James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship

The James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship has been established to allow graduate students from Rutgers University interested in climate change preparedness measures to undertake projects to help advance the mission and objectives of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance.

Dr. James J. Gallagher, a long-time environmental advocate, is originally from New York and currently resides in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. A graduate of Villanova and New York universities after serving as a combat infantry sergeant in Korea, Dr. Gallagher’s work has spanned public relations, corporate consulting, higher education, and philanthropy. The longest of his three different careers included founding, and serving as manager for 20 years, a specialized human resources firm that grew to the fourth largest of its kind. Jim also served as executive director of the John LaFarge Institute in NYC, as president of an innovative New Jersey private college, and as chair of the board asset and liability committee for Crestmont Savings, a $1.4 billion New Jersey bank. He served on the boards of 10 social service and professional non-profits, including six as CEO. He is currently a board member of Covenant House New Jersey and is the manager of a family foundation, of which his daughters are trustees. In addition to providing support for student researchers at Rutgers’ New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance, his recent gifts have included a webcam system for tortoise activity in the Galapagos Islands, and for the environmental advocacy program of New Jersey Audubon.

The James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship is primarily intended for summer projects; however, some work may occur during the academic year.

 

James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship Recipient (2017)

Jennifer Whytlaw headshotJennifer Whytlaw is a Ph.D.candidate in the Department of Geography at Rutgers. She is interested in hazards research including climate impacts on vulnerable populations and preparedness activities in communities to help mitigate impacts on critical infrastructure. Jennifer has worked as a staff researcher at the Bloustein School since 2009. Her work is focused on the development and use of GIS tools and applications as components to environmental, health, and transportation planning projects. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Bloustein School as well as at Monmouth University. Jennifer received an M.S. in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences from George Mason University and a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Political Science from Albright College. As part of her Gallagher fellowship, Jennifer will be conducting a series of semi-structured interviews with facility managers from long-term care facilities across New Jersey to contribute to an understanding of the level of preparedness at senior facilities to respond to natural hazard events.

 

James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship Recipients (2016)

Jeremy Glover headshotJeremy Glover is a candidate for the Master of City and Regional Planning degree at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. He is interested in the interaction between resource networks, both natural and artificial, and land use patterns. Prior to his time at Bloustein, Jeremy was an Associate at Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, where he developed technical resources to help municipalities and their nonprofit partners deliver financial counseling services more efficiently. He also tracked and analyzed key performance metrics across CFE Fund cities to advance program sustainability and demonstrate program efficacy to municipal decision-makers. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. Jeremy has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. As part of his Gallagher summer fellowship, Jeremy will analyze metrics of community resiliency to develop an actionable list of interventions New Jersey communities can take to improve climate change resilience.

 

HeadshotKate Millsaps is a candidate in the Bloustein School’s dual Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning program. At Rutgers, her research has focused on water supply management in the state of New Jersey, specifically climate change adaptation and water demand forecasting, working with the Environmental Analysis and Communications Group at Bloustein, Rutgers Climate Institute and the Department of Human Ecology. Before pursuing her master’s degree, Kate served as the conservation program coordinator at the Sierra Club-New Jersey Chapter, developing and implementing grassroots campaigns around environmental issues and advocating on legislation. Kate was previously the campaign and grassroots coordinator with the New Jersey Highlands Coalition and continues to serve on the organization’s Board of Trustees. Kate received a B.A. in International Studies and Environmental Studies from Ramapo College. As part of her Gallagher summer fellowship, Kate will support the development of an innovative methodology to assess flooding in riverine communities that has the potential to be implemented in climate adaptation planning.

 

James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship Recipients (2015)

murphyLauren Murphy is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers. Her research evaluates the effect of neighborhood environments on health behaviors and outcomes, with a larger goal of recognizing space as a context for understanding health inequalities. Lauren has also worked as graduate research assistant at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, during which she assisted with project management and data analysis for three studies of chronic illness in vulnerable New Jersey populations. Lauren received a B.A. in Sociology from Fairfield University, and an M.A. in Sociology from Rutgers University. As part of her Gallagher summer fellowship, Lauren will oversee a project advancing strategies for enhancing the protectiveness of the state’s public health systems for conditions of a changing climate.

 

Moran Deanna Moran is a candidate in the Bloustein School’s dual Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning program. Prior to this fellowship, Deanna was a Resource Development Fellow at New Jersey Community Capital where she worked on impact assessment, research projects, and legislative and advocacy efforts in support of New Jersey’s underserved communities. She was also previously an intern at the University at Buffalo Center for Urban Studies (‘the Center’). At the Center, she worked on a revitalization plan for the Commodore Perry Neighborhood, one of the select projects of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhood Program. Deanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from the University at Buffalo. As part of her Gallagher summer fellowship, Deanna will support the enhancement of geospatial decision-support tools that facilitate climate change resilience at the state, local and community levels.

 

First recipients of James J. Gallagher Family Fellowship (2014)

Alison MckennaAlison McKenna received Gallagher Family Fellowship as a candidate in the Bloustein School’s Master of City and Regional Planning program. She is also a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and prior to this fellowship, was a hazard mitigation specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. At FEMA, she worked on Hurricane Sandy recovery in New Jersey, and also worked on community recovery and natural resource impacts. She has also worked as a labor market analyst for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Alison received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in economics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s in Public Administration degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Alison's summer fellowship supports efforts to develop climate adaptation best practices.

  

Sarah WatsonSarah Watson received the Gallagher Family Fellowship as a candidate in the Bloustein School’s dual Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning program. Prior to attending Bloustein, Sarah was a reporter for The Press of Atlantic City, where she covered environmental and post-Hurricane Sandy issues. She was a 2013 fellow with the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting and a recipient of multiple state press association awards. She received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Temple University. Sarah's fellowship supports the Ironbound Community Corporation in Newark as part of its development of a comprehensive climate change adaptation and resiliency plan.