University Operating Status

Due to anticipated escalation of protest activities and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students, exams and other academic activities scheduled to take place before noon today on the College Avenue campus at Rutgers-New Brunswick have been postponed. Civic Square remains open. Activities such as the undergraduate poster sessions will be taking place as scheduled.

More Information

Student and Alumni Spotlights

Jasmine Hoff MPP '24

Pathways of Purpose: Changing the World through Public Policy

Jasmine Hoff

Master of Public Policy, Class of 2025

Maplewood, NJ
Specializations: Education Policy
Activities/Organizations: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Personal interests: listening to different music genres, writing songs and books 

Growing up, Jasmine knew she wanted to be a part of changing this country for the better. “I wanted to make it safer for everyone, especially people who look like me.” 

The key to getting to where she wanted to be, she understood, was through education. While working toward her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies at Rutgers, she heard great things about the Bloustein School’s public policy program from fellow students, faculty and alumni. 

“Policy is the key to changing so many critical issues in the U.S.,” she said. “I am experiencing these issues firsthand as a Black woman, while also witnessing them nationwide and all around the world.” 

“I did my research and saw they had the exact program I was interested in. The classes and concentrations stood out to me especially because of how diverse they were,” she continued. “Choosing a Master’s of Public Policy would provide me with the essential knowledge to be equipped for the real world.” 

In her first semester, she took Education Policy & Social Justice with Professor Greg Stankiewicz, a course that bridges the intersectionalities of social justice, racism, policy, and gender in education. Though she hadn’t initially considered a career path that included education, she came to realize there is so much more to understanding the education system in the U.S. and its need for policy and social justice.

“Not only was the class super interesting and engaging, but you could tell the professor loved what he taught. That really makes a difference with students.” 

After completing her degree, Jasmine plans to head to Washington D.C. She hopes to work on legislation and policy that positively impacts the Black community. “While I have many dreams for my future career,” she said, “I would love to one day go back home to South Africa and work on policies and legislation to protect women and children from femicide.” 

Advice to prospective students: Research, research, research! Check out the many public lectures and events happening to get a feel of the Bloustein School’s culture. Being a new student can sometimes be very intimidating, but the Bloustein community is so welcoming and warm. I have been exposed to so many different networking opportunities, made new friends, and found wonderful mentors. My time here so far has been a great experience.