Bio-1 Governance Board Spotlight: Dr. Carl Van Horn, Director, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
Written by Rashi Jain, Rutgers Student and Bio-1 Intern

Dr. Carl E. Van Horn is the founding Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and Professor of Public Policy at the university’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.  He also serves as Chair of the State’s Economic Development Authority in addition to serving on Bio-1's Governance Board.  He acknowledges that all his professional undertakings are synergistic and relate to his core interests – economic and workforce development.

As the Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, he oversees 25-35 projects at a time.  Previously, he has worked with the pharmaceutical industry to determine trends, and to bridge the gap between the industry demands and workforce skills.  Dr. Van Horn started off as a Professor in the field of Public Policy, which has always been his passion. When asked what he would be doing if he were not in his current standing, he said with an ease that he would have been working in government or non-profit organizations in the realm of Public Policy, where his heart lies.

If he could change something in the world, he would try to make the people of the world self-reliant and self-sufficient by facilitating development of skills that could help them get employed. This would, in the long run, alleviate the worsening poverty and unemployment situation.  He also feels that the upcoming generation is unaware of the potential and wonderful opportunities in the biosciences, and is therefore proud to be associated with projects, such as Bio-1, that embrace strategies to excite young people to join the bioscience industry.  As a piece of advice, he stated that we need some patience and persistence to keep up with such efforts as Bio-1, but eventually, we will accomplish the desired objectives.  In the future, he looks forward to successful execution of Bio-1's Sustainability Plan, so that Bio-1 can function without any federal aid.