Local Impact,
Global Reach

Rutgers University–Camden Magazine
A Publication for Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Spring/Summer 2022 – Inaugural Digital Issue

Reflections

Here in Camden, new life has come to a campus that is once again buzzing with the excitement of students and faculty finally together again. As we look ahead to the joy of commencement and the warmer months of summer, we’re bringing you inspiring stories of perseverance, connection, and discovery. These stories celebrate the incredible, life-changing impact that Rutgers–Camden makes right here in our beloved community and around the world.

The Law School in Spring
Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis

Message from the Chancellor

As I approach my first anniversary as chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden on July 1, I look back with deep pride over what we have been able to accomplish together. We have myriad reasons to celebrate our beloved community.

You will find numerous stories of celebration in this new, digital edition of Rutgers University–Camden Magazine that focuses on our university’s “Local Impact, Global Reach.” A rich menu of stories feature our extensive international outreach, including a 25th Learning Abroad trip to South Africa, which has hosted almost 1,600 students, faculty, and alumni on transformative journeys since launching in 1996, and a first-person account by Rutgers–Camden alumnus Edwin Smith who earned a degree here after being exiled from his native South Africa during the fight against apartheid. A story about the work of the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice begins with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Greg Pardlo, an associate professor of creative writing who is a co-director of the institute, doing significant work in Africa, but then transitions to the important work the institute is doing on campus and in Camden. Other international stories with global reach and local impact include an in-depth look at accomplished faculty experts analyzing the war in Ukraine, and the story of a couple who escaped Afghanistan under the Taliban to find a safe haven to continue their graduate and legal studies at Rutgers–Camden.

You will also find feature stories highlighting the great work we do in South Jersey, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion, supporting all of society through educating nurses in the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, outstanding work in the School of Business–Camden, and the story of a professor of public policy who is a national leader in the protection of voting rights. Alumni stories include a profile of Corrine Bradley-Powers, founder of an iconic soul food restaurant in Camden that won a James Beard America’s Classics Award, and Lauren Bianco, a young woman who overcame great challenges to earn her degree at Rutgers–Camden and go onto a career of helping others.

These fantastic stories come together at the end of an academic year when we have been slowly emerging from a pandemic. The inspiring work and the people celebrated in this magazine demonstrate the resourcefulness and the resiliency that this campus has shown and continues to show in challenging times. I look forward to celebrating more anniversaries as chancellor of Rutgers–Camden, and I could not be prouder to be a part of this community.

Dr. Antonio D. Tillis
Chancellor

25 Years of Learning Abroad in South Africa

The Learning Abroad program in South Africa marks 25 years of educational journeys, sensational sightseeing, and one encounter with a hungry baboon.

By Sam Starnes

Impacting the Scales of Justice

Rutgers Law School students in Camden shape New Jersey legislation banning invasive medical exams without prior written consent

 

By Margaret McHugh

Scales of Justice

Going Above and Beyond

Art Graduate Bound for Yale

2020 Rutgers–Camden graduate, Doaa Ouf, has been accepted into the prestigious School of Drama at Yale University where she will begin studying in the fall for a master of fine arts degree.

Doaa Ouf

The Ride of Her Life

Lisa Hou, the New Jersey National Guard’s chief administrative officer who earns an M.B.A. from Rutgers–Camden in June, said a chance experience in medical school led to her groundbreaking military career

Lisa Hou
Doaa Ouf
Lisa Hou

Opening the Gates to Global Racial Justice

Featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning Rutgers–Camden professor Gregory Pardlo

 

By Sam Starnes

Global Racial Justice

Top of The Class–4.0 GPA Students

Student Success

Tania Martinez

A Voice in the Crowd: Rutgers–Camden graduate a “fierce advocate” for immigrant rights

Tiana Martinez

Adam Soliman

Home Schooled: Rutgers–Camden graduate learned respect for diversity at an early age

Adam Soliman
Tiana Martinez
Adam Soliman

Projects, Prison, Prosperity.

In the inaugural episode of Stories of Triumph, Alumna Lauren Bianco finds restoration at Rutgers–Camden 

By Ronald Downes Jr.

Lauren Bianco

'No Place Like Home'

Refugees Find Solace at Rutgers–Camden

From Exile To Excellence

A South African Rutgers–Camden alumnus reflects on his experience and long-lasting relationship to the university

Edwin Smith

Safe Haven

How a scholar from Kabul escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan and found refuge at Rutgers–Camden

Afghanistan
Edwin Smith
Afghanistan

Thinking Outside the Box

Nyeema Watson sets a new vision for Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement

Thinking Outside the Box

Leading the Way

Educating Nurses to ‘Serve All of Society’

In the Year of the Nurse Educator, the dean of the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden reflects on its mission to advance health equity, expand research, and educate nurses to become agents of change

Dean Nikitas

Positioned for Growth

Rutgers School of Business–Camden’s mission to offer new advanced educational programs and to promote local economic development

Dean Adya
Dean Nikitas
Dean Adya

On A Mission to Promote Democracy

Rutgers University–Camden professor Lorraine Minnite works to expand and protect voting rights

By Leslie Garisto Pfaff

On A Mission To Promote Democracy

New Degrees Awarded

Camden College of Arts and Sciences

• Bachelor of Fine Arts  (B.F.A.) in Visual Arts

The Graduate School–Camden

• Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) in Emerging Media

• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Emerging Media

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Data Science

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Prevention Science

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Prevention Science 

School of Business–Camden

• Master of Science in Finance (M.S.F.) – Wealth Management Track

New Degree Programs

James Beard Award Winning Alumna is Cooking with Soul

By Sam Starnes

Cooking With Soul

Climbing the Ranks

#
1
Best Public College in New Jersey

Source: Academic Influence

#
1
Most Affordable College in New Jersey

Source: Academic Influence

#
72
Top Public College in the Country

Source: Academic Influence

The Power of Podcasts

Students gain hands-on experience in a fast-growing medium

By Jonathan Kroberger

Podcasting

National Media Mentions

A selection of media coverage from national outlets with viewership of 1 million or more

The New York Times | 5/14/22
Crypto Joins the Abortion Conversation
Kimberly Mutcherson, RLAW

The New York Times | 5/12/22
For Democratic Female Governors, the Roe Leak Alters the Midterm Calculus
Kelly Dittmar, FASC

The New York Times | 5/11/22
Overturning Roe could have major repercussions for IVF treatments, fertility experts warn
Kimberly Mutcherson, RLAW

The Washington Post | 5/3/22
Draft abortion opinion spurs speculation about future of same-sex marriage
Katie Eyer, RLAW

The New York Times | 4/15/22
As GOP Candidates Face Accusations, Rivals Tread Carefully
Kelly Dittmar, FASC

Huffington Post | 4/14/22
I’ve Studied Body Image for 25 Years. Here’s What Boys Don’t Know How To Tell You
Charlotte Markey, FASC

CNN+ Big Picture | 4/7/22
Judge Ketanji Jackson’s Path to History

Kimberly Mutcherson, RLAW

CNN | 4/7/22
The Many Joys of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Historic Nomination
Stacy Hawkins, RLAW

Reuters | 4/6/22
Black Law Deans Say Jackson Confirmation Could Inspire New Wave of Students
Kimberly Mutcherson, RLAW

Marketplace | 4/5/22
How the Fugitive Slace Acts and New Bounty Hunter Bills Are Alike
Kimberly Mutcherson, RLAW

CNN | 4/3/22
Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination brings renewed attention to lack of Black judges on the federal bench
Stacy Hawkins, RLAW

Salon | 3/22/22
Experts outline exactly what Tulsi Gabbard gets wrong about U.S. and Russian press freedom
Ellen Goodman, RLAW

The New York Times | 3/18/22
A “Killing Stone” Broke in Japan, Is a Demon on the Loose?
Nick Kapur, FASC

The New York Times | 3/17/22
Republicans Push Crackdown on Crime Wave That Doesn’t Exist: Voter Fraud
Lorraine Minnite, FASC

Voice of America | 3/3/22
War in Virtual Space
Michael Boyle, FASC

Bloomberg Law | 3/2/22
Pinched Pharmacies Pressure FTC to Take Action on Drug Costs
Michael Carrier, RLAW

The Washington Post | 2/25/22
You don’t have to love or hate your body
Charlotte Markey, FASC

The Washington Post | 2/24/22
‘Follow the Science’ is a Slogan, Not a Policy
Jacob Hale Russell, RLAW

 Vox | 2/16/22
Can Facebook monopolize the metaverse?
Michael Carrier, RLAW

The New York Times | 2/15/22
Fly High, Frog Princess! Well Done, Chen No. 3!
Nick Kapur, FASC

ABC News | 1/31/22
Spotify’s handling of COVID-19 misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast takes heat from critics
Ellen Goodman, RLAW

Vox | 1/27/22
Microsoft avoided the latest round of Big Tech antitrust scrutiny. Then it bought a company for $69 billion.
Michael Carrier, RLAW

Financial Times | 1/19/22
Too big to be ignored: Microsoft Activision deal tests regulators
Michael Carrier, RLAW

Washington Post | 1/12/22
U.S. quarters will feature 5 new women. What happened to other plans to change currency?
Ruth Anne Robbins, RLAW