urban planning alum Gretchen Minneman Kostura MCRP '07. They discuss her journey from a student focused on community development to her professional work in transportation. After starting her career in the Port Authority Leadership Fellows program, she moved to her current position working for the CEO and President of Amtrak. She talks about the current challenges and opportunities facing Amtrak, from aging equipment to what the recently passed infrastructure bill could mean for the Northeast Corridor and the rest of the country. Gretchen concludes with some great advice for Bloustein students and alums starting out on their professional careers in urban planning. 

This week on EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Bloustein alum and current Bloustein School Advisory Board member Moses Salami EJB (Public Health) '11. As the Director of Business Development and Marketing at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark, NJ, Moses describes his path into the health administration and marketing fields. He details how a class during his senior year with Bloustein School Professor Vince Joseph opened his mind to a non-clinical health career. He talks to Stuart about healthcare marketing -- from service information to community engagement, focusing on population education and prevention practices. The two also talk about how marketing and communications were integral in keeping the hospital community, both internal and external, safe and informed during the COVID crisis. Stuart and Moses then look toward the future of health care and the biggest challenges the industry faces. Moses ends the discussion with some great advice for current and future students and alumni.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes alum Simon Liepold MPAP '05, who came to the Bloustein Public Policy program as part of an exchange program with Konstanz University in Germany. Simon talks about his current role as Senior Director of UN & International Relations for Microsoft. He describes his efforts on global topics like sustainability, privacy, and cybersecurity to name a few. He speaks about how his policy degree has been instrumental in his career, from his understanding of policy and decision-making to the importance of statistical analysis and excellent data. Simon and Stuart then talk about Microsoft's focus on data and leveraging ai to solve global problems to drive global good. They discuss the importance of data and machine learning in driving good decisions and policy-making and how Bloustein's newest program, the Master of Public Informatics, can play a role in the future of public policy and urban planning. Tune in for this and more!

On this episode of EJBTalks it's time to talk politics! Stuart Shapiro welcomes Amy Cobb back to recap the 2022 Midterms. The two talk about who won, who lost, competitive key races and what the future may hold. Tune in to find out more!!  

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart welcomes Bloustein PhD alum and Drexel University Professor, Andrew Zitcer. Professor Zitcer describes his personal and intellectual journey as a PhD student at Bloustein.  He then discusses his dissertation concentration on cooperative ventures and gives details about what types of co-ops exist from food to health, who they serve and how they are a physical embodiement of deliberate, participatory democracy. Zitcer also talks to Stuart about his continued research on cooperatives with the two discussing his latest book, Practicing Cooperative: Mutual Aid Beyond Capitalism, which uses examples of co-ops in food provision, dance, and health care to illustrate the potential of this form of organization. Tune in for all the details.

It's our 75th episode of EJBTalks! For this very special episode, Stuart welcomes our former Associate Dean Dorothea Berkhout. The two talk about our school's namesake, President Edward J Bloustein and why the school bears his name.  Dorothea reflects on President Bloustein's innovative leadership, commitment to public service, his reorganization of the University and the path he paved for Rutgers' current place in the Big10. She also talks about the organizational foundation at the Bloustein school playing an invaluable role in growing the school from a couple of small programs to one that fulfills Ed Bloustein's legacy with five majors and five graduate degrees.  Find out all this and more on our special 75th episode!

This week we welcome back alumnus and 2022 Alumni of the Year honoree Brandon McKoy MCRP '13. Stuart and Brandon discuss Brandon's exciting career move to, and the current work he is doing at, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. They then move to talk about national political issues, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the Child Tax Credit to the National Debt Limit and the legalization of marijuana. The two discuss our current political and societal era, how the value of expertise is questioned and how to be a trusted voice in a sea of bad analysis and hot takes. Brandon also shares invaluable advice to help prepare listeners for public-oriented careers, particularly during times like these. Tune in for a great discussion!

It's Bloustein's 30th anniversary, so this season of EJBTalks Stuart will be welcoming our amazing alums! Our first alumna of the season is Stefania Davia, who received her bachelor's in public health from the Bloustein School. Stuart talks with Stefania about the exciting career path she took around the world from her time as a student in Nicaragua, to her position with the World Food Program HIV and nutrition unit in Italy, to three years working in Lesotho in Africa working on population-based HIV impact assessment. Stefania discusses how the COVID pandemic and its impacts and challenges impacted her current position with WHO's regional office in Europe and what lessons can be learned to improve the use of data in crafting national and global responses to future public health challenges. Finally, Stefania describes the positive impacts the education and the atmosphere at Rutgers had on her career from its beginning to today. Tune in for all this and more!

Welcome back, listeners! For our season seven opener, it's a post-summer political check-in. Amy Cobb talks with Stuart Shapiro about four factors that have changed the prospects for the midterms for the better since May. They discuss Biden's big wins, like the Inflation Reduction Act, student loan forgiveness, and the wise choices made regarding the war in Europe. Stuart talks with Amy about the impact of the Dobbs ruling, the significance it brings to Governor's races, and what it means for the national election. And of course, the two talk about the Trump factor from January 6th to Mar a Lago and the effects on Republican congressional candidates.  Join us for all this and more and a look ahead to the rest of season seven.

As we wrap up the sixth season of EJBTalks, the midterm primaries are underway and Amy Cobb is back to talk with Stuart Shaprio about the hot topics in national politics. She asks for his take on inflation and the economy, who's to blame (if anyone), and what we face next. The two talk about the history and the possible fate of Roe V Wade, the turn to the states, and the cascading effects and threats on other precedents.  And finally, they discuss the important races of the 2022 Midterms and what the primary results and issues like abortion and inflation mean for the possible results.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart welcome Billy Terry, Executive Director of Bloustein's National Transit Institute (NTI), the federally funded training arm for the transit industry's extensive back-office operations. Billy talks about how he started in the transit world, and his path to his role at Rutgers. The two discuss NTI's mission to educate the administrative workforce within the multitudes of transit agencies across the nation. Billy gives an overview of the broad catalog of training that NTI offers on adhering to regulations and guidelines and the growing focus on managing and cultivating the diverse workforce.  He also discusses the new and exciting focus on training current employees to successfully transition to much needed supervisory roles. Tune in to hear about all this and more!

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart welcomes Marc Pfeiffer, the Executive Director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center, which serves as an invaluable resource for New Jersey's elected and appointed officials. The two talk about current critical work such as the impact of the digital economy on tax policy for local governments. They explore the increasing risk of cybersecurity threats and what local governments can to do be "technology fit" to lower their risk and ease their recovery when a problem occurs. Marc also discusses one of New Jersey's long standing conundrums; the consolidation of the multitudes of municipalities. Tune in for this and much more!

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart welcomes Jennifer Senick, Executive Director of Rutgers Center for Green Building. Jennifer discusses many aspects of "green buildings" from the design of the physical space to all of the components of its total operation. The two delve into topics from the New Jersey Zero Energy roadmap and the center's integral work with the New England Energy Efficiency Partnership, to what zero net emissions would look like in buildings, and how public policy could work in favor of more green and better building practices. Jennifer also discusses her field work mostly concentrating in low to moderate income neighborhoods and environmental justice communities where we see the most critical need for green building, affordable housing and community health. Tune in for this and more!

On this week's episode, Stuart welcomes Elizabeth Cooner, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Policy Lab. Elizabeth talks about the Lab's mission of conducting rigorous evidence-based research that helps inform NJ policy makers on solutions to important policy questions that are effective, innovative, and always have a focus on equity. She also talks about the lab's valuable and vital collaboration between the Bloustein School and the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration in Newark. The two speak about recent reports that the lab has worked on including ones on the impacts and implications of cannabis legalization, COVID eviction assistance, and local treatment of vacant commercial property. Tune in for more!

SPECIAL EDITION EPISODE 1: The war in Ukraine has stunned western observers. In this timely, special edition of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro speaks with two members of the Bloustein community who are personally touched by the war -- undergraduate public health major Solomiya Mykolyk, and public policy professor Andrea Hetling--both of whom have family in Ukraine.  Solomiya was born in Ukraine and emigrated to the U.S. with her family. She talks about the liberating impact of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, when protesters sought to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Today the experience is much more terrifying as Solomiya describes her disbelief at hearing news of the invasion by Russia last week, reminding us that the consequences of war have a human face.

SPECIAL EDITION EPISODE 2: The world continues to watch as the Russian invasion of Ukraine disturbingly continues. In this timely, special edition of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro talks with Bloustein doctoral candidate Sergei Kostiaev. A native of Russia, Sergei discusses his previous academic research and study comparing political cultures of Soviet and Nazi elites, and what led to his study of Russian lobbying in the United States. He gives Stuart and the listening audience a firsthand account of how life in Russia changed under Putin--eliminating critical media,  eliminating opposition, and eliminating any other centers of power that could oppose him. The two discuss what is currently happening including Putin's miscalculation regarding the united response from the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Japan to impose heavy sanctions that have decimated the Russian economy. Sergei also provides some of the other options Western policymakers may have to further weaken Russia, and ends the discussion with ways individuals can help the Ukrainian people.

This week on EJB Talks Jeanne Herb, Director of the Bloustein School's Environmental Analysis and Communications Group (EAC), returns to talk to Stuart Shapiro. Jeanne gives the history of EAC and an overview of its vision of community-based environmental planning, its connection to health and equity, and their growing focus on the intersection of environment and people in both the natural and built environments. Jeanne highlights some of their largest projects. The exciting work she talks about includes the Megalapolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH), a five-year research endeavor, in the New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia region, with 10 other institutions besides Rutgers, led by Professor Bob Kopp, researching the factors that inform coastal climate change decisions. Other highlights of EAC's research include a focus on local public health capacity, particularly in New Jersey, research support for the state Division of Disability Services' Inclusive Healthy Communities program, and Jeanne's continued commitment to teaching future leaders via her graduate course at the Bloustein School on communicating science with decision-makers.

Jon Carnegie, Executive Director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at the Bloustein School, joins Stuart Shapiro on EJB Talks this week. VTC is a leader in transportation planning and policy research and education at the national, regional, and state levels. Jon talks about VTC's core strengths related to transportation in the built environment and its work in transit-oriented development, pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety, healthy community design, smart growth, and transportation and social equity. They discuss the relationship between transportation, social justice, and the environment.  He tells Stuart about some of their exciting outreach and research including the New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP@Rutgers), VTC's partnership with the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance which is centered around decarbonizing the transportation sector, and the center's cross-disciplinary work with the Rutgers Schools of Engineering (SOE) and Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, just to name a few. Tune in for all the details!

We are opening our sixth season of EJBTalks with Stuart Shapiro, Interim Dean of the Bloustein School welcoming Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. Kathy speaks about the incredible workforce research and scholarship conducted by the center. She describes Heldrich's extensive work on unemployment and long-term unemployment and helping dislocated workers. The Heldrich Center has worked with those laid off after the September 11 attacks and has managed the New Start Career Network program which helps long-term unemployed New Jerseyans over the age of 45. The two speak also talk about Heldrich's new work funded by the Urban Institute's WorkRise, a study which aims to assess opinions of diversity, inclusion, and equity and evaluate responses by race, gender, income, and education to be used to promote more equitable workplaces and economic opportunity. Kathy and Stuart also speak about the center's pandemic-related work researching how New Jersey delivered services to individuals eligible for benefits under the Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act.

To close out this season's podcasts, Amy Cobb returns to pose questions to Stuart Shapiro about the year in politics. They discuss President Biden's achievements, including the Build Back Better framework, the administration's more competent COVID response, and the relatively mundane nature of the administration. The pair also delve into the current administration's woes, encompassing everything from inflation to gerrymandering and voters' rights. Stuart forewarns about Trump's expanding command over the Republican Party, how it complicates this administration's policy agenda and is deeply worrisome for the country.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes back two of our most popular guests. Linda Stamato and Sandy Jaffe founded and ran the Bloustein School's Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution while teaching at the school since its founding in 1992. Linda and Sandy reflect on their far-reaching careers and how the fields of planning and policy in general -- and the Bloustein School -- were the perfect fit for them and their work.  The two explore the current state of politics with Stuart and aim to comfort but also affirm that to have democracy, there must be conflict. It is through conflict that an advancement in public welfare occurs. Finally, the pair share the excitement they have had working with colleagues and the optimism and joy they experienced teaching their students at Bloustein.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes South Bronx raised, and fellow Yankees fan, Distinguished Professor Mike Greenberg. They discuss his illustrious career from professor and researcher to the Dean's office at Bloustein. Mike talks about the foundations of the school, how its multidisciplinary, interconnected programs in health, urban planning, and public policy are the reasons for its success, and how the interaction between the disciplines creates versatility and the ability to rise to complicated societal challenges. The two also take a deep dive into the National Environmental Protection Act, with Professor Greenberg describing his shock at how it came to be. He also discusses the past and current challenges NEPA faces politically and administratively. Mike shares with Stuart his greatest joy through his career; watching faculty and students develop, succeed, and advance in prestige both locally and nationally.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart welcomes Professor Emeritus Bob Lake, who helped shape our world ranked Urban Planning Program and led our doctoral program. Stuart asks Bob to share his vision of Urban Planning. Bob talks to Stuart about his book on John Dewey, and how Dewey's perspective of the Planning City, the continuous process of figuring out how best to live together, is his ideal of the practice of Planning. The two then delve into the current political atmosphere in the US, the benefits and pitfalls surrounding the current state of community engagement and its incredible importance but possible degradation to the democratic political process. Bob shares with Stuart his feeling of optimism about the future, based on his 46 years of educating astute and enthusiastic Bloustein students into democratically capable citizens who are committed to the long haul of figuring out how to make this world a better place.

This week on #EJBTalks we get back to telling the Bloustein School story through our retired faculty. Stuart Shapiro welcomes his former colleague in the Public Policy Program and beloved Professor Emeritus Henry Coleman. Professor Coleman talks about his “origins,” from his time as a student of economics to his work at HUD, leading to his work at Rutgers both as a faculty member and the Director of the Center for Government Services.  While at EJB, Professor Coleman served on a number of New Jersey gubernatorial transition teams as well as on the advisory boards of numerous public and nonprofit bodies. Throughout the conversation, Professor Coleman emphasizes how his service to the community and his connection to teaching students real-world applicable information was a cornerstone of his time at Rutgers.

It's homecoming at Rutgers this week! To celebrate, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Bloustein School policy alumnus and former Rutgers football player Chris Gough MPP '18 to EJB Talks. Chris, who works for the International Trade Administration (ITA) at the Department of Commerce, talks with Stuart about his experience as a student Bloustein, the skills the program taught him, and the path that led him to the Presidential Management Fellows program. They also discuss the work Chris does at ITA and how trade policy has become a hot topic. Chris also offers some advice to current students and fellow alumni who want to have a career that makes a difference, changes the world, and makes it a better place.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Patrick Hill, who teaches ethics classes across Bloustein's programs. Patrick has an in-depth discussion with Stuart about ethics and its application in informing planning, policy, and public health.  Professor Hill also discusses his new book "No Place for Ethics", which centers on the United States Supreme Court and how the judicial system has come to exclude consideration of ethics and instead elevates adherence to the law over ethical concerns. Hill discusses a particularly interesting--and abominable--example he uses in his book which demonstrates how law can be impoverished without ethics.  Stuart also asks Patrick to reflect on his time at Bloustein and his thoughts about his legacy.

To celebrate the Bloustein School's approaching 30th anniversary in 2022, EJBTalks will feature some of our beloved faculty members who made the school what it is today. The first of those is Professor Emeritus Frank Popper, who spent over three decades teaching in our world-ranked urban planning program. Professor Popper shares his incredible "accidental academic" story, where he went from land use and environmental consultant to renowned researcher and the co-proposer of the concept of the Buffalo Commons. Frank talks in-depth with Stuart Shapiro about the Commons, its history, its significance, and the current economic and environmental signs that confirm the idea that the depopulated center of the country should capitalize on its heritage as the home of the buffalo.

We're back! As we open our fifth season of EJBTalks, our focus is on the 20th anniversary of September 11. Stuart Shapiro welcomes Jim Bach, an alum of our nationally-ranked urban planning program who played a critical role in the World Trade Center Redevelopment. Jim discusses his 30+ year career at the Louis Berger Group, a world-renowned planning firm. They discuss Jim's experience on 9-11 and Berger's role in providing technical and project management support to the Port Authority during the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. He reflects on the profession of planning and how being trained as an integrator, along with understanding the connections between scope, schedule, and budget, allowed him to successfully work with the Port Authority and the multitudes of emotionally invested stakeholders involved in this project.  The result of these efforts was to make the site both a signature and incredibly moving piece of architecture.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Vince Joseph, Professor of Practice in the Bloustein School's Master of Health Administration program and former Executive Vice President at Robert Wood Johnson hospital. Stuart and Vince discuss the pandemic's impact on hospital administration and education. They explore the strong connection between the Bloustein School's mission of improving the public good and its rapidly growing health administration program. Vince highlights the role hospitals play in community needs assessment, and showcases some of the many ways that current hospital administrators work to improve community access to health care. The episode makes clear that Professor Joseph and his colleagues are preparing Bloustein School students to tackle these issues in a rapidly changing field.

Professor David Listokin, a distinguished professor in our internationally-ranked urban planning program, joins Stuart Shapiro in today's episode of EJB Talks. In a wide-ranging discussion, they cover the nationwide span of David's work.  They discuss Professor Listokin's upcoming book on the demographics and population trends of New Jersey. This project gave the researchers a better understanding of the significance of the current reverse migration trends which could have major nationwide impacts. Professor Listokin also discusses a long-time passion, his work for the National Parks Service on the economic impacts of historic preservation activities on Route 66.

This week on #EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Jocelyn Crowley, an expert on policy issues related to gender, including child support, gray divorce, and father's rights. They open their discussion with how the Me-Too movement, which sprang up in response to high-profile sexual harassment scandals involving Harvey Weinstein and Roger Ailes, exposed the prevalence of abhorrent behavior in U.S. workplaces. This trend led Dr. Crowley to focus her current research on sexual harassment and how its effects are particularly felt by a large number of independent contractors in the often glamorized but incredibly unprotected fashion industry. They also discuss the misconception that the pandemic lessened exposure to sexual harassment in remote work situations and how those who work in the service sector have reported increased incidents. Looking towards the future, they talk about possible policy considerations and what can be done to bring more protections to vulnerable individuals.

This week on EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro talks to two amazing Bloustein alums, Leah Apgar and Joe Palazzolo, who work at New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC), a community development financial institution. Leah and Joe share the history and typical work of the organization, which was established in 1987 as an affordable housing lender and has grown into a financing institution involved in all types of community development and commercial lending projects. They talk about how the pandemic and economic shutdown required their institution to pivot its work to assist suffering small businesses. They began considering all small businesses and nonprofits in the state as underserved and started the Garden State Relief Fund (GSRF) as a remedy. They conclude with a discussion about where NJCCs work goes from here, and how the GSRF will remain in place to adapt to assist NJ small businesses as the economy continues to recover. 

Stuart Shapiro welcomes New Jersey Department of Labor Commissioner -- and Bloustein policy alumnus -- Robert Asaro-Angelo to EJBTalks this week. Commissioner Asaro-Angelo talks about his start with ESPN, and how he was inspired to change his path because he wanted to work helping people. He also discusses his time working with labor unions and his tenure in the Obama administration. They then move the discussion to NJDOL's response to the COVID pandemic -- how the agency had to quickly protect its employees, find the equipment to help them work remotely, and implement complicated federal DOL programs just as the need for federal assistance exploded. The Commissioner concludes by talking about how the pandemic crisis, which brought a sense of urgency in getting things done in government, has the potential to make a positive lasting change by increasing people's faith in a stronger, more competent government.

It's time again for a political check-in with Stuart Shapiro. Amy Cobb returns as host to talk to Stuart about the current state of the Republican party and what the power struggle in the GOP means for the country. Stuart discusses the ouster of Liz Cheney from House leadership and the purging of all anti-Trump voices. They also discuss whether there will be any accountability for the January 6 siege on the Capitol. Taking a look toward the future, they end their discussion on the mid-term elections and what those results could mean for power and the political divide in Congress after 2022.

On this insightful and timely episode of EJBTalks, Stuart sits down with Professor Ron Quincy, policy and planning educator and advocate for diversity and inclusion. The two discuss how higher education, like all society, is at a crossroads with the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Professor Quincy explains how academia philosophically is ahead of its time, but compared to the private sector, can fall behind in actually incorporating a richer diverse culture and accountability structures. The two discuss Professor Quincy's personal experience of social activism in the 1960s, how civil disobedience in the 60s triggered by inequity and despair and ignited by a police shootings unfortunately mirror the current national issues, including the murder of George Floyd. The two also discuss how we as a nation can move ourselves forward from police training and accountability to truly embracing a diverse society.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Jylana Sheats, instructor for the course Culture and Health in Bloustein's undergraduate program. They discuss her early interest in connecting behaviors and culture to health issues that led to her career in academia studying the social determinants of health. Professor Sheats talks about the importance of recognizing and training the medical community early and often regarding cultural competency, not only to shed light on how cultural influences affect health but also to help eliminate health disparities.  The two also discuss the pandemic and some surprising, but not necessarily negative, effects it has had on health and cultural behaviors.

This week on EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Karen Alexander, executive director of NJTIP@Rutgers, an initiative of the school's Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. They talk about how became inspired to work in the field of transit accessibility, and Alexander discusses NJTIPs mission of teaching all people--particularly seniors and the disabled--how they can gain independence and empowerment through the use of the public transit system. She explains that NJTIP's hands-on training was challenged and had to change on the fly at the start of the pandemic. NJTIP expanded its programs, providing training not just in transit but also in the skills necessary to use the remote tools that have become so necessary over the past year. They conclude with how NJTIP became involved as an active partner in NJTRANSIT's VAXRIDE program.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Bloustein School colleague, Professor Radha Jagannathan and Professor Michael Camasso from Rutgers' School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) to discuss their shared interest in social welfare program evaluation and their program Nurture through Nature (NtN). They discuss the after-school and summer program NtN provides for students in the New Brunswick school district and how their rigorous program evaluation methods are in place to ensure NtN produces measurable positive progress in student development. They also touch on the positive impacts the program had on their first graduated cohort, the challenges the COVID19 pandemic has brought, and program expansion possibilities both locally and globally.

In this episode, Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Robert Kopp, one of the nation’s leading experts on climate change about what shaped his research agenda. They delve into the social cost of carbon and how quantifying the costs affect policy decisions impacting the climate. Dr. Kopp also discusses the evolution of the climate community and its realization that success in combating climate change required a closer understanding of the intersection with broader political concerns. They also reflect on the early Biden Administration climate policy initiatives. Finally, they cover Professor Kopp’s role on the Rutgers Carbon Neutral Task Force and how the university is focused on making climate action happen more quickly.

We're kicking off our 4th season of EJBTalks with a discussion about where we stand just two months into a very busy and focused Biden Administration. Professor Stuart Shapiro and Amy Cobb discuss the quick successes like the vaccine rollout and the passing of the critical and comprehensive American Rescue Plan bill. He talks about the importance of the HR1 Voting Rights Act and how the termination of the filibuster in Congress will determine its fate.  They discuss the massive and much-needed infrastructure investment bill that the Biden administration is quickly pushing forward.  Finally and most excitingly (for him), Stuart gets to touch upon his favorite subject--regulation--and how this administration is made up of talented professionals that understand governance and know the obstacles they face in reversing the attempts by the Trump Administration to deregulate.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Anita Franzione and embarks on a frank discussion about aging, public health and policy. Franzione discusses public health issues facing older citizens from sexually transmitted diseases to COVID. She reflects on how the pandemic has exacerbated discrimination the elderly already face in health care settings. Currently they have to navigate well intended policies such as COVID vaccine distribution where despite being prioritized, the elderly face registration and other challenges. Anita also discusses her classroom focus and passion at Bloustein; educating the next generation of practitioners about the elderly, their incredible societal value, and their needs

Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor James DeFilippis on this riveting episode of EJBTalks. DeFilippis discusses his recent work on the role of immigration and organizational politics in local economic development. He discusses in depth, how the Amazon's HQ2 plan for Long Island City and Western Queens epitomized the use of local tax incentives to attract mega corporations, often contrary to the wishes of the community's residents. Defilippis also discusses how culturally diverse places like Queens have particularly fascinating organizational politics with alliances that are often unpredictable to the outside observer.

Stuart Shapiro welcomes policy and planning alumnus Jorge Santos to EJB Talks this week to discuss Jorge's experience at Bloustein and his post-graduation career path in economic development. Jorge talks about his new role at NJEDA, which he began just prior to the COVID shutdown, and how the NJEDA has helped small businesses during the economic crisis. He also discusses the new programs and initiatives created by the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act to help the state's businesses, and how the NJEDA will work to quicken the pace and extent of economic improvement.

Stuart Shapiro welcomes Assistant Professor Kelcie Ralph from Bloustein's highly ranked Urban Planning Program to this week's EJB Talks to discuss her research on pedestrian and bike safety. Professor Ralph reveals that her personal experience traveling--sans automobile--made her determined to focus on safety in her research. She discusses how the use of certain language, and the shift to victim-blaming by the media when reporting crashes, changes the dynamic from a public health issue to a personal issue. Professor Ralph also explains the origins of the language the media uses in reporting bike/ped accidents, how simple but changeable safety aspects such as speed limits are developed, and how some localities have made positive policy changes to improve safety.

On our fourth episode of season 3, Professor Shapiro welcomes back Professor Carl Van Horn to discuss the newest survey from The Heldrich Center on Workforce Development. Surprisingly, survey results showed that the public shares widespread agreement regarding the state of the economy and what the response to joblessness should be.  There is also a persistent concern that for the first time in memory, future generations may be worse off than their parents.  Van Horn and Shapiro then delve into the priorities for economic policy at the federal and state level with regards to joblessness and economic security.

This episode of EJBTalks brings a fan favorite and an exceptional Bloustein faculty member back to the studio as Stuart Shapiro and Professor Dawne Mouzon have a second conversation on health and economic disparities.  They discuss the disparate impact COVID-19 continues to have on Black and Brown communities, why a community so greatly affected is the most apprehensive about taking a vaccine, and the necessity of an equitable response to this public health crisis. Dr. Mouzon also discusses how the Biden administration can most effectively craft its response to the pandemic and other issues affecting our most vulnerable populations.

In this season's second episode of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes dual Bloustein School alumnus Jacob Persily '16 (Health Administration), MHA '19. Jacob works around the corner from the Bloustein School as an acute care administrator at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He and Stuart discuss the potential and the challenges associated with the critical rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine. Jacob also highlights how the disparate healthcare system in the U.S. has compelled the hospital sector, typically resistant to change, to embrace adaptability to better serve the public.

EJB Talks returns for its third season! Stuart Shapiro will kick off 2021 by looking forward after a year of tumult to the post-pandemic world in health, planning and policy. In this first episode, he talks with Associate Dean and Professor, Clint Andrews, about the future of urban planning and how smart building technologies contribute to safety and improving the environment. They also discuss how behavioral changes arising from COVID19 will likely affect building decisions and urban planning trends for decades to come.

For the season two finale of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro talks to Amy Cobb to give us a glimpse ahead at the political and policy prospects for 2021. From the good news of vaccine development and distribution to the more worrisome economic conditions to the first 100 days of the Biden presidency, Professor Shapiro gives a hopeful but reality-based forecast of what our country and the world has in store. The pair also give a quick peek at the third season of EJBTalks which will return in January.  Happy 2021 everyone!

Professor Shapiro welcomes Judge Paul Armstrong, Senior Policy Fellow and Judge in Residence at Bloustein, this week on EJB Talks.  COVID-19 has raised important ethical issues surrounding patient care and the distribution of vaccines. Stuart talks to Judge Armstrong about being the recipient of the Lighthouse Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism and the Law, which reflects the Judge's incredible career achievements in ethics and the law.  They discuss ethical issues in health care that Judge Armstrong played a part in such as the Quinlan case and Baby M and how these incredibly important landmark cases have now prepared him to serve on New Jersey's Advisory Committee on COVID-19.

On this episode of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Bloustein Alumnus and Advisory Board Member, Jason Redd, Esq. BS (Public Health) ‘01, MCRP ’04.  They discuss how public health, urban planning, and policy can interact to improve people’s lives, as well as how all three disciplines have impacted Jason's career.  Jason also shares his experience as a volunteer observing the 2020 general election absentee ballot canvas in Blair County, PA as well as and his thoughts on the controversies that have followed the election.

It's the day after the 2020 General Election. After a long night of watching returns, Stuart Shapiro talks with Amy Cobb about the what happened yesterday, the current state of results and where we may be in the coming weeks. 

This season, Stuart Shapiro has invited our newest faculty members to share their research.  In this episode, the last in this series of seven, he welcomes Professor of Public Policy Jermaine Toney, who studies the relationship between race, family wealth, parental income, and the income and prosperity of future generations. Professor Toney discusses the importance of understanding the past and the current systematic gaps that still weigh on Black households and talks about developing policy solutions for these inequalities.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Will Payne, the newest faculty member in our Urban Planning Program. With urban planning moving beyond the focus on the physical form, economic functions, and social impacts of the urban environment, they discuss Professor Payne's research on crowdsourcing applications, which provide large amounts of data from consumers that can drive real change in cities. Having recently completed his dissertation in this area, Professor Payne talks about how early “star” rating systems such as New York’s Zagat Survey have morphed into today’s crowd-sourcing applications including Yelp and Nextdoor. These social media tools have, in turn, become predictors of gentrification, showing how technology, food, culture, politics, and more are intertwined with housing issues. They can also be used to understand how people react and behave in response to these issues. He also explains that these tools exist to solve real problems, enabling planners to study cities and what people really think by providing new and better access to spatial data, and in the right hands, they can be used to create more equitable cities that serve the needs of everyone.

Autonomous vehicles will bring both powerful solutions and incredible challenges to the future of transportation. On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Wenwen Zhang about her research on the adoption of autonomous vehicles, how AVs may bring both sustainability and equity to our society and how she uses Big Data Analysis to predict possible outcomes as accurately as possible.  Professor Zhang also discusses Bloustein's newest program, the Master's of Public Informatics, and how this program equips students with the ability to collect and analyze big data and successfully synthesize and communicate the results into the policymaking process.

In this eye-opening episode of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Soumitra Bhuyan to discuss his research on why hospitals are losing the cybersecurity battle. Dr. Bhuyan discusses how data security breaches often arise from physical causes, not just digital ones, and how human error and managerial misses are a root cause.  They also discuss how current Bloustein students are being prepared to take on these challenges as they enter leadership positions in hospitals and healthcare systems. 

In March 2020 the spread of COVID-19 was rampant and New Jersey was at the epicenter of the outbreak. Hospitals and their administrators were faced with unthinkable challenges. In combatting these challenges, hospitals had to change their way of operating. For our third episode this season, Professor Stuart Shapiro welcomes Assistant Teaching Professor Susan Krum to discuss the rapid response in New Jersey's hospitals, how innovations here were shared across the county, and how they have left us better prepared for a potential second wave of COVID-19. They also discuss how the pandemic has afforded her students real-world experience and appreciate the impact of their chosen field.

The effects of COVID-19 on the economy will be deep and long lasting. One of the more important impacts may be on housing markets.  In this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro has a revealing conversation with Assistant Professor Eric Seymour about the rental housing market and the looming eviction crisis. Professor Seymour talks about his research on predatory institutional landlords, including large motel conglomerates, and how these entities may exacerbate a potential housing crisis across the country.

EJB Talks returns! In the first episode of our second season, Professor Stuart Shapiro talks with Associate Teaching Professor Patti O'Brien-Richardson about her research and advocacy on natural hair discrimination.  She discusses the CROWN Act, a statute adopted by a number of states to address this form of discrimination. She also describes the connection between hair discrimination and racial discrimination, and how this year's protests will affect the implementation of the CROWN Act. Stuart and Patti also discuss her teaching focus at the Bloustein School and how her determined, creative, and inspiring students are handling the challenges posed by remote learning.

The economic casualties of the pandemic are all around us--shops and restaurants shuttered, entertainment venues closed indefinitely, casinos limited to minimal visitors, and much more. As New Jersey begins the slow move towards reopening, the downstream effects of COVID-19 will continue to be visible for a long time. Stuart Shapiro and Michael Lahr, Distinguished Research Professor and Director of the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service (R/ECON) discuss some of the economic impacts facing New Jersey businesses with a particular focus on tourism, and how the inability to travel will affect the state's economy in the year ahead.

COVID-19 has monumentally changed how we have lived for the last five months, with most of the population quarantining at home. In previous episodes, we examined the effect the quarantine has had on some of our most vulnerable populations. This week on EJB Talks, we explore a population that can be particularly affected by stay-at-home orders--those facing intimate partner violence. Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Andrea Hetling, director of the Bloustein School's Public Policy program, who discusses how non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies are beginning to work together to find creative solutions to relax some of the most difficult hurdles, and provide assistance and help to those who need it most. 

2020: It's an election year like no other. In this episode of EJB Talks, we get back to national politics. The Bloustein School's Director of Engagement and Special Projects Amy Cobb MPAP '18 returns to ask Professor Stuart Shapiro some pressing questions concerning the presidential and congressional races.  Where does the race stand?  How will the conventions, and VP Biden's selection of a running mate, affect the race?  Stuart and Amy discuss these questions, and more, about the craziest election year in a generation.

Stuart Shapiro welcomes Associate Professor of Public Policy Julia Rubin to our next episode of EJB Talks.  She shares her personal experience starting an NJ based educational grassroots organization, that exposed her to the various institutional aspects of New Jersey politics. She discusses her recent article on the role of political machines in New Jersey and how the design of ballots favor some candidates over others.

Will the nature of college be forever changed by the pandemic and the ensuing recession? This is just one of the questions discussed on EJB Talks this week. Stuart Shapiro and Marc Weiner, Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs for the Bloustein School, examine why the sudden, emergency transition to online education was not an easy one. They also discuss how schools like Bloustein, which employ  faculty already cross-trained in hybrid learning, were able to better maintain the quality of teaching as it moved to online learning. Recorded just before a federal judge rescinded the ICE announcement barring foreign students from online study in the U.S., they also touch upon what the move by ICE would have meant for colleges and universities, as well as how enrollments may change as America likely heads into another multi-year recession.

Professor Stuart Shapiro speaks with senior research specialist Charles Brown of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center on the subject of disparities in transportation planning this week on EJB Talks. Mr. Brown, also an instructor in transportation policy and planning for the school, connects transportation to social disparities, social justice, equity, and COVID-19. In addition to considering the "pracademic" approach to these intersectional crises, they discuss why it is imperative to teach people about the links between transportation planning and these critical issues and the need to prioritize equity in transportation planning and decision making.

This week on EJB Talks Stuart Shapiro sits down with Bloustein School Senior Policy Fellow and former New Jersey Budget Director Richard Keevey, who reflects on his years of budgeting at both the state and national levels. Mr. Keevey gives his take on how the pandemic, and the ensuing economic downturn, have put enormous pressure on state governments. The pandemic has increased the needs of residents, while the recession has dramatically decreased the revenue sources that the state government relies upon. Given the magnitude of New Jersey's fiscal crisis, what options do the state's leaders have for making spending cuts without negatively affecting those who need services the most?

EJB Talks welcomes Jeanne Herb, executive director of the Bloustein School's Environmental Analysis and Communications Group to talk about the intersection of the climate crisis, COVID, and economic inequality with Stuart Shapiro. They discuss the work that her center and the University are doing to help New Jersey address the disparate impacts of climate change on our most vulnerable populations, and how no longer viewing climate change as separate from our other crises may allow us to write and implement effective policy solutions.

Stuart Shapiro welcomes Lisa Gulla, epidemiologist, disease investigator, and Bloustein lecturer in this week's episode of EJB Talks for a candid discussion about the challenges facing local level disease investigators during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reveals how data can be misconstrued and misinterpreted by well-meaning officials, information-hungry media, as well as "arm-chair" epidemiologists.

Over a period of four days in 1967, Newark was one of over 150 U.S. cities rocked by rioting, looting, and property destruction, with 26 deaths and hundreds injured. This week on EJB Talks Associate Dean Stuart Shapiro takes a look back at those tumultuous events with Linda Stamato and Sandy Jaffe, co-directors of the Bloustein Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Sandy chaired the Lilley Commission which recommended changes in the wake of the riots and Linda has spent a career advocating for the improvement of conflict resolution. They draw lessons from their experiences to discuss the protests in recent weeks, and discuss the parallels between two very different eras, the importance of educating leaders about long-standing disparities, and the necessity of building community in order to move forward.

In this episode of EJB Talks, Associate Dean Stuart Shapiro speaks with Bloustein School alumnus Storm Ervin MPP '18.  Now an analyst for The Urban Institute in Washington D.C. Ms. Ervin was a central organizer for the protests at the University of Missouri after the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson MO in 2014. She shares her experiences from the Missouri protests and draws lessons for the current protests going on nationwide over the murder of George Floyd.

The murder of George Floyd has resulted in protests across the country.  In this episode of EJB Talks, Associate Dean Stuart Shapiro, author of the Not Normal blog on the Trump Administration, discusses the president's response to the protests and the likely electoral implications.  With the protests layered on top of a still-persistent pandemic and a deepening economic recession, will the president's militaristic response to civil disobedience result in more unrest?  Will it help him win re-election?

"Supply chain" became the buzz phrase at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when supermarket shelves--and online retailers--were emptied of hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper. Most of the time how the products we want, or need, arrive at the retailers is not on our minds--unless you drive by an 18-wheeler emblazoned with a particular logo. But as the director of Freight Planning at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, it is Anne Strauss-Wieder's job to make sure the shelves are stocked with what consumers are looking for. As one of the largest and busiest freight hubs in the U.S., the agencies of the NJTPA were critical during the pandemic's earliest days in keeping the goods moving from into and through New Jersey.  Also an instructor in supply chain management for the Bloustein School, in this episode of EJB Talks, she breaks down the "breakdown" of the supply chain at the start of the pandemic with host Stuart Shapiro.

With the guarded hope that we are on a downward trend of coronavirus activity, the discussion has turned to the reopening of the state. EJB Talks host Stuart Shapiro broaches the topic with Bloustein alumnus Brandon McKoy, MCRP '13, president of New Jersey Policy Perspective, and a member of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's commission to reopen the state. Brandon touches on some of the issues the state (and the country) must face in determining how to reopen, what the CARES Act is helping (and what it isn't), and how not investing in the future has hurt the state.

When we think of people engaging in unhealthy lifestyles, we are quick to blame the offender. What we often fail to recognize is that not everyone has the same opportunities. In this episode of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro delves more deeply into the area of health disparities with professor Dawne Mouzon, a medical sociologist specializing in health disparities across vulnerable populations. Dr. Mouzon sheds light on why some populations, particularly black Americans and Latinos, are more susceptible to infection--not just from COVID-19--and why their health outcomes are not as good as those in predominantly white or more affluent communities. She also expresses the importance of delving into why some other countries have had much better outcomes managing COVID-19 and why the U.S. should take steps to make universal healthcare a priority.

The Rutgers Urban and Civic Informatics Lab (RUCI Lab) was recently founded at the Bloustein School, with the mission of using new sources of data and emerging technologies to study the health of cities, and by doing so, improve the quality of urban life. This week, Stuart Shapiro talks with the Bloustein School's newest employee, Gavin Rozzi, who joined the school as a Research Computing Specialist for the RUCI Lab just days before the state's stay-at-home order took effect. They discuss some of the projects the RUCI Lab will be working on, including using geographic and social media data to predict the long-term social and economic impacts of COVID-19 on society, as well as Gavin's personal interest utilizing emerging technology -- 3D printing PPEs for frontline healthcare workers.

The New Jersey/New York region is one of the most densely populated in the United States with some of the most widely traveled public transit systems. Thousands of New Jerseyans take NJ Transit bus and rail to New York City; thousands more crowd the New York bus and subway systems. These heavily-used systems have been flagged as possible reasons for the spread of COVID-19. Today on EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro tackles the issue of public transit and safety measures our transit agencies may need to make to bring commuters back, the effect telecommuting will have on these transit systems, and the new dependence on online services will have on the future of work with Robert Noland, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at the Bloustein School.

There has been both in- and out-migration from cities now for years depending upon economic conditions, but the pandemic has hit our cities and high-density areas the hardest. After years of re-urbanization, are we going to see a new wave of urban flight? Has the shift to staying home, working from home, and having all of our necessities being delivered to our homes going to fundamentally change the way we work and live? In our newest episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Tony Nelessen, an architect and urban designer, who discusses some of these questions facing the future design of our cities. 

Returning to the healthcare field amidst the COVID-19 crisis, host Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Soumitra Bhuyan, who teaches in the Bloustein School's health administration program and Dr. Sabiha Hussain from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Their discussion focuses on the social determinants of health; what they are and how they are affecting the outcomes of COVID-19 patients. The role of information technology (IT) and telemedicine are also playing a larger role in the crisis, as doctors seek to reach populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19 while at the same time reducing the burden on the healthcare system. 

The unemployment numbers in this first month of the COVID-19 pandemic have been staggering. What can we do to help those who are finding themselves newly unemployed, desperately waiting for their benefits to start and not sure where to turn? In this episode of EJB Talks, our host Stuart Shapiro, Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Policy at the Bloustein School, talks to Carl Van Horn, Distinguished Professor at the Bloustein School and Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, on the dangers of long-term unemployment, who is most vulnerable, and the services the Heldrich Center can provide, along with the State of New Jersey, to help people traverse through the economic crisis brought upon us by COVID-19.

The battle against Covid-19 has required a society-wide response.  One of the key underappreciated components of that response has been the people who keep our hospitals running.  We talk with Professor Ann Marie-Hill who teaches in the Bloustein school health administration program about the role that health administrators are playing in the Covid-19 response.