The James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship has been established to allow graduate students from Rutgers University interested in climate change preparedness measures to undertake projects to help advance the mission and objectives of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance.
Dr. James J. Gallagher, a long-time environmental advocate, is originally from New York and currently resides in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. A graduate of Villanova and New York universities after serving as a combat infantry sergeant in Korea, Dr. Gallagher’s work has spanned public relations, corporate consulting, higher education, and philanthropy. The longest of his three different careers included founding, and serving as manager for 20 years, a specialized human resources firm that grew to the fourth largest of its kind. Jim also served as executive director of the John LaFarge Institute in NYC, as president of an innovative New Jersey private college, and as chair of the board asset and liability committee for Crestmont Savings, a $1.4 billion New Jersey bank. He served on the boards of 10 social service and professional non-profits, including six as CEO. He is currently a board member of Covenant House New Jersey and is the manager of a family foundation, of which his daughters are trustees. In addition to providing support for student researchers at Rutgers’ New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance, his recent gifts have included a webcam system for tortoise activity in the Galapagos Islands, and for the environmental advocacy program of New Jersey Audubon.
The James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship is primarily intended for summer projects; however, some work may occur during the academic year.
The 2015 recipients of the Gallagher Fellowship are Jeremy Glover (MCRP candidate, Bloustein School) and Kate Millsaps (MPP/MCRP candidate, Bloustein School)
Jeremy Glover is a candidate for the Master of City and Regional Planning degree at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. He is interested in the interaction between resource networks, both natural and artificial, and land use patterns. Prior to his time at Bloustein, Jeremy was an Associate at Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, where he developed technical resources to help municipalities and their nonprofit partners deliver financial counseling services more efficiently. He also tracked and analyzed key performance metrics across CFE Fund cities to advance program sustainability and demonstrate program efficacy to municipal decision-makers. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. Jeremy has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. As part of his Gallagher summer fellowship, Jeremy will analyze metrics of community resiliency to develop an actionable list of interventions New Jersey communities can take to improve climate change resilience.
Kate Millsaps is a candidate in the Bloustein School’s dual Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning program. At Rutgers, her research has focused on water supply management in the state of New Jersey, specifically climate change adaptation and water demand forecasting, working with the Environmental Analysis and Communications Group at Bloustein, Rutgers Climate Institute and the Department of Human Ecology. Before pursuing her master’s degree, Kate served as the conservation program coordinator at the Sierra Club-New Jersey Chapter, developing and implementing grassroots campaigns around environmental issues and advocating on legislation. Kate was previously the campaign and grassroots coordinator with the New Jersey Highlands Coalition and continues to serve on the organization’s Board of Trustees. Kate received a B.A. in International Studies and Environmental Studies from Ramapo College. As part of her Gallagher summer fellowship, Kate will support the development of an innovative methodology to assess flooding in riverine communities that has the potential to be implemented in climate adaptation planning.
