Some members of the Eagleton Institute of Politics team at the 110th NJLM Conference. (Left to Right – Back): Cai Barias, Program & Events Coordinator, CAWP; Jessica Ronan-Frisch, Associate Director, CYPP; Emily Dalton, Program & Events Coordinator, CAWP; Christina Gaudino, Program Coordinator, RDL; Sue Nemeth, Director of Development, EIP; Eyal Hanfling, Technology and Democracy Research Hub, RDL; (Right to Left – Front) Felicia Marks, Program Coordinator, CYPP; Ashley Koning, Director, ECPIP; Rachel Druker, Program Coordinator, RDL; Nancy Shihadeh, Program Coordinator, EIP; Shannon Erwin, Program Coordinator, ESPP

Eagleton at the 110th New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference

The Eagleton Institute of Politics, in partnership with the Rutgers Democracy Lab, hosted its first booth as an exhibitor at the 110th New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, in addition to holding two sessions organized by the Eagleton Science and Politics Program and the Center for Public Interest Polling.

The Eagleton Science and Politics Program hosted “Connecting Science and Policy for Stronger Communities,” a panel discussion on how local scientists are meeting communities where they are to bridge the gap between science and policy, how they are bringing their expertise to the policy realm, and their methods in community outreach and practice. Thank you to Amanda Archer, coastal training and engagement coordinator at Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR); Lisa Auermuller, executive director at the Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH); Dr. Elizabeth Cooner, executive director at the New Jersey State Policy Lab; and Eagleton Science Fellow Hao “Nick” Zhang, currently serving with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, for sharing your expertise and insights!

Dr. Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP), hosted a lecture presentation, “Holland Ethics: How Data Can Power Local Government and Civic Life,” with Manuel Castañeda of New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) as part of Eagleton’s Arthur J. Holland Program on Ethics in Government. Dr. Koning shared data from ECPIP and NBT’s collaborations and how their partnership helped promote and advance NBT’s goals.

We were also a proud co-host of the Rutgers alumni reception organized by the Rutgers University Department of Government Relations and the Rutgers University Foundation, which gathered over 400 Rutgers alumni, friends, and state leaders! The event honored Speaker Craig Coughlin for championing historic investments in Rutgers and supporting our students, research, and communities statewide. Thank you to Speaker Coughlin for your continued support of our university and our students. Congratulations to all involved, Rutgers Government Relations, Rutgers University Foundation, New Jersey State Policy Lab, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, School of Public Affairs and Administration, and the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, on a successful evening!

Thank you to all involved for your collaboration and partnership, and to the Rutgers Democracy Lab for sponsoring Eagleton as an exhibitor!

Rutgers Alumni Reception 2025 at NJLM