Ph.D. and M.S. in Public Affairs/Community Development – Department of Public Policy and Administration

Shourya Deb, Ph.D. 2020, Researcher, West Africa-Sahel Programme at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Shourya Deb, Ph.D. 2020, Researcher, West Africa-Sahel Programme at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

“My experience in the Rutgers-Camden Community Development Ph.D. was enriching and fulfilling. The choice of elective courses were varied which enabled me to create a learning niche for myself building on the core requirements. The coursework was instrumental in helping me grasp the nuances of conducting independent research while adding more tools to my ability to do the same. While the department is rooted in Camden and issues surrounding distressed cities, the opportunities for engagement with truly global issues are strong. I was surrounded by a supportive and diverse student community which is an added bonus has helped create a holistic educational experience.”
Rasheda L. Weaver, Ph.D. 2017 – Assistant Professor for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Rasheda L. Weaver, Ph.D. 2017 – Assistant Professor for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

“Because of my training, I am prepared and at ease directly working with entrepreneurs, policy makers, community leaders, and residents in order to uncover information that is directly impactful to their work and lives.”
Curtis M. Williams II, Ph.D. Student: Curtis M. Williams II, Ph.D. Student

As a doctoral student, Curtis has been a Graduate Assistant for the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs where he worked on a project facilitating the Cumberland County Positive Youth Development Coalition, which works to reduce juvenile delinquency. He has also provided research assistance to Dr. Richard Harris, and worked with the Office of Civic Engagement as as a Civic Engagement Graduate Fellow.
Prentiss Dantzler, Ph.D. 2016 – Assistant Professor, Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State University: Prentiss Dantzler, Ph.D. 2016 – Assistant Professor, Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State University

“Having the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of faculty that work at the nexus of theory and practice has allowed me to be a better scholar and practitioner.”
Thomas Dahan, Ph.D. 2019: Thomas Dahan, Ph.D. 2019

“I decided to pursue the PhD in Public Affairs at Rutgers University Camden because of the program’s emphasis in community development and the Rutgers commitment to engagement with Camden city. I feel like this program meets at the intersection of my passions for community-engaged social justice and my intellectual interests.”
Ashley Nickels, Ph.D. 2016 – Assistant Professor of Political Science – Kent State University: Ashley Nickels, Ph.D. 2016 – Assistant Professor of Political Science – Kent State University

“Studying at Rutgers-Camden, above all else, taught me the value of making my research accessible and meaningful to both my academic community and the community from whom I am learning. The institution and the program allowed me to focus on being a scholar-activist.”
Lewis Bivona, Ph.D. student: Lewis Bivona, Ph.D. student

Working with DPPA faculty member Dr. Gloria Bonilla Santiago, Director of our Community Leadership Center, 2^nd-year Ph.D. student Lewis “Lew” Bivona received research support from the Center to study sustainable urban agriculture first-hand in Cuba.

Rutgers University’s Public Affairs/Community Development graduate programs (Ph.D. and M.S.) offer rigorous courses of study in theoretical and applied social sciences, and draw on the expertise of our renowned faculty, including in the areas of public policy, public administration, urban affairs, and political economy, as well as in law and business.

Your classes will explore and critique the literature and history of community development from different perspectives that speak to critically important issues such as: Community Power and Organizing; Urban Sustainability; Economic and Social Justice; and International Development Strategies. Through advanced study of Statistical Inquiry, Geospatial Analysis, Case Study Methods, and Ethnography, our programs equip you for further scholarly inquiry and social impact in the multidisciplinary field of community development.

The Camden campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and offers an urban research environment at an institution deeply committed to civic engagement with our local community and the wider Delaware Valley region.