Our Team

Peggy has been a part of the SEBS/NJAES community for more than 20 years. Since 2006, she has served as Associate Director of NJAES. Prior to 2006, she was Associate Dean of Research for Cook College and a member of DAFRE.  In 2010, Peggy established the first university-wide Office of Economic Development, which she led as Associate Vice President for Economic Development from 2010 through June 2019. In this role she raised the recognition of Rutgers as a catalyst for economic development in the state. Her accomplishments include co-founding the university’s and the state’s first academic supercomputer center and the Rutgers Office of Advanced Research Computing, leading a strategic planning effort for university corporate engagement resulting in the establishment of the Rutgers Corporate Engagement Office, and leading the development of a comprehensive plan for a 30-acre research park on Livingston campus.  At NJAES, Peggy led the development of internationally renowned business incubators–Rutgers Food Innovation Center which she established and the Rutgers EcoComplex; as well as programs such as the NJAES Office of Research Analytics and Sustainable Energy Working Group, and revamped the strategy for technology transfer, among other accomplishments. She has secured over 40 grants totaling more than $28 million, while external funding awarded for programs she oversees exceeds $60 million. Her work has been recognized at the university, state, and national levels. She is an economist specializing in economic development and entrepreneurship, impact assessment, bioenergy economics and policy. Peggy earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics, master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, and a doctoral degree in Planning and Public Policy, all from Rutgers. 

Lori helps engage students and faculty in entrepreneurial initiatives with the ultimate goals of skill building and moving innovations forward.  She is one of the Lead Instructors for the Northeast Region I-Corps Site Program, a National Science Foundation funded initiative that uses experiential education to help innovators gain insights into starting a business. She s involved in program recruitment, curriculum development and instructor training. Lori was previously the Director of the Rutgers I-Corps Site program where she co-developed the I-Corps Fellowship program for underrepresented students to join I-Corps teams to nurture their interest in innovation and gain skills. Lori is  a Senior Adviser for Rutgers Masters in Business and Science Externship Program (an experiential learning initiative for 170+ undergraduate and graduate students per semester); where she manages multiple student projects and recruits organizational partners to the program  Lori is an active member of the New Jersey Big Data Alliance and is the founder and leader of Rutgers-wide Entrepreneurship Coalition, created to foster a community of innovation and grow the entrepreneurship ecosystem at the university.

Previously, Lori worked in the New Ventures & Entrepreneurship group in Rutgers Technology Transfer Office, assisting start-up ventures formed from Rutgers Technologies.  Prior to coming to Rutgers, Lori held numerous positions in business development and marketing.   She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Delaware and an M.B.A. from Rutgers University.

Amy provides support for the development of programs and off-campus infrastructure that lead to effective interdisciplinary research, outreach and economic development outcomes.

Waylen provides administrative support to the Director of Research and the Director of Resource and Economic Development at NJAES.  Waylen assists with financial and human resources activities for the Office of Research, the Office of Resource and Economic Development, the Office of Research Analytics, the Research Greenhouses and Marine Outreach.