WE ARE YOU

Rutgers Excellence across
New Jersey and Beyond

WE ARE YOU is an ongoing series of stories about the people who embody Rutgers University’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, building community, and the common good.

‘Together, WE ARE YOU’

With more than 600,000 alumni worldwide and almost 360,000 living in New Jersey, Rutgers University’s powerful influence resonates throughout the state and around the globe. Every day, more than 67,000 students, 8,000 faculty members, and 14,000 staff on our campuses and in the field embrace excellence in the pursuit of education and research. Their explorations and expertise range from the arts to engineering, the sciences to the humanities, business to health care, farming to teaching to public service, and much, much more.

We hope you enjoy this video and the many WE ARE YOU stories to come. Keep the momentum going and share on social: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X.

Jennifer Northam RC’94

It was a professor at Rutgers who changed my life,” says Jennifer Northam RC’94. “My professor forced me to join the newspaper as part of my Introduction to Journalism class. But as soon as I saw my name in print, I was hooked.” From that formative experience, Northam went on to leave her mark in broadcasting. Over a 20-year career at CNBC, she traveled the world before ultimately settling in London, where she cofounded her own independent creative agency. “I really believe I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for that professor at Rutgers who really pushed me,” she reflects.

Brett Chappell

Army veteran Glenn Ford calls Rutgers School of Dental Medicine student Brett Chappell RSDM’25 a real-life Scarlet Knight. Thanks to Chappell and the RSDM Vet Smiles program, Ford received the dentures he urgently needed. This program provides veterans in Essex County, New Jersey, with free x-rays, cleanings, preventive care, fillings, dentures, and crowns. After graduation, Chappell RSDM’25 will join the U.S. Army Dental Corps, further strengthening the bond between these brothers-in-arms. “This university has given me the opportunity to grow as a skilled dental professional, and it’s even more meaningful when I get to give back to someone … who served our country,” says Chappell. 

Joe Lemkin

Meet Joe Lemkin RC’90, a proud Rutgers grad and dad and lawyer of 30 years. In Rutgers, Lemkin still finds an outlet for his passions, including Rutgers Football and broadcasting—two interests he combined as a radio show host reviewing Rutgers football games. Watch his video to learn what he believes sets Rutgers apart.

Matt Cortland

Rutgers alumnus Matt Cortland SAS’11 has something enchanting brewing! At his fantasy-inspired chain of restaurants and bars in the U.S. and U.K., patrons use magic wands and molecular mixology to whip up their own spectacular libations. As co-founder and Chief Executive Wizard of The Cauldron Company PC, Cortland explains, “I just want to make magic real … A lot of what we read about and see on the screens of movies actually can be real with the right implementation of technology.”

In pursuing his vision, Cortland relies in part on training he received while studying in Ireland for a master’s degree in technology, which he obtained thanks to guidance from Rutgers’ Office of Distinguished Fellowships. “The doors that Rutgers opened through its support of its students, especially around what you do after graduation, was really impactful,” he says.

Alonzo Adams

The world is a better place because Alonzo Adams MGSA’84 failed calculus. He planned to study engineering at Rutgers, but his artistic talent took root. Now, it’s prominently displayed in the form of a new mural at SHI Stadium, featuring the legacy of fellow alumnus Paul Robeson RC1919—the celebrated athlete, singer, and activist. “I didn’t know the man he was when I got to Rutgers, but I found out the giant that he was—the humanitarian, the man who fought for peace, the athlete, the celebrity, the activist,” says Adams. “I want his image to be magnified.”

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