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.
Topic
alumni
Creative Cities Design Institute: Partnering Students, Artists, and Urban Planners to Understand Socially-Engaged Design
A generous gift from alumnus Walter C. “Wally” Evans MCRP ’74, helped the Bloustein School create a three-year summer program that introduced resident New Brunswick students to the field of urban planning.
Partnering with coLAB Arts and New Brunswick City Center, the Bloustein School sought to provide an innovative STEAM summer enrichment program to help students develop an understanding of urban planning and public policy solutions through a socially-engaged research and design process.The weeklong intensive program partnered middle school students from New Brunswick public schools with professional urban planners and artists in workshops that included building artful cities, 3D printing, community engagement, and social justice.
Elizabeth (Libby) Vinson (MPAP ’02) Named CEO of NJACP
“This feels like a full-circle moment,” said Vinson. “I have had the privilege of working with NJACP through efforts like the Coalition for a DSP Living Wage and the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus – experiences that deepened my commitment to the field. Now, in this role, I’m grateful for the opportunity to dive deeper into this meaningful work: lifting the voices of individuals with disabilities, their families, and the dedicated community-based providers who support them. I recognize the challenges facing the field and am committed to meeting this moment by listening, learning and leading, all with compassion and collaboration.”
GOP Candidate Nick Cuozzo (MPP’14) wins Primary for Somerset County Commissioner
“I am looking forward to building on the momentum and great enthusiasm our campaign generated this past year,” Cuozzo said. “I will continue to make the case for a more affordable Somerset County, to fight overdevelopment that harms our communities and our environment, and to prioritize public safety and security for all residents.”
Katie Brennan (MCRP ’12) Wins LD-32 Primary Election for Jersey City
Katie Brennan (MCRP ’12) Wins LD-32 Primary Election for Jersey City
Maria Connolly (MCRP, ’03) Joins The Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation (LHTC) Board of Trustees
In addition to her service at the state level, Connolly is currently the vice chair of the Lawrence Township Planning Board and is active with Miriam’s Heart, advocating for reform of the foster care system
MPP Alum Part of WaPo Pulitzer Prize Winning Team
A polling analyst specializing in public opinion about politics, elections and public policy, Emily Guskin MPP ’09 contributed to the series and is credited as the lead author of an article titled “Why do Americans own AR-15s?”
EJB Talks–Brandon McKoy MCRP ’13 on Policy and Strengthening Democracy in New Jersey
Stuart Shapiro returns for our 10th season of EJB Talks with alumnus Brandon McKoy MCRP '13, who was recently named the president of The Fund for New Jersey. An alumnus of the Bloustein School's urban planning program, Brandon talks about his recent career...
Senior Policy Fellow Brandon McKoy, MCRP ’13 Chosen to Lead The Fund for New Jersey
Bloustein School alumnus and Senior Policy Fellow Brandon McKoy MCRP ’13 has been selected as the new president of The Fund for New Jersey. Since embarking on his professional career, McKoy has emerged as a leading policymaker and social justice advocate.
Alumnus Mark Bauer (MCRP ’16) Releases Updated Course “Data Analysis Using Python: A Beginner’s Guide Featuring NYC Open Data”
Mark Bauer released an update to his open source project designed to provide a beginner-friendly framework for reproducible data analysis. It’s a great resource for uncovering valuable insights and making informed decisions confidently using datasets from NYC Open Data.