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.

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.

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.

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 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

PowerCorpsPHL

Good Jobs Champion Group

RxKids

Good Jobs Institute

Better Builder®

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 their own personal technology in the classroom. Additionally, Ms. Oates reflects on the lessons she learned from her first job.

Visit WorkingNation’s website to learn more about the organization’s work.

Resources:

Dental Health Aide Therapists - Alaska's Solution for America's Dental Care Crisis

The Right Fit: Century College Serves the Orthotics and Prosthetics Industry

Final Report on the New Start Career Network

Video Interview with New Start Career Network Job Seeker Member, Joe

Town Hall on Mid-Career Job Seekers and Workers



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 importance of making data accessible to policymakers. Mr. Greene also reflects on the lessons he learned from his first job that shaped his vision of fair and dignified work today.

For more information on WorkRise and some of the initiatives discussed in this episode, visit WorkRise, Urban Institute,The Workforce Almanac, The Project on Workforce, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and Workplace Justice Lab@RU.

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, along with previewing the upcoming maternal health and innovation center in Trenton. 

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