BOLD WLN Spotlight Series: Rutgers, The State University-Newark

Next up in our BOLD Spotlight Series is Rutgers University-Newark, a BOLD Women’s Leadership Partner since 2018! Now, under the direction of Executive Vice Chancellor Sherri-Ann Butterfield, Ph.D, and Jennifer Bucalo, Ph.D, BOLD has continued to flourish over the years. This program attracts a diverse pool of applicants, making a positive impact on the lives of the Scholars.

The BOLD program currently has 19 active Scholars, all of whom are seniors. Under the leadership of Dr. Bucalo and Dr. Butterfield, the program has evolved to focus largely on Scholars’ professional development. Requirements include mandatory monthly meetings where they learn essential skills and lessons to prepare them for a career after graduation. Community engagement is also a major component of the program, particularly significant in the context of Newark's ongoing gentrification. Scholars engage with the community actively, creating genuine bonds and ties with various local companies and organizations. This engagement is mutually beneficial, allowing the Scholars to understand the pulse of the community they inhabit while also providing aid and reinforcement where it’s needed. They continually are learning how to become forces for growth.

The Scholars are each required to participate in an internship for a minimum of one year. The internships are tailored to their majors, to help them secure job offers post-graduation, and make them stronger candidates for graduate school. The Scholars are given a list of vetted partner organizations to ensure enriching internship experiences. They can also pick an organization if they find one outside of the list that sparks their interest (and is approved). 

The BOLD Advisory Board at Rutgers consists primarily of women on the Chancellor’s leadership team. They include the CFO, Deans, and Executive directors. Having these well-connected advisors allows students to have exposure to great networking opportunities. The support of leadership at Rutgers provides a many great role models to be connected with during the Scholars’ time in the program

The BOLD program's reputation is growing, and Dr. Bucalo’s inbox is continually filled with inquiries from students interested in becoming Scholars. The program has been making a tremendous impact, equipping young women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to become leaders in their fields and communities.