In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn speaks with Steve Reynolds, president and CEO of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey, about the biggest challenges facing independent colleges today, including the changing perception of the value of a four-year degree, student mental health, and how colleges are preparing students for an AI-driven workforce. Mr. Reynolds also discusses how institutions are responding to demographic changes, financial pressures, and the need to better connect education to career outcomes.

Resources

Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey

New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit 2026

Second Annual New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit Offers New Concepts and Resources for Campus Staff

In this episode of Work Trends RU, Laurie Harrington is joined by Jimmy Green, Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and Jackie Burke, Executive Director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, to discuss the role career and technical education (CTE) plays in shaping students’ pathways from high school to college and careers. The conversation highlights new research on participation trends, demographic patterns, and levels of student engagement, along with an overview of New Jersey’s county-based vocational-technical school model, expanding programs in high-demand fields, and the importance of employer partnerships and work-based learning in preparing students for long-term career success.

Resource

New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools

https://careertechnj.org/

In this episode of Work Trends RU, host Dr. Carl Van Horn sits down with Dr. Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey’s Chief AI Strategist and former head of the New Jersey Office of Innovation. Together, they explore how technology, data, and responsible AI are reshaping government services to be faster, fairer, and more accessible. From modernizing unemployment and business systems to training thousands of public workers in responsible use of AI, Dr. Noveck explains what it takes to transform government and why empowering people, not replacing them, is the key to lasting progress.

Resources:

New Jersey Office of Innovation

Business.NJ.gov

InnovateUS

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