First-Gen. Grad and Energy Analytics Trailblazer

Elana Simon, Senior Research Fellow – Center for Law, Inequality, and Metropolitan Equity, is a 2022 MCRP-MPI graduate of the Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Through a careful selection of coursework, research projects, and extracurricular activities, Elana honed her domain expertise in city and regional planning and gained new strengths in informatics, quantitative modeling, and academic research.

While pursuing her Master’s in City and Regional Planning and Community Economic Development, as well as her Public Informatics at Rutgers University, Elana worked as a research assistant at the Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She then worked as a graduate fellow at Urban Manufacturing Alliance and as a data analyst intern at the NYC Department of Finance.

Elana is a senior research fellow at Rutgers University Newark’s Center for Law, Inequality, and Metropolitan Equity. Her experience in Public Informatics at Rutgers University has been instrumental in her current work conducting data analysis on various affordable housing and urban land use projects.

Elana believes in the power of data to inform policy decisions and drive positive change in society. She emphasizes the importance of being curious, asking the right questions, and utilizing the best tools available to gain insights from data. With her skills and experience, Elana serves as a role model for students looking to develop their skills in informatics, analytics, and data science for public policy and data-driven decision-making.