So, some news. I’ve been named the Graduate Director of Rutgers-Camden’s MS/PhD in Public Affairs/Community Development. I have a lot of thoughts about that, and I’m sure I’ll be sharing them in this space. But I wanted to start with a story:
Almost immediately upon taking the position, a student came into my office. He shared his vision for the program, including a program that wanted to “do the work” of community development.
I can’t get that out of my head. That we have students who are striving to “do the work” — and that they need an academic program that supports them in that effort. It’s a tall task. Universities and academia often have an easier time supporting traditional research than community-engaged research, and efforts to be involved in civic and political life in Camden more broadly meet the challenges around how to partner while avoiding the tropes of white saviorism, or simply assuming that those within universities are “experts”.
But I think imagining a Masters and a PhD program that is supportive of the amazing students who want to do the work of community development is a goal worth striving for.
It’s also one I could use some help with. So this is an invitation to send me a line. Bend my ear. Let me know how you think our program could better connect to community development work. If you’re interested in the program, or in getting to know our amazing students, let me know — we host periodic PhDs over Pints discussions about community development at my Camden home, and I’d be glad to introduce you to our community. Most of all, please include us in the incredible work you’re doing. There are so many people already “doing the work” that I admire, and that our students can learn from.
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First off, much congratulations on the new appointment – both the program and university are lucky to have outstanding professors such as yourself.
As for the other item in the post, the key is finding a balance of “not just the research” but instances where a tangible product/item can be a direct result from– Brian Hammell comes to mind with what he did over in Gloucester, e.g. doing an analysis and then having an event as a part of it (GT Food and Craft Beer Food Truck Festival) to help kick off a larger local item of supporting local businesses/main street.
Of similar nature, I think of when I first started at RU-Camden and the Economics dept. had done a project in Woodbury as it related to local businesses (and businesses doing a survery across numerous items ranging from general climate to knowledge of potential funding options) –> with an end result in mind of fostering a stronger front of local businesses and what they can use/need to succeed.
In both of the previous instances, it wasn’t just indirectly gathering data files and analzying, but bringing in the voices/knowledge of those in the local communities, and combining that with our own skills/knowledge/capabilities within those realms and helping to strenghten those communities. Even prior to setting up potential projects, have meetings between students and individuals within the local communities to understand what is going on within each community and what their needs/ideas they have to align research with.
Another point I would like to add is within the university itself and using all potential resources/outlets to build up community-engaged research. Though I was in the MPA program (which did not have a huge research component) I was in 5 of the PhD courses. One thing which was never brought up in any of the courses was the Walter Rand Institute, which when going on their page states:
“Senator Walter Rand Institute (WRI) for Public Affairs at Rutgers University–Camden addresses public policy issues impacting southern New Jersey through applied research, community engagement and organizational development.”
Even in the context of some of the research-based courses in the program, aligning some of the projects/goals of the Institute with interests of students/course material can be a step in the right direction.