Policy Analyst Joins Bloustein School as Associate Professor

Laura R. Peck also is named as a principal faculty fellow at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy has appointed policy analyst Laura R. Peck as an associate professor.

Peck will also serve as a Principal Faculty Fellow at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, housed within the Bloustein School.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Peck to the Bloustein School," said Stuart Shapiro, the dean of the school and a professor. "Her extensive expertise in social policy, including workforce development, will enrich our academic environment and also help drive innovative research at both the Bloustein School and the Heldrich Center."

Most recently, Peck was a principal scientist at social policy research firm MEF Associates. Her work spanned food and housing assistance, safety net services, economic security and workforce and postsecondary education.

A nationally recognized expert in program evaluation, Peck specializes in designing experimental and quasi-experimental studies to measure the real-world impact of public programs. Her research has shaped evidence-based policy across sectors, from education and employment to housing and income support.

She is the co-editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Evaluationand has held leadership roles at Abt Associates, including principal scientist and global director for research, and associate professor in the School of Public Affairs and associate dean of Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University. Peck holds master of public administration, master of philosophy and doctor of philosophy degrees from New York University.

"I am honored to join the Bloustein School and the Heldrich Center," Peck said. "I look forward to collaborating with its vibrant community of scholars, students and policy professionals committed to driving meaningful change."

"Dr. Peck brings extraordinary knowledge and energy to our team," said Carl Van Horn, director of the Heldrich Center and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers. "We're excited to work with her on groundbreaking research and policy initiatives."