Student Engagement at the Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs
As a teaching, training, and experiential learning lab for community-facing research, engaging students at Rutgers-Camden is at the very foundation of WRI’s work. WRI works directly with students on research projects, supports the research interests of students through scholarships and fellowships, and provides exciting opportunities for students to produce impactful written materials for public audiences across the region and State. WRI exemplifies and reinforces the Rutgers-Camden’s student engagement goals.
Iuri Macedo Piovezan
imp64@camden.rutgers.edu
Iuri Macedo Piovezan is a Juris Doctor candidate at Rutgers Law School. With a Master’s in Political Science from Villanova University and two honorary doctorates, he has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to advocacy. His professional experience includes research roles at the Senator Walter Rand Institute and the University of Pennsylvania, alongside extensive publications on politics and social justice. A native Brazilian Portuguese speaker fluent in Spanish, Iuri combines his multilingual skills and global perspective to advance his work in law and politics.
Angelina Cheng
ac2295@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
Angelina Cheng is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Writing and Communications. Angelina’s research interests include education, mental health, and social services, specifically in determining best practices. She has over 6 years of experience in the education sector, working for various organizations such as Kumon, Jumpstart, and WHYY Inc., with a particular interest in early education and special needs. Regarding her work at WRI, Angelina has contributed to the finalized WRI directory and co-wrote WRI’s 25th-anniversary blog. She has also assisted on the AtlantiCare CHNA and will hopefully begin supporting the Clayton Model project in the near future.
Oguz Kaan Ozalp
oko11@camden.rutgers.edu
Oguz Kaan Ozalp is a graduate student in the Public Affairs and Community Development program at Rutgers University Camden. Oguz’s research interests center around local and regional development strategies, as well as implementing such approaches within migration and minority populations. Oguz previously worked on certain projects as an assistant and coordinator at local and international NGOs in Turkey. Oguz will be supporting the AtlantiCare CHNA as well as other projects at WRI.
Marlo Rossi
mgr121@camden.rutgers.edu
Marlo Rossi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Public Affairs and Community Development program at Rutgers University–Camden. Their research focuses on how regional and state contexts shape public opinion on abortion, with broader interests in gender, race, and policy impacts on minority communities. At the Walter Rand Institute, Marlo contributes to research on urban policy and community development, including projects like the Camden Food Collective and the Clayton Model. They are also a lead research assistant on a study analyzing education and housing disparities in South Jersey. In addition to their research, Marlo teaches an Introduction to Urban Studies course at Rutgers University.
Fawaz Al Juaid
fa518@camden.rutgers.edu
Fawaz is a graduate student at Rutgers University-Camden in criminal justice. He has a bachelor’s degree in law from Saudi Arabia which provided me with a solid foundation of legal principles. Moreover, he is a member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in the Social Sciences which reveals my commitment to the field of Social and criminal studies. Proudly, he is a research assistant at the Senator Walter Rand Institute and he will participate in research projects to address critical issues in the region. He does data collection, analysis, interpretation, and spatial visualization.
Xuanzhou Du
xd139@camden.rutgers.edu
Xuanzhou is beginning her Ph.D. in Prevention Science at Rutgers-Camden while completing her Psychology master’s thesis on meaning in life among first-generation college students. She also holds a Master’s in Statistics, Measurement, and Research Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. At WRI, she has contributed to multiple research projects, including studies on social-emotional learning programs for children and resilience and well-being among nursing professionals.
Penny Telesford
pdt40@camden.rutgers.edu
Penny Telesford, M.A., is a third-year Ph.D. student in Prevention Science at Rutgers University. She received her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in English literature at Mercy University; and received her master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Mercy University. As a student, Penny worked for Residential Life as a Resident Assistant and Resident Director. In addition, she co-created and co-ran the Wellness Program at her university. Penny has also interned as a Group/Individual/Youth Therapist at a Substance Abuse Clinic in New Rochelle, NY. Upon graduating, Penny worked as an individual therapist for a non-profit in New York City. Penny’s research interest focuses on addressing racial inequity and reducing the gap found within the community. Additionally, she wants to explore topics that would reduce mental health stigma in the Black/African/Caribbean community. Her areas of expertise include mental health and counseling. She collaborated with the Walter Rand Institute, to conduct research about SWLIBS, Clayton Project, and WRI’s writing program.
Scholars and Fellows
Morenike Alugo
moa60@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
Morenike Alugo is a Ph.D. student in Prevention Science at Rutgers University, where she investigates data-driven approaches to addressing social and health disparities, particularly among youth and vulnerable communities. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, building a strong foundation in behavioral science, research methodology, and public health. Morenike’s research focuses on the role of social capital, technology, and policy in shaping child and adolescent mental health and healthcare access. As a scholarship recipient at the Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI), she is conducting a study on the impact of social capital on healthcare access and substance abuse in Southern New Jersey. This research examines how community networks influence health behaviors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing United States Census Data and other socioeconomic indicators to assess regional disparities and inform policy recommendations. Beyond her individual research, Morenike collaborates with WRI to analyze U.S. Census Data, exploring social and economic trends in Southern New Jersey and contributing to broader community assessments and public policy initiatives. Through her interdisciplinary work, she aims to bridge the gap between psychology, public health, and technology, driving equitable, prevention-focused solutions to improve health outcomes at both individual and community levels.
Yachun Wen
yachun.wen@rutgers.edu
Lucy (Yachun) Wen is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Prevention Science program. Before coming to Rutgers, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Psychology from New York University. With a robust conceptual foundation and skilled in advanced statistical approaches for various types of data, Lucy has been actively engaged in interdisciplinary research projects focused on healthcare reforms and crime prevention. She is also a WRI graduate awardee for her project on expanding New Jersey Medicaid coverage for child autism services.
Chengcheng Yue
cy340@rutgers.edu
Chengcheng (Zach) Yue is a dedicated Ph.D. candidate in the Public Affairs program here at Rutgers. His research interests revolve around public finance and community development. He has earned two master’s degrees from University College London and Rutgers University. Currently, he is collaborating with the researchers at the Walter Rand Institute to conduct community-focused research about Southern New Jersey.
Samantha Vega
siv16@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
Samantha Vega is a 1st year Ph.D. student in the Prevention Science program and a 2024-2025 Graduate Research Scholar for the Walter Rand Institute Graduate Scholarship for Southern New Jersey Research Initiatives. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health and her MPH in Environmental Health Science from UC Berkeley. Samantha is interested in psychosocial health factors, climate change related anxiety, increased heat stress and health outcomes in Southern New Jersey and how to effectively tailor diabetes interventions for Spanish speaking communities. In her free time, Samantha enjoys reading, traveling and karaoke.