New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way praised the state’s public servants and urged students and others to consider working and volunteering in the field, despite political shifts, at an event hosted by the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers-Newark.
“I’m aware that the climate we are in will discourage the very people we need in public service. But for those who are willing, let me say I want to recruit you. We need thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated individuals who will put in the work and put the people first, those who will every day think through the big challenges we are facing,’’ Way told a crowd of about 100 at the event.
“This is actually the perfect time for me to remind each and every one of you that public service is so much more than politicians campaigning and asking for your votes,’’ said Way, who gave introductory remarks at the event.
Way was appointed New Jersey’s third Lieutenant Governor by Governor Phil Murphy last year after the death of Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver.
Titled “The Future of Public Service: Challenges and Opportunities,” and supported by the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers, it featured a panel discussion focused on public administration at the federal and state levels.
School of Public Affairs and Administration Dean Kaifeng Yang reminded guests that with the election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to cut the workforce of federal civil servants and replace them with political appointees, public servants are an especially important resource.
“We’ve been reminded of the urgency to strengthen public service during times of great change. Yes, the challenges are vast—polarization, limited resources, and a fast-paced technological landscape—but so are the opportunities,’’ said Yang. “Tonight, we’ve heard how creativity, trust-building, and collaboration can pave the way for a public service that truly meets the needs of those it serves.”
He added, “I also want to highlight the role of institutions like our School of Public Affairs and Administration. Universities have a unique responsibility in advancing public service by cultivating leaders, fostering research, and building partnerships. Our school is committed to being a hub for locally grounded yet globally relevant public affairs education.”
Panelists at the event included Allison Chris Myers, Chair and CEO of the NJ Civil Service Commission; Jonathan Koppell, President of Montclair State University; and John Bartle, Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha and President-elect of the American Society for Public Administration.
Koppell said that while every administration replaces some public servants with political appointees, a necessary step for new leaders to implement their goals, that will likely change.
“It certainly seems to be the case that the balance has shifted substantially,’’ he said. ”My concern is that many people who are in public service will jump ship.’’
He was hopeful, however, that young people would continue to enter public service, especially at the local level. ”I’m seeing in students a greater attraction to local government,’’ he observed. “There’s a reward in seeing the results of your service in a tangible way.”
Bartle, who worked as a civil servant before and during the Reagan administration, recalled a time when federal employees expected big changes after Reagan took office but there was no dramatic transformation.
“My hope is that we’re able to have reasonable discussions about programs and policies,’’ he said. “With Reagan, we thought, he’s going to get rid of all these departments. That didn’t happen. It was a largely reasonable discussion. But it did shift how money was spent, more on defense, lots of programs delegated to the state,’’ he said.
Meyers reminded audience members, “Public service doesn’t have to be your full-time career; it can be what you do.’’ She added that the New Jersey Civil Service Act offers some protection for state employees. Established in 1986, it was meant to ensure that government employment decisions are based on merit, not politics.
Rugers-Newark Interim Provost Bonita Veysey told the audience in her welcoming remarks that RU-N embraced its mission to serve the public in the most inclusive way possible.
“To serve the public good, we must actively choose to prioritize every member of what we call the public,’’ she said.
