With research-backed insights, "Work Trends RU" covers a variety of issues, including the modern workforce, economic challenges, how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of work, and the ways public policies and private initiatives are responding to the needs of workers, job seekers, and employers. Join Dr. Carl Van Horn and other experts from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey for engaging interviews, real-world stories, and data-driven insights that will give you a better understanding of the evolving worlds of work, education, social policy, and financial security.
Publisher
Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University
Episode #12, Margo Chaly, Acting Secretary, New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
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. Chaly also highlights efforts to support adult learners, strengthen institutions, and ensure students graduate with the skills and career pathways needed to thrive in a changing economy.
7 Apr 2026
Episode #11, Steve Reynolds, President and CEO, Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey
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 also discusses how institutions are responding to demographic changes, financial pressures, and the need to better connect education to career outcomes.ResourcesIndependent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (https://njcolleges.org/)New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit 2026 (https://njhemhs2026.njit.edu)Second Annual New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit Offers New Concepts and Resources for Campus Staff (https://njcolleges.org/2025/02/04/second-annual-new-jersey-higher-education-mental-health-summit-offers-new-concepts-and-resources-for-campus-staff/)
19 Feb 2026
Episode #10, Jimmy Green, Research Project Manager, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and Jackie Burke, Executive Director, New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools
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 conversation highlights new research on participation trends, demographic patterns, and levels of student engagement, along with an overview of New Jersey’s county-based vocational-technical school model, expanding programs in high-demand fields, and the importance of employer partnerships and work-based learning in preparing students for long-term career success.ResourceNew Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schoolshttps://careertechnj.org/ (https://careertechnj.org/)
16 Dec 2025
Episode #9, Beth Simone Noveck, Chief AI Strategist, State of New Jersey
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 of public workers in responsible use of AI, Dr. Noveck explains what it takes to transform government and why empowering people, not replacing them, is the key to lasting progress.Resources:New Jersey Office of Innovation (https://innovation.nj.gov/)Business.NJ.gov (https://business.nj.gov/)InnovateUS (https://innovate-us.org/)
18 Nov 2025
Episode #8, Aaron Fichtner, President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges
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’s Opportunity Agenda, which focuses on expanding dual enrollment, supporting adult learners, improving student success, and aligning education with the demands of a changing economy.
14 Oct 2025
Episode #7: James Moore, Principal, KPMG
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 technology can improve services for job seekers.
9 Sept 2025
Episode #6: Kevin Dehmer, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Education
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 preschool; and the efforts to support teachers, modernize curriculum standards, and manage technology in schools. The Commissioner also shares how lessons from his first job influence his leadership today.
31 Jul 2025
Episode #5: Rachel Korberg, Executive Director & Co-Founder, the Families and Workers Fund
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 discussthe 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 services with job training for youth in Philadelphia; RxKids, a Michigan-based initiative that provides financial assistance to pregnant women to fight infant poverty; and Better Builder®, a program seeking to improve working conditions in the construction industry in Texas. She also discusses what makes a good job and the value of employer partnerships.Resource Links:The Families & Workers Fund (https://familiesandworkers.org)PowerCorpsPHL (https://www.powercorpsphl.org)Good Jobs Champion Group (https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/good-jobs-champions-group/)RxKids (https://rxkids.org)Good Jobs Institute (https://goodjobsinstitute.org)Better Builder (https://www.betterbuildertx.org/en/)®
8 Jul 2025
Episode #4: Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation
Dr. Carl Van Horn interviews Jane Oates of WorkingNation about digital storytelling and career navigation, highlighting the importance of technology in education and workforce development.
Todd Greene, Vice President at Urban Institute, explores WorkRise's mission with Dr. Carl Van Horn, focusing on strategies to boost economic mobility for low-wage workers through data-driven initiatives in this interview.
26 May 2025
Episode #2: Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey
Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey, joins Dr. Carl Van Horn to discuss her leadership in maternal and infant health initiatives like Nurture NJ and Family Connects NJ, addressing healthcare inequalities in New Jersey in this interview.
5 May 2025
Episode #1: Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey
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, along with providing his personal insights on New Jersey’s upcoming leadership transition and life lessons from his first job.Recorded March 2025
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