Rutgers University–Newark Archives | Rutgers University Foundation

A Generous Tax Break

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

On December 29, 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which enhances charitable giving opportunities from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The new law affirms the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is permanent for those 70 ½ years of age and older, up to $100,000 annually. Beginning in 2024, the maximum annual QCD will increase based on inflation. The QCD is a distribution made directly from an IRA to a public charity. The QCD transfer avoids federal income tax and satisfies all or part of a required minimum distribution.

Also, as of January 1, 2023, a QCD may be elected as a once-in-a-lifetime distribution of up to $50,000 to establish a charitable remainder trust* or charitable gift annuity. This election may be combined with additional QCDs up to a total of $100,000.

For example, a 73-year-old who has a required minimum distribution of up to $50,000 could use this election to satisfy that required minimum distribution, avoid federal income tax on the transfer, and create a charitable gift annuity paying 6.3 percent annually for life.

To learn about this new opportunity and charitable giving options, please contact the Estate and Gift Planning Office at Rutgers University Foundation at giftplanningoffice@ruf.rutgers.edu.

*Various restrictions apply with a charitable gift annuity and charitable remainder trust. The QCD may not be elected to contribute to a previously funded charitable remainder trust. All charitable giving decisions should be made based on your specific circumstances and after consulting with your personal advisers.

Addressing the Need for Nurses

Posted on February 1, 2023February 2, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

New Jersey—especially Essex County—needs nurses. Now, one Newark high school and a generous donor to Rutgers School of Nursing is poised to create a new pipeline for nurses from and for the region.

By 2021, the relentless toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers led to a nationwide nurse vacancy rate of 17 percent, according to the 2022 NSI National Health Care Retention and RN Staffing Report. The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, a nonprofit housed at the School of Nursing in Newark focused on nursing workforce solutions, found that demand was high for nurses across the state. And the problem is particularly acute in Essex County, where health care systems and other employers posted more than 1,100 nursing job openings in 2021—the highest of any county in the state.

“It’s really putting a strain on hospitals,” says Edna Cadmus, RN, PhD the center’s executive director and clinical professor at Rutgers School of Nursing. “They’re struggling right now.”

To encourage students to join nursing’s dwindling ranks, an anonymous donor gave the Rutgers School of Nursing $2 million to establish an endowed fund that will provide full tuition scholarships for nursing undergraduates each year. The first preference for the scholarship goes to bachelor’s degree students from Newark area high schools, particularly those coming from Weequahic High School, where the donor graduated. A related gift of $60,000 will fund the first two scholarship awards beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year.

The donor—a Newark native who settled out of state—became motivated to fund this scholarship after her husband’s medical diagnosis made home health nurses a fixture in their home. The nurses hailed from countries as far-flung as Uganda and shared with the couple their stories of coming to the United States and joining the health care profession.

Since her husband’s passing, the donor has continued to partner with nurses in evaluating the effectiveness of her own care plan, advocating with primary care practitioners, ensuring comprehensive standards of care, and assisting in designing or implementing programs to address her needs. She hopes the scholarship will encourage more students to pursue careers in nursing.

The scholarship comes at an opportune time for Weequahic, one of Newark’s comprehensive public high schools. As part of a district-wide strategic plan, each of these six schools has launched a sector-focused “academy” in the 2019-2020 school year to jump-start their students’ future careers. The high-school academies focus on job sectors such as business and finance, education, law and public safety, engineering, and environmental studies.

The first cohort of Weequahic High School Allied Health Services Academy students will graduate in June. These 22 students spent four years studying subjects like human body systems and medical interventions and interning at nearby Newark Beth Israel Medical Center to prepare for futures in nursing, medicine, and other health care fields.

“We’re trying to prepare our students for the real world once they graduate and go into the field,” says Yolanda Cassidy-Bogan, school-to-career coordinator with the Pathways to College Program offered by the Newark Board of Education.

Thanks to an academic partnership with Rutgers School of Health Professions, the academy helps students graduate from high school with at least one advanced certificate. “We work hard to prepare the kids for admission to college,” says Newark Schools Superintendent Roger Leon. “That is clear.”

As in many communities across the country, plenty of high school students in Essex County struggle to afford college. “There’s a financial impact for students making that decision,” Leon says. “The [Rutgers nursing scholarship] donor eliminates the financial impediment to continuing their education.”

Cassidy-Bogan, a Weequahic graduate, says the scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for aspiring nurses. “If I were a freshman and had that opportunity, that would definitely be my focus,” she says. “This full scholarship is a dream come true for our students.”

Along with helping to address the overall nurse shortage in the state and the region, the Rutgers scholarship is also a nod to increasing diversity within the nursing workforce, giving first-generation college students preference for funding.

The scholarship will open doors for generations of Weequahic students, many of whom are the first in their families to pursue higher education, Leon says. “[This money] is going to provide the health care workforce with students who look like [our population] in Newark, and then create a pathway for more students to follow,” he says. “It’s just a complete game changer of a donation.”

For the Public Good

Posted on January 26, 2023January 30, 2023 by Tahjaun Clarke

By Carrie Stetler

An endowed scholarship honoring the work of New Jersey State Senator Ronald L. Rice, a Rutgers-Newark alumnus and powerful champion of fairness and opportunity, will support undergraduate students in the Rutgers-Newark School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Criminal Justice.

The scholarship fund, endowed by the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, was established to uphold the legacy of Rice and his commitment to racial, social and criminal justice, according to the foundation. It will also commemorate his life-long work to advance affordable healthcare and housing, tenants’ and employee rights, education, public service, and the state’s urban communities.

Rice was the longest-serving Black representative in the New Jersey State Senate before announcing his retirement in August after 35 years.

“Senator Ronald L. Rice is a figure who stands above policy and political expectations. His work speaks for itself and its effects are felt and seen throughout the halls of our capitol and forever in New Jersey politics,’’ says New Jersey Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, co-chair of the foundation’s Ronald L. Rice tribute committee. “He has dedicated much of his life to being a public servant and advancing communities of color and those who have historically been disadvantaged.”

Dean Jacqueline Mattis of the Rutgers-Newark School of Arts and Sciences said the school was proud to honor Rice’s commitment to eradicating inequality. “We want to support and pay tribute to Senator Rice’s particular legacy, which explored the complex interplay between economic justice, social justice, and racial justice.”

Rice graduated from the School of Criminal Justice with a master’s degree in 1986, the same year he became a state senator. Bill McCarthy, dean of the school, said many criminal justice students at RU-N identify with Rice. Like him, many have chosen law enforcement as a career path. And like him, many want to change the system.

“He was a role model,’’ adds McCarthy. “He advanced criminal justice reform on many fronts through his work with the state legislature. Ronald Rice was dedicated to addressing inequality, miscarriages of justice, and advocating for human rights. Many of our students see themselves as contributing to those goals.’’

State Senator Ronald Rice endowment presentation — *From left: Judith P Fenelus, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Senator Rice, Denise Cook, Yuki Rice, and Ronald Rice, Jr.*

A former Newark police officer and detective, Rice served as a Marine sergeant and veteran of the Viet Nam war. He later became a community organizer, Newark Councilman, and deputy mayor. As a state senator, he was known for his work advocating for racial justice, including the sponsorship of a bill that would allow municipalities to create civilian review boards and for demanding a study on racial bias in New Jersey’s criminal justice system. He was also chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus for many years.

“I truly can’t think of an alum more emblematic of Rutgers-Newark than Senator Rice,” says Chancellor Nancy Cantor. “We are an anchor institution in Newark—striving always to do what it takes to cultivate the talent of today to be the leaders of tomorrow. Ron Rice embodies that perfectly, showing us what it means to cultivate one’s talents and put them to work for the public good.”

In addition to being an alumnus, Rice has other ties to Rutgers-Newark. The Senator Ronald L. Rice Lecture Series on Criminal Justice and Public Policy was established in 2014 by the School of Criminal Justice. It celebrates Senator Rice’s contributions to the state and its constituents and his long-standing support of Rutgers-Newark and its mission. The lectures have been given by scholars, activists, and professionals from across the criminal justice continuum.

The Center for Politics and Race in America at the Rutgers-Newark School of Art and Sciences, which recently opened and will officially launch next year, received its initial legislative funding with support from Rice. The center explores questions Rice raised during his career as a vocal proponent of equal access to government.

“It will examine how race informs political life and voter engagement across the nation, how race factors into who emerges as candidates for political office,’’ says Mattis. “How are the various ethnoracial groups that make up our nation enfranchised or disenfranchised? The center will also examine the rise of white supremacy and how that form of ideological extremism has affected access to democracy.”

Mattis expects that some scholarship recipients from the School of Arts and Sciences will be involved in work at the center, including internships, and possibly work with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus.

“We want to support activities that honor Senator Rice’s memory,’’ says Mattis, who adds that Rice is also known for his advocacy of women in politics and his willingness to help them gain entry to “the portals of power.’’

The scholarship was announced last month at an event in honor of Rice, a tribute co-sponsored by the foundation and Rutgers-Newark and held at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall.

“It is with great honor that the foundation makes this scholarship possible to continue the legacy of Senator Rice,” says Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, chair of the foundation. “He is a pioneer who has committed his entire career to the advancement of Black people and civil rights, so I can’t think of a better way to honor him than to partner with Rutgers University-Newark to provide learning opportunities to students from a community so dear to him.”

Story originally appeared in Rutgers Newark News.

Fulfilling a Need in the Face of High Food Prices

Posted on December 14, 2022January 30, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

By Sam Starnes GSN’04

As grocery prices have increased in 2022, so have the numbers of students turning to the food pantry serving the Rutgers University–Newark community. “We’ve had a lot of new users,” says Hend El-Buri, director of PantryRUN. “Many are people who have never needed to ask for help.”

El-Buri says the cost of eggs has almost doubled, partly due to inflation and partly due to the bird flu outbreak, and that milk has also increased dramatically. “There are more people who suddenly are experiencing pain at the supermarket,” she says. “Some people are realizing, ‘Oh my gosh. We have to cut back on something.’”

The average number of students picking up food at PantryRUN has increased to about 275 per week, near pre-pandemic usage, and up from 175 per week in 2021. In November alone, the pantry provided food for 1,200 students. The pantry strives to destigmatize using a food pantry, which allows students to place orders online and pick up their packages instead of standing in line. The pantry has averaged about 160 new users per month over the last three months. El-Buri says she’s happy to see more students benefitting and she expects that usage is likely to continue to rise.

In addition to providing food to students, the food pantry also assists students who are eligible in signing up for New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP). “We know that about 18 percent of students are eligible for SNAP, but only about three percent are utilizing those benefits,” she says.

As costs for shoppers have gone up, so have expenses for the pantry. In addition to more overhead for eggs and milk, the pantry now pays more for popular items such as cereal and garlic. Although a campaign to raise funds for all four Rutgers food pantries ended successfully in November with more than 600 financial gifts, the need to help more students facing food insecurity remains. “We greatly appreciate the support that we received from our alumni and other donors in the Stop Student Hunger campaign,” says Robin Semple, vice chancellor for development at Rutgers–Newark. “The need to support our students struggling to feed themselves and their families continues year-round, especially in light of the high cost of groceries.”

In addition to the Rutgers–Newark pantry, which opened in 2017, three other food pantries serve Rutgers students: the Rutgers University–Camden Raptor Pantry, the Rutgers–New Brunswick Student Food Pantry, and the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Food Pantry at Newark Health Sciences.

You can donate to each of the four Rutgers food pantries at give.rutgers.edu/foodpantry.

A Quarter Century of Camaraderie and Academic Excellence

Posted on December 12, 2022January 30, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

There’s a good chance that Jerry Pinkerton and Amber Jagielski could have spent four years on Rutgers–Camden’s compact campus and never crossed paths.

tom musca and tomas roldan — *Jerry Pinkerton and Amber (Jagielski) Pinkerton at commencement in 2001*

He was a biology major and she was studying business. His classes were in the morning, hers in the afternoon. But in the fall of 1997, they would meet in a first-year Honors College seminar, and they were dating by the end of the semester. They would go on to participate in the same volunteer programs and attend Honors College field trips together. By the time they graduated, they were engaged, and a year later, they were married. “I don’t think we would have had a class together if not for the Honors College,” says Amber SBC’01, who has worked as a financial analyst and accountant.

Jerry CCAS’01 has only good things to say about the Honors College program, which provided him the outlet to meet his future wife and set the groundwork for his career as an emergency room doctor. “There was a real sense of camaraderie, like you were part of something that was special,” he says.

Members of the inaugural class of Rutgers–Camden’s Honors College, the Pinkertons, who live in Williamstown, New Jersey, represent the kind of motivated, civically engaged, and high-achieving students that the program has produced over the last quarter century. Marking those 25 years of achievement, the university is planning a day of events on March 22 to celebrate the Honors College.

Expanding Student Horizons

Each spring, Honors College administrators cull through the SAT and ACT scores, GPAs, and advanced placement and honor courses of accepted Rutgers–Camden students, identifying between 80 to 100 candidates whom they invite to join the program as incoming first-year students. In addition, roughly 25 rising sophomores recommended by their professors or who complete an application are invited to join the Honors College, and a small group of transfer students are accepted each year as well. Students must take five courses in the Honors College throughout their four years, plus participate in honors events and campus or community service activities each semester.

The goal, says Lee Ann Westman, Honors College director since 2019, is to provide an enriching experience in an intimate setting. “We’re asking them to be more intentional about their college experience,” Westman says. “We’re encouraging students to do things they might not otherwise do. They only have four years, and we want them to jump in with both feet right away.”

The Honors College was first conceived not only to attract a higher caliber of students to Rutgers–Camden’s campus, program founder Allen Woll says, but also to allow the faculty to teach more appealing courses. “We didn’t have to twist too many arms,” says Woll, head of the Honors College for its first 15 years. “Professors taught subjects they were interested in or sometimes tried out new courses that might later be incorporated into the regular curriculum. In the seminar setting, students got to know their professors very well. It raised the boat for everyone.”

Woll, a professor emeritus of history who began teaching at Rutgers–Camden in 1975, has generously established the Allen and Myra Woll Scholarship Fund, one of three scholarships that support students in the Honors College.

A Welcoming Home on Cooper Street

When Timothy Martin, an associate professor of English, took over the Honors College directorship in 2012, the growing program housed in the library was looking for a more permanent home. Promised the second floor of 319 Cooper Street, Martin lobbied for a thoughtful redesign of the previous “all cubicle, CIA-like space,” with more windows, transparent walls, and “a general airiness of place.”

The resulting new home for the Honors College on Cooper Street was a resounding success. “It created a real sense of community where the students had a kind of home on campus,” Martin says. “The building was where everything happened: classes, advising, and being friends together.”

The move also helped institutionalize a fully established advising program, which Martin says is one of the most important Honors College offerings. Students meet with dedicated advisers to discuss everything from personal matters to graduate school applications.

The Honors College’s close-knit, seminar-style classes and advising staff have been the most valuable for Jordan Adhiambo, a senior from Atlanta majoring in accounting in the School of Business–Camden who entered the program as a sophomore. Soon after he joined the Honors College, COVID-19 forced most classes online. Still, Adhiambo took solace in his online honors seminar, where he and fellow classmates created a video archive of incidents of police brutality.

The following year, when he was going through a hard time personally, he says the Honors College pulled him through. “I wasn’t in a good head space, and they were very understanding, providing a bridge for me and my professors,” says Adhiambo, recently elected president of the Rutgers–Camden Student Government Association. “By the spring semester, I came back strong and have been there ever since.”

High achievers like Adhiambo and his classmate Malaysia Nelson reflect the disproportionate number of prominent positions Honors College students hold on campus, from club leaders to commencement speakers. A political science major from Vineland, New Jersey, Nelson is president of her sorority and B1GS, an organization for first-generation college students.

The college senior also serves as a constituent advocate for New Jersey’s 5th legislative district and has begun applying to law schools. For her, the service requirement of the Honors College was the most attractive element. “I’m someone who loves to serve people,” Nelson says. “And in college, we don’t always think about giving back. You’re held responsible in the Honors College. They’re always pushing you forward, preparing you to take that next leap.”

An Invaluable Network

Beyond the rewarding experience, Honors students earn a few perks: a gold stole to wear over their graduation gowns and an impressive line to add to their resumes. The greatest benefit, though, is the network of alumni they join.

Alice Alfano can attest to the value of the Honors College alumni network. Facing graduation in 2020, Alfano learned that Becky Holloway CCAS’02, a member of the Honors College’s second graduating class, had reached out to the program to say she was “looking for a rock star in marketing” for her start-up company. She was given Alfano’s name. This fall marked Alfano’s second anniversary of working for Malbek, a contract management firm that has grown to 100 employees.

While she is thankful for the job connection, Alfano says the Honors College has meant even more. “It impacted the way I think about college,” says Alfano of Cherry Hill. “As a very shy person, it got me out of my comfort zone. It gave me the opportunity to talk to people from different majors and outside my social sphere. I got to know so many more people on campus. It was a great experience.”

Details about the March 22 event celebrating the Rutgers–Camden Honors College’s 25th anniversary are forthcoming. If you have questions about the event, email alumni@camden.rutgers.edu or call 856-225-6028.

Internship Mentoring Girls Ignites Interests for Rutgers–Camden Student

Posted on November 30, 2022January 9, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

annemarie bediako — Bediako, at left, with fellow student Jochebed Airede, and Donna Nickitas, Rutgers–Camden’s Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, at the Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) celebration held in New Brunswick in September.

Before she enrolled at Rutgers University–Camden, Ghana native AnnMarie Bediako had never set foot in the United States. When she arrived, an aunt in New Jersey picked her up from Newark Liberty International Airport and drove her straight to campus. From the onset of COVID-19 just a few months after she enrolled to getting established as a student and making friends, her first two years at Rutgers–Camden were like a rollercoaster, she says.

This past summer, Bediako, now a junior double majoring in French and psychology, had an uplifting opportunity to build on those first two years thanks to the Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Program. She was among 100 students selected for the inaugural year of the program—an initiative of Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway that provides funding in support of public service opportunities for students. RSSI placed Bediako with Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, a nonprofit network that works to support girls. “My RSSI experience was life changing,” she says. “I was able to help contribute to young girls’ dreams. I was a guide to a person’s discovery of their passion, their future, and their profession.”

The internship mentoring girls going into their sophomore year of high school wasn’t always an easy assignment. Founded in the 1860s and formerly called Girls Club of America, Girls Inc. helps girls navigate career opportunities. From the start, Bediako put her heart and soul into things as mundane as making PowerPoint slides and Canva presentations, which she felt the girls didn’t fully appreciate at first. But she reminded herself it wasn’t about getting recognition. As the students warmed up to her, the experience became more rewarding. “Being a program facilitator at Girls Inc. was a test of my ability,” she says. “I was always on my toes.”

While she was helping the students in Girls Inc., she also was able to explore potential career paths herself. A few times, leaders at the companies they were visiting didn’t realize she was one of the facilitators. “I was like a student,” she says. “I was learning from scratch, asking questions—I was one of the girls.”

She says it was incredibly inspiring to see the girls explore opportunities in STEM fields. Those types of careers tend to be lucrative and rewarding, Bediako says, but they are dominated by men. Through Girls Inc., she saw other young people willing to break down perceived barriers. “The career exploration just helped the girls know that there are so many things you can do,” she says. “You don’t have the limitations that it looks like you have. You can make a way for yourself.”

The internship appealed to her from the start because it reminded Bediako of a program she enjoyed as a grade-school student called Ghana Girl Guides Association, which is akin to Girl Scouts in the U.S. and shares its motto, “Be Prepared.” As a Girl Guide, Bediako had twice visited the United Kingdom on weeklong trips with other girls from around the world, building social networks and teamwork skills. Bediako saw working with Girls Inc. as a natural extension of her inspiring experience with Girl Guides. “I had been through it before in a certain way,” Bediako says. “I had enjoyed it and thought it would be nice to do something for somebody. The values just matched mine.”

With the summer internship behind her, Bediako is still navigating her own future. She plans to play to her strengths—many of which she discovered and honed through the RSSI program. The experience ignited a new interest in leadership and inspired her to declare a minor in management. Bediako says she’s considering a master’s degree in management or a Ph.D. in organizational psychology after she finishes her bachelor’s degree. “I want to learn everything I can,” she says. “I’m not ever going to stop learning.”

A Time for Radical Generosity

Posted on November 29, 2022January 30, 2023 by Annabelle Arana-David

When the holiday season gets underway, many of us begin focusing on family, friends, and festivities. But the holiday spirit is about much more than bright lights and big meals. It’s about caring for our neighbors and engaging in the “radical generosity” that propels us all toward a brighter future.

There’s no better onramp for that than Giving Tuesday, a global movement celebrated after every Thanksgiving to advance the common good. At Rutgers, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to strengthen our Beloved Community and make a positive difference in the lives of others—whether that happens by giving financially or by donating time, energy, and expertise.

This year on November 29, Rutgers is partnering with organizations that are committed to service, active citizenship, and the flourishing of diversity and inclusion. All have a local presence in and around our university community, connecting directly with Rutgers students. We invite you to learn more about these amazing organizations and show your support for them!

Braven: Putting Education to Work

Did you know that only 25 percent of low-income or first-generation college students graduate and find robust employment? At the same time, local companies struggle to hire and retain local, diverse talent. Braven seeks to close this talent gap by equipping underrepresented young people with the skills, networks, and experiences they need to succeed professionally. Supporting or volunteering with Braven is a great way to pay it forward, gain leadership experience, and build strong relationships with mentees.

Embrace Kids: A Marathon Sprint for Families

Embrace Kids Foundation exists to lighten the burden, maintain normalcy, and improve quality of life for families in New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area whose children are facing cancer, sickle cell, and other serious health challenges. The Rutgers University Dance Marathon is a student-run, year-long philanthropy project directly benefiting Embrace Kids Foundation. Over 2,000 Rutgers students dedicate countless hours to raising money, organizing projects, and volunteering at events that culminate in a spectacular dance marathon.

Rutgers Hillel: Home Away from Home

Rutgers Hillel is a thriving, dynamic, diverse Jewish community dedicated to exploring and celebrating Judaism and everything it means to be Jewish. There are no membership fees and students are encouraged to attend any of Hillel’s events and activities, all of which are supported by donations from parents, alumni, and the Jewish community. Whether it’s coming together for Shabbat, making a journey of discovery and delight to Israel, or just hanging out, a Hillel gathering welcomes all with warmth and inclusion.

Women of the Dream: Preparing Girls for Power

Want to give back to girls in underserved areas? Women of the Dream provides programs and services to young women ages 12-18 that prepare them for personal, professional, and economic success. Partnering with local schools, this organization offers important services in places of learning during school hours. In addition to financial support, Women of the Dream seeks facilitators for group services, presenters at its annual STEM conference, chaperones for trips and events, and mentors for young women in college.

On November 29, take a moment to give to or get involved with any of these vital organizations. Let’s make Giving Tuesday 2022 at Rutgers the best one ever!

Rutgers Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies Premiers Film on LGBTQ+ Health Equity

Posted on November 28, 2022December 1, 2022 by Tahjaun Clarke

The Rutgers School of Public Health’s Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) premiered the short film “Queer Health: Advancing LGBTQ+ Health Equity.”

“Queer Health,” which aired at the annual American Public Health Association Meeting and Expo, focuses on how we can move toward and achieve health equity for LGBTQ+ people and populations through research, education, and community-engaged programs by chronicling the work of CHIBPS, a nationally recognized center for the study of LGBTQ+ health at Rutgers. The center focuses on infectious disease, substance use, and mental health dipartites and burdens.

The documentary includes interviews with leading LGBTQ+ health and public health experts in New Jersey and highlights the 18.3 million LGBTQ+ people living in the United States. LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of mental health problems, including depression, mood disorders, substance use and suicidal ideation, according to experts. They also experience higher rates of some cancers and are disproportionately impacted by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. LGBTQ+ people are also less likely to access health care for a variety of reasons including previous discrimination, stigma, financial concerns, fear of negative interactions with clinicians, and a lack of medical professionals trained in LGBTQ+ health.

Emphasizing the work of CHIBPS since the late 1990s, the film proposes an inclusive powerhouse institute that will advance health and visibility, as well as address health disparities that LGBTQ+ people face in New Jersey and beyond. The planned Rutgers Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Heath would be an incubator for individuals to come together to advance LGBTQ+ health efforts in a unified way.

“Too often efforts to address the health of LGBTQ+ people are fragmented and disconnected,” said Perry N. Halkitis, founder and director of CHIBPS. “Researchers work separately from clinicians, who work separately from policymakers. Efforts to unite these professionals will create a holistic approach to improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people.”

The institute will provide a space where research, education, policy, and clinical services are coordinated.

“The institute will develop policies, laws, and white papers that advance LGBTQ+ health issues,” added Halkitis, who also is dean and Hunterdon Professor of Public Health and Health Equity and a Distinguished Professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

Halkitis, along with other leading LGBTQ+ health and public health experts, explains that there are very few such institutes in the U.S., with none in New Jersey.

“The dream is that the Rutgers Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Heath will be the home of all LGBTQ+ health work being done at Rutgers and in New Jersey,” said Kristen Krause, deputy director of CHIBPS and instructor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

The film also highlights hundreds of bills that have been introduced by legislators in recent years that threaten, oppress, and silence LGBTQ+ people.

“Many bills have passed, undermining the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people and populations,” adds Krause.

The work of CHIBPS, the Rutgers School of Public Health, and the proposed Rutgers Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Heath is especially critical as anti-LGBTQ+ hate and violence continue to occur at alarming rates.

“LGBTQ+ people have long been subject to discrimination and prejudice in all aspects of their lives. In recent years, the rhetoric against members of the LGBTQ+ population – uplifted by political figures as a means of advancing their own careers – has enabled those like the Colorado Springs shooter,” says Halkitis.

“In the end, hate, is the most significant driver that diminishes public health,” he adds.

One of the ways that the Rutgers School of Public Health, seeks to combat this oppression is through programs like the first known master of public health concentration in LGBT public health. The concentration prepares graduate-level students to conduct research and work in public health programs dedicated to improving the health of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.

In addition to the work being done by CHIBPS and the LGBT public health concentration, faculty members like Rafael E. Pérez-Figueroa, associate dean of community engagement and public health practice, conduct research that takes into consideration social factors and conditions, including representing the most vulnerable sexual and gender minority individuals and groups.

“Ever since Rutgers hired Dean Halkitis, the school has taken an entirely new direction,” said James Dougherty, a member of the Rutgers University Board of Governors and past Chair of the Board of Trustees, who was the principal donor to the university’s Pride Bus Campaign.

Halkitis leaves the film’s viewers with a powerful message of hope.

“I want to say to people, particularly young people, who are questioning, wondering, and thinking about their sexual and gender identities that there are a lot of us out there who are in really powerful positions right now who are going to continue to fight for you,” Halkitis said. “So don’t give up.”

This story originally appeared on the Rutgers Today site.

Veterans House at Rutgers to Be Named After Medal of Honor Alumnus

Posted on November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 by Annabelle Arana-David

One year after graduating from Rutgers College at the height of the Vietnam war, a young ROTC-trained Army advisor named Jack Jacobs made a heroic rescue that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor—a distinction few soldiers live to receive.

During an ill-fated mission in 1967 that left his commander disabled and his unit in chaos amid heavy casualties, Jacobs took control, ordering a withdrawal and forming a defense line at a more secure position.

Then, despite suffering head and arm wounds and impaired vision, Jacobs repeatedly ran across open rice paddies through heavy fire for hours to evacuate the wounded, personally saving a fellow advisor, the wounded company commander, and 12 other allied soldiers.

In honor of his exceptional act and years of subsequent service, the Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services at Rutgers is launching a campaign to have Veteran’s House at Rutgers named after the retired Army colonel and raise $500,000 to create an opportunity fund that will support military-affiliated students at Rutgers.

“He is a total legend,” said retired Army Sergeant First Class and Rutgers-New Brunswick senior Paul Frabizzio, 39, a work-study supervisor at Veteran’s House and the vice president of Student Veterans of America.

“It’s pretty ingrained in you to know the Medal of Honor recipients and what they received their medal for, so I knew of Col. Jacobs even before I came to Rutgers,” said Frabizzio, who lives in Piscataway with his wife. “But I didn’t know he went to Rutgers, which I found really cool when I came to Veteran’s House.”

Jacobs called it a “great honor” to know Veteran’s House will one day bear his name. But he was quick to note that his decision to act in those fateful moments decades ago was motivated by brotherhood more than bravery.

“These were my buddies, and I guarantee you if the situation were reversed and I needed help, somebody would have come to get me,” said Jacobs, who resides in Far Hills with his wife. “As Benjamin Franklin said, ‘We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.’”

Jacobs’ modesty is typical of those who have seen combat, said Frabizzio, who served 12 years as a tank mechanic and infantryman in Afghanistan and Africa during Operation Enduring Freedom.

“You’re not doing anything for a medal when you’re in that moment. It’s about the guy to the left of you and the guy to the right of you,” said Frabizzio, a School of Social Work student who plans to assist other veterans in crisis after graduating this May. “I’m sure he’d give that medal back in five seconds to get his friends back, and that’s why he is so humble.”

After Vietnam, Jacobs returned to Rutgers Graduate School-New Brunswick and earned his master’s degree in political science in 1972. He went on to serve on the faculties of the National War College in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he is a senior fellow in the Department of Social Sciences. Jacobs also serves as a military analyst for MSNBC. Once he retired from the military, Jacobs founded and was chief operating officer of AutoFinance Group. He was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2003.

When growing up, Jacobs’ father, along with everyone else’s, enlisted in World War II. By the time Jacobs served, the number of Americans in the military had dropped significantly—especially once the draft had ended. Today, he says that most Americans don’t know anyone in uniform, so they don’t understand the veteran experience or what veterans have to offer as students and employees.

“I talk with corporations all the time. They want to hire veterans. When I ask why, they say, ‘Well, we owe it to them.’ But that’s not why. It’s not an act of charity,” said Jacobs, a father of three—including a daughter who graduated from Rutgers College in 1986.

“The fact is veterans have an enormous amount of authority and responsibility at a very early age and in difficult circumstances, too. It would be useful for people without military experience to understand the incredible capacity of veterans to get things done. They know how to show up on time, focus their attention on the objective and do a really good job with scarce resources.”

Following the longest period of sustained warfare in American history, the number of Rutgers students who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces has increased 180 percent in the last decade, totaling about 1,700 military-affiliated students, said Ann Treadaway, director of the Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services. These students are often older with spouses, children, and full- or part-time jobs.

“The military clothes you, feeds you, houses you, gives you health insurance, and you have a retirement built in,” said Frabizzio. “It’s an awfully large safety net to walk away from.”

The additional responsibilities and challenges veterans face often create financial barriers not covered by the GI bill that prevent them from taking full advantage of all the opportunities available at Rutgers. Treadaway hopes Jacobs’ story helps the Rutgers University Foundation raise money to help fill the gaps for Rutgers’ military-affiliated students through the new opportunity fund.

“We have an emergency fund, but that is only for sudden financial crisis that students may face,” said Treadaway. “The fund could help a student take the LSAT or GRE, take a prep class or get an additional certificate. Maybe it covers a tuition balance that the GI Bill doesn’t cover. The goal is it will bridge the gap for military-affiliated students to succeed.”

Story originally appeared in Rutgers Today.

Quest Diagnostics Boosts Rutgers Political Equity Program

Posted on November 16, 2022November 23, 2022 by Annabelle Arana-David

Quest Diagnostics has contributed to Ready to Run® at Rutgers, the nonpartisan campaign training program for women. The gift will help fund a range of resources that help women from all political parties prepare for and execute political campaigns.

Nadia Hussain has participated in Ready to Run® going back to her time as an undergraduate at Rutgers–New Brunswick. In 2020 she ran for and won a seat on the Bloomingdale, New Jersey, Board of Education.

“Ready to Run® helped,” she said. “Traditional structures get you connected. I didn’t have those connections; I had to make them. Knowing what to do in an election, having a fundraiser, making fundraising calls, opening a campaign account—the program is a mechanism for feeling empowered.”

A national network aiming to address the underrepresentation of women in American politics, Ready to Run® helps women envision themselves in elected roles by offering a primer for those considering public office—locally and nationally. The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) founded Ready to Run® and administers Rutgers’ instance of the program.

“We’re pleased to be able to help women get the needed resources to aspire to hold elected office in this great state,” said Cecilia McKenney, Quest’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “We’re pleased to team up with Rutgers University to support this important initiative.”

Debbie Walsh, director of CAWP, praised Quest Diagnostics for its support for Ready to Run®. “This contribution from Quest Diagnostics makes a powerful statement about the need for Ready to Run®,” Walsh said. “With women comprising less than one third of officeholders at every level of office we study, there is so much left to do. We welcome support from the private sector in the important work of advancing women’s public leadership.”

Hussain agrees. “Fifty percent of the country is female,” she said, “and that’s not what you’re seeing in elected office. Even women whose families have been in the country for generations, they don’t feel they have a voice.”

The CAWP-hosted Ready to Run® is the organization’s flagship New Jersey program. Over the past 20 years, the program has trained more than 4,000 women to run for office, seek appointed positions, and manage campaigns. Ready to Run® program attendees walk away with a range of skills and resources, including “how to” instructions for running for office, fundraising and media skills, real-world advice from experts, networking opportunities, and more.

Hussain took full advantage of these resources. In her successful 2020 campaign, she applied what she learned—fundraising, networking, earning publicity—with intensity, knocking on more than 1,000 doors. Her professionalism and work ethic earned her the highest vote returns of any candidate in her town in more than a decade. “Women,” she said, “work harder in politics—on the campaign trail and wherever they’re serving.”

“We are enormously grateful to Quest Diagnostics for supporting Ready to Run®,” said Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the Center for American Women and Politics. “Quest’s gift will help us engage more women as future public leaders, crucial in a moment when we all look towards building a better future and strengthening our democracy.”

In addition to its recent support for Ready to Run® at CAWP, Quest Diagnostics’ ongoing work with Rutgers includes support for no-cost laboratory tests to diagnose and manage acute and chronic diseases for uninsured and underinsured patients of the Rutgers’ H.O.P.E. Clinic in Plainfield, New Jersey. Like that program, Ready to Run® seeks to make an immediate impact on a long-running problem.

“The issue of women’s underrepresentation in politics has been an ongoing one,” said Walsh. “To help change that, we must ensure that women continue to have the resources and training they need to run for office and serve their communities as public officials.”

Hussain said, “When I was younger, I thought, ‘I’m a girl, and I can do anything.’ It amazes me that society doesn’t think that. It’s 2022 and it’s illogical. We know what to do, but the political will is still not there. I’m still pushing for that.”

About Quest Diagnostics
As the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world’s largest database of clinical lab results, Quest’s diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve health care management.

Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States. The company’s nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives.

About the Center for American Women and Politics
CAWP is nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about women’s political participation in the United States. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about the role of women in American politics, enhance women’s influence in public life, and expand the diversity of women in politics and government.

CAWP’s education and outreach programs translate research findings into action, addressing women’s under-representation in political leadership with effective, intersectional, and imaginative programs serving a variety of audiences. As the world has watched Americans considering female candidates for the nation’s highest offices, CAWP’s five decades of analyzing and interpreting women’s participation in American politics have provided a foundation and context for the discussion.

About the Eagleton Institute of Politics
The Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The Eagleton Institute studies how American politics and government work and change, analyzes how democracy might improve, and promotes political participation and civic engagement. The Institute explores state and national politics through research, education, and public service, linking the study of politics with its day-to-day practice. To learn more about Eagleton programs and expertise, visit eagleton.rutgers.edu.