Work Trends RU

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Dr. Carl Van Horn speaks with Margo Chaly, Acting Secretary of the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, about the future of higher education in New Jersey. Together they discuss key challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities, including enrollment trends, financial sustainability, workforce alignment, and student success. Ms....

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn speaks with Steve Reynolds, president and CEO of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey, about the biggest challenges facing independent colleges today, including the changing perception of the value of a four-year degree, student mental health, and how colleges are preparing students for an AI-driven workforce. Mr. Reynolds al...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Laurie Harrington is joined by Jimmy Green, Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and Jackie Burke, Executive Director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, to discuss the role career and technical education (CTE) plays in shaping students’ pathways from high school to college and careers. The conve...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn sits down with Dr. Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey’s Chief AI Strategist and former head of the New Jersey Office of Innovation. Together, they explore how technology, data, and responsible AI are reshaping government services to be faster, fairer, and more accessible. From modernizing unemployment and business systems to training thousands...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn talks with Dr. Aaron Fichtner, President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, about the role New Jersey’s 18 community colleges play in expanding access to higher education, developing a skilled workforce, and meeting the evolving needs of students, employers, and local communities. Dr. Fichtner also shares insights on the Council’...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Dr. Carl Van Horn is joined by James Moore, Principal at KPMG and a veteran leader in workforce development at the local, state, and federal levels. Mr. Moore shares reflections from his career and discusses the need to modernize workforce and unemployment systems, the critical role of frontline staff, gaps in training for workforce professionals, and how AI and...

Join Dr. Carl Van Horn as he hosts a special "Back to School" episode of Work Trends RU, featuring New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. In their conversation, Commissioner Dehmer discusses the major challenges, innovations, and achievements in New Jersey’s public education system; the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; major investments in early literacy and preschoo...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Carl Van Horn speaks with Rachel Korberg, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Families and Workers Fund. They discuss the Families and Workers Fund’s mission and accomplishments, as well as innovative strategies to improve economic mobility and job quality for workers. Ms. Korberg highlights programs like PowerCorpsPHL, which combines wraparound service...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Dr. Carl Van Horn interviews Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor at WorkingNation. They discuss WorkingNation’s mission, objectives, and accomplishments; the power of digital storytelling; the challenges of getting research into the hands of those who need it most; the value of providing career navigation advice to students; and the importance of students using the...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Dr. Carl Van Horn hosts Todd Greene, Vice President of Work, Education, and Labor Division, and Executive Director of WorkRise at the Urban Institute. Together they discuss WorkRise’s mission and accomplishments, strategies for improving economic mobility for low-wage workers, and impactful initiatives, such as AI in the workforce, the Workforce Almanac, and the...

Join host Dr. Carl Van Horn as he welcomes New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy to Work Trends RU. In this conversation, the First Lady discusses her leadership in maternal and infant health in New Jersey, the impacts of the Nurture NJ and Family Connects NJ initiatives, and how New Jersey is addressing healthcare inequalities, expanding prenatal services, and strengthening community engagement, alo...

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn sits down with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for an in-depth conversation reflecting on the governor’s tenure in office and the initiatives his administration has taken to build a “stronger and fairer” New Jersey. Governor Murphy discusses key accomplishments in economic growth, workforce development, affordable education, and innovation,...