An overview of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Founded in 1997, the Center is a university-based research and policy center dedicated to raising the effectiveness of the American workplace by strengthening workforce education and training programs.

1. An Overview of the
John J. Heldrich Center for
Workforce Development
2018

2. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
Mission and History
 The Heldrich Center is a research
and policy center dedicated to
raising the effectiveness of the
American workplace by
strengthening workforce
education and training programs.
 Founded in 1997, the center
employs 20 full-time professional
staff and faculty representing an
array of disciplines, including
economics, labor relations,
political science, business
administration, public policy,
sociology, education, and
psychology.
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3. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 3
What the Center Offers
 Labor market and industry analysis
 Administrative data analysis, econometric analysis, and
predictive analysis
 Program design and development
 Program evaluation
 Survey design and development
 Knowledge dissemination and technical assistance

4. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 4
Accomplishments
 Conducted over 250 research projects and evaluations
 Documented research findings in over 350 publications
 Hosted over 150 in-person and virtual events
 Conducted and published 30 national surveys
 Generated national and international media coverage

5. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 5
Major Research Areas
 Disability Employment
 Education and Training
 Unemployment and Reemployment
 Work Trends Research and Surveys
 Workforce Policy and Practice

6. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
Major State Data System Responsibilities
•NJEEDS is New Jersey’s state centralized longitudinal data system, developed in 2012
through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. It brings together data from New
Jersey’s P-12 system into a more comprehensive statewide system that tracks student
information from pre-K through entry into higher education and the workforce in New
Jersey.
•The NJ Education to Earnings Data System (NJEEDS) is based at the John J. Heldrich
Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and
managed by a cross-agency partnership under a multi-state agency governance structure
(njed2earndata.org)
•The NJ Education to Earnings Data System links data from three partnering state
government agencies: Education, Higher Education, and Labor and Workforce
Development. It includes de-identified, individual-level K-12 student demographics,
program participation, assessments, performance, financial aid, and interventions;
postsecondary enrollment, remediation, degrees, certificates, and completion; and
information about students’ future wages, industry, employment location, among other
data elements.
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7. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 7
Research and Evaluation
 What we do:
• Assess the effectiveness of workforce and education programs;
underscoring promising practices in education, training, and
economic development, while identifying emerging trends and
challenges that employers and policymakers must address.
 Selected projects include:

8. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 8
Workforce Policy and Program Development
 What we do:
• Conduct research on workforce and education issues as well as
offer technical assistance in the development of workforce
policy, programs, and/or solutions that assist job seekers,
workforce program professionals, and employers.
 Selected projects include:

9. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 9
Public Information and Events
 What we do:
• Distribute and publicize research findings and host meetings
and conferences to educate business and union leaders,
policymakers, community members, media, and academics on
critical workforce and education issues.
 Selected initiatives include:

10. John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
Our St af f and Facul t y
Carl Van Horn, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director
Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director and Senior Research/Director, NJEEDS
Heather Allen, Communications Assistant
Amy Dunford, Research Associate
Joanne Hamza, Project Coordinator
Meghna Hari, Research Project Manager
Laurie Harrington, Senior Research Project Manager
Maria Heidkamp, Senior Research Project Manager and Director, New Start Career Network
Stephanie Holcomb, Research Associate
Michele Martin, Associate Director, New Start Career Network
David Seith, Research Project Manager
Robb Sewell, Senior Editor/Media Specialist
Bernadina Smiley, Accounting Assistant
Jessica Starace, Research Assistant
Janice Vasicek, Business Specialist
Liana Volpe, Research Associate
Faculty
William Rodgers, III, Ph.D., Professor and Chief Economist
Hal Salzman, Ph.D., Professor and Senior Faculty Fellow
Affiliated Faculty
Andrea Hetling, Associ at e Pr of essor , Chancel l or Schol ar , & Publ i c Pol i cy Pr ogr am Di r ect or , Bl oust ei n School
of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy
Jocelyn Crowley, Professor of Public Policy, Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy
Beth Noveck, Visiting Senior Faculty Fellow (2018 – 2019), New York University
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