“What I enjoy most about the field of urban planning is that it combines design, data, and the ability to make a difference for communities, helping create fairer and more accessible cities. That’s the kind of work I want to do. My goal is to apply the transportation planning and GIS expertise I’ve developed at Bloustein to design more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable transportation networks that improve quality of life in our communities.”
Topic
Spotlights
Ivania Martinez: Economics, Data Science, and Public Policy
Ivania Martinez’s work combines economics, data science, and public policy to support data-driven decision-making and social impact.
Beyond the Bedside: From Biology to Healthcare Leadership
“When I started researching MHA programs in New Jersey, Rutgers was the first school I considered. The Bloustein School really stood out. It’s CAHME-accredited and offers a multifaceted, well-balanced curriculum. My courses are engaging, exciting, and challenging and have helped me build the competencies I need to become a leader in healthcare administration.”
Channeling Research Into Policy Reform
“Think about what truly excites you and what kind of impact you want to make in your career. Not just in terms of job titles, but in the difference you want to create. Public policy and public service can sometimes move slowly, but they offer a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change. It can be incredibly rewarding, so if it’s something that inspires and motivates you, it’s absolutely worth pursuing.”
Sina-Marie Mayer: Intersection of data science, AI, and public policy.
Sina-Marie Mayer works at the intersection of data science, AI, and public policy. In a directed research project, she analyzes large-scale Reddit data using natural language processing and topic modeling to examine how fear and stress appear in public discourse around artificial intelligence.
Ayse Sert Oti: AI Governance, Health Equity, and Public Policy
Ayse aims to work at the intersection of AI governance, health equity, and public policy. Her current project, CASN (Cognitive Autonomy & Safety Negotiation), explores a privacy-aware AI decision-support system designed to help dementia caregivers navigate high-risk situations.
Leveraging AI to enhance patient care and better healthcare systems
“The MPI Program didn’t just teach the “how” of data, but the “why” of using it to improve people’s lives”
Kevin Dehmer to Serve as State’s Chief Technology Officer
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Kevin Dehmer as her pick to be the state’s next Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the New Jersey Office of Information Technology. As Chief Technology Officer, Dehmer will advance the modernization of New Jersey’s digital infrastructure, improve the efficiency and transparency of the state permitting process, adopt technologies to clear licensure backlogs and reduce wait times, and strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities against AI-driven challenges to position New Jersey for long-term success.
Ian Lefcourte (MCRP ’14) Receives Prestigious Barbara Grace Award
Ian Lefcourte, AICP, a 2014 graduate of the Bloustein School’s Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) program, has been honored with the 2025 Barbara Grace Award.
Informatics: A Launchpad to Leadership and Community Impact
The Bloustein School’s Master of Public Informatics gave me the opportunity to combine my background in urban planning with advanced coursework in GIS, AI, and informatics, which is exactly what I needed to start designing the kind of spatial intelligence systems I envision for cities. It taught me to see spatial data not just as a record, but as a living system that can inform decisions, optimize infrastructure, and ultimately improve lives.