Student and Alumni Spotlights

Amisha Mukhopadhyay

Exploring Socioeconomic Inequalities and Possible Solutions Through a Public Policy Lens

Amisha Mukhopadhyay

Public Policy/Minor in Geography, Class of 2023

East Windsor, NJ
Activities/Organizations:
SASHP Summer Reading Committee; Feminist Liberation of Rutgers; Douglass Residential College
Spring 2023 Internship: Isles, Inc., a Trenton-based environmental and community development non-profit
Personal interests: Reading, traveling, watching comedy shows and romcoms

Wanting to reap the benefits of a big school, Amisha Mukhopadhyay chose Rutgers for its broad academic and extracurricular opportunities while still being close to home.

Born and raised in Central Jersey, Amisha has a deep appreciation for the cultural diversity of her hometown of East Windsor and wanted to reflect this passion in her academic career. Knowing she was interested in the social sciences, Amisha initially had trouble choosing a major that would combine her broad academic interests with her desire to help people. After hearing more about public policy at a Bloustein School prospective student information session, she said she “felt the stars align and knew this was the place for her.”

She combined the Public Policy major with a minor in Geography, enjoying how these subjects overlap to explore inequality and its solutions. She says two courses in particular—Global Poverty and Poverty in the U.S., both taught by Dr. Ronald Quincy—further fueled Amisha’s interest in exploring socioeconomic inequalities.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the public policy major has pushed me toward public service as well,” she said. “I can engage in these fascinating subjects while working to improve the community.”

Amisha has also explored other subjects through her extracurricular activities. As a research assistant through the Aresty Research Center, she examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschoolers’ development for the National Institute for Early Education Research. In the summer of 2022, she was the Team Lead for her externship group, helping a family-owned cattle farm research and implement sustainable agricultural practices.

She has also been engaged in a social justice and mentoring program during the past year through Douglass Residential College, where she is exploring how Rutgers impacts the greater New Brunswick community. In her last semester, Amisha will be working with the AIR Collaborative on research focused on spatial justice and placemaking.

“The variety in my academic experiences has only fueled my love for interdisciplinary subjects,” she said. Graduating in May 2023, Amisha plans to gain a few years of experience working in public service before pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning.

Advice to prospective students: Be proactive when it comes to finding research and internship opportunities. Reaching out early to your academic advisors, professors, and the Office of Career Exploration and Success can help you avoid piling on extra stress during your final year. Public policy is a broad subject—don’t be afraid to explore what interests you by doing research outside of class and asking questions of people currently working in the field.