Rutgers SPAA's BA Program Hosts Essex County Prosecutor's Office High School Program for Summer Info Session
High school seniors enrolled in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office summer program, along with their program staff, visited SPAA on July 21 to meet with school faculty and administrators to learn about what the BA in Public Administration at Rutgers SPAA offers prospective students.
Dr. Michael Dillard, associate teaching professor and director of undergraduate outreach and internships at SPAA, who organized and coordinated the event, discussed how SPAA can assist perspective students by connecting a SPAA BA degree to potential careers. He noted, "the versatility of SPAA's degree program applies to most career industries and helps students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world."
At the session, Dr. Dillard was joined by Robyn Ince, who serves as the executive director for the Newark City Learning Collaborative (NCLC) and is an assistant professor of professional practice in the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers-Newark. She spoke about how her office supports perspective students by focusing on helping students enter, afford, and finish college through community workshops, research, and FAFSA completion aid. Ince also discussed key support services offered on the Newark campus.
Melissa Mora, a student counselor and enrollment specialist at Rutgers SPAA, discussed the critical bridge between high school habits and college expectations. She also presented the SPAA undergraduate degree and minor programs and explained how the advising team in SPAA's student and academic services supports students and motivates them to finish their degree.
Brian Switay, director of admissions at RU-N, discussed the admissions process and important RU-N deadlines (rising seniors learned about the differences between "early action," "early decision," and "regular decision" timelines) and provided tips and strategies for navigating the process as a high school senior with ease and confidence instead of stress.
"Admissions being able to collaborate with different schools at Rutgers-Newark is beneficial to all involved," said Switay. "To be able to connect with students who have just learned about a program that ignited their dreams or took their imagination into another realm, allows us to help guide these students on how to go about achieving these dreams."
Dr. Briana Huett, assistant professor of professional practice at Rutgers SPAA, talked about the NextGen Leadership Academy, a program housed at SPAA that that aims to inspire RU-N undergraduate students from all majors to explore public service careers and equip the next generation of civic leaders with the skills they need to make an impact in their communities and beyond.
"It’s always exciting to talk to prospective college students who are passionate about making a difference and excited to find their place in the world. Internship programs like this one through the Essex County Prosecutor's Office are preparing students to be active leaders in their community, which is the exact goal of the Next Generation Leadership Academy here at RU-N," said Dr. Huett. "We are always looking for students – whether coming in as freshman, transferring from another institution, or just starting their junior year – who want to use the skills they develop in college to serve their communities in some way, no matter their college major or the career they eventually take."
If you have questions about a Rutgers SPAA program or the application process, contact Aaron Gibbs, associate dean of student and academic services, at algibbs@rutgers.edu.