Rutgers-Eagleton Students Share Strategic Policy Recommendations for Transition with Lt. Governor-Elect Caldwell and Transition Team

Sharing the next generation’s vision for New Jersey’s future with state government leaders

Rutgers students of the “Preparing to Govern: The New Jersey Gubernatorial Transition” class with Lt. Governor-Elect Dr. Caldwell, Chief Counsel Tim Lydon, Professor Rich Bagger, and the Eagleton team

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Dec. 4, 2025) – In a dynamic convergence of academic research and practical governance, students from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick presented their ideas for the New Jersey state government transition to Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dr. Dale Caldwell and Chief Counsel to Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill, Tim Lydon. The presentation served as part of Professor Richard Bagger’s class examining the role of the gubernatorial transition in real-time.

The sixteen Rutgers-Eagleton students acted as policy advisors for a specific department of the state government. Each student provided a transition blueprint for their department, including consideration of fiscal implications, timeline for implementation, and relevance to New Jersey residents.

“Throughout the semester, students simulated the transition team for the Governor-Elect, preparing and presenting transition reports and recommendations for each department of state government,” said Bagger, Rutgers University adjunct professor and previously Chief of Staff to Governor Chris Christie. We are grateful to Lieutenant Governor-Elect Caldwell and incoming Chief Counsel Lydon for meeting with these emerging civic leaders to hear their policy proposals.”

Chief Counsel Tim Lydon and Lt. Governor-Elect Dr. Dale Caldwell gather with students in Eagleton’s drawing room before sharing their recommendations

“As a proud Rutgers dad, it’s always a pleasure to come to campus and meet with the brilliant students here. It was inspiring to see the passion the students brought to their presentations and a reminder of what our young people can do when we invest in them,“ said Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dr. Caldwell. ”Rutgers has taught and inspired some of the best and brightest leaders across our state and the unparalleled education and opportunities they receive here is something Governor-elect Mikie and I want every kid across New Jersey to experience.”

“It’s always an honor to speak with Rutgers students and this was no exception,” said Chief Counsel Lydon. “I was very impressed by the students’ presentations and their passion for the issues – their drive to create change shined through. It’s heartwarming to know that future generations will be well-taken care of as these students go on to become inspiring leaders and drive change in their communities both here in New Jersey and across the country.”

Each proposal focused on known issue areas of concern for New Jersey residents, from the security of critical public food and health programs such as SNAP and Medicaid to the accessibility of navigating state government resources.

Among the Key Policy Recommendations Presented Were:

Board of Public Utilities: Harshavardhan Dharmendran Roy addressed the burden of rising energy costs on low-income households. He proposed creating a centralized administrative process for energy assistance programs through a single statewide application platform to streamline access and delivery.
Rutgers student, Ruby Hoffman, presents her recommendations to the Lt. Governor-Elect and the transition team
Department of Children and Families (DCF): Addressing a lack of awareness regarding available services, Ruby Hoffman recommended a comprehensive digital outreach initiative. The plan includes establishing a joint DCF-Office of the Governor communications team, using the Governor’s channels to amplify DCF programs on TikTok and Instagram to better reach families and youth, and launching a DCF TikTok.

Department of Education: Addressing the critical teacher shortage, Ashley Caldwell recommended the creation of the “New Jersey Teacher Pipeline & Retention Initiative.” The plan focuses on strengthening alternate route certifications and providing robust mentoring for early-career educators to improve retention rates.

Ashley Caldwell shares her transition recommendations for the Department of Education

Department of Health: Adiva Khan highlighted oversight gaps in hospital transactions (i.e., mergers, acquisitions, service changes, etc.) and suggested strengthening oversight by requiring a “Community Benefit and Access Agreement (CBAA)” with every hospital acquisition or licensing application. She also recommended setting up a temporary support hotline and ombudsman to ensure continuity of care during ownership transitions.

Office of the Governor: Raphael Escalante proposed incorporating an AI system to the New Jersey government website to improve meeting customer service needs on the platform. His recommendation included ensuring the AI system eases the user experience on the platform and accommodates the top five most common languages spoken in New Jersey.
Rafael Escalante presents his ideas for the Office of the Governor

A complete set of the students’ recommendations is available here.

“This event underscores the core mission of the Eagleton Institute of Politics: to link the study of politics with the practice of politics and prepare the next generation of democratic public servants,” said Dr. Elizabeth C. Matto, Rutgers University research professor and director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. “We are incredibly proud of the depth of research and the civic commitment demonstrated by our students.”