Alum Advances Equity & Mental Health in Higher Ed
Student leadership at Rutgers–Camden lit the spark, and today Public Administration MPA alum Josefina Ewins is carrying that flame into state policy work that prioritizes equity and mental health. In “Alumna Champions Student Voices in Higher-Ed Reform” by Christina Lynn, Ewins is recognized for channeling her experiences on campus into a career as a policy analyst with New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Her path to state government began with a roundtable conversation alongside Secretary Brian Bridges, an encounter that opened her eyes to the impact students could have on shaping higher education reform.
Lynn traces how Ewins’s commitment to community engagement, instilled by her parents and strengthened at Rutgers–Camden, became the foundation for her professional journey. As a Bonner Civic Scholar, she coordinated an oral history project on Camden residents’ perspectives of policing and education reform—work she later presented on an international stage in Ireland. She also took on leadership positions as a resident assistant, student government representative, and Afro Latinx leader, each role sharpening her ability to advocate for others. Those experiences paved the way to a fellowship with Unidos US, where she expanded her reach as a policy advocate.
Now in her role at OSHE, Ewins advances initiatives designed to amplify student voices and expand access to support systems. She has contributed to the U-Will Partnership, which provides free virtual counseling to New Jersey’s college students, and the Some College, No Degree initiative, which helps adults return to complete their education. As Lynn’s article highlights, Ewins credits the collaborative culture at Rutgers–Camden with inspiring her to center community in all her work. Looking ahead, she envisions pursuing a doctorate in intersectional policy to continue creating pathways for students—just as Rutgers–Camden once did for her.
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