Dr. Benjamin “Ben” Dworkin – Moderator

Director, Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship

Education

  • Ph.D. Political Science and Government – Rutgers University – 2015

  • M.A. Political Science & Public Policy – Rutgers University – 1992

  • B.A. Politics – Princeton University - 1990

Work Experience

  • Director – Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship (January 2018-present)

  • Director – Rebovich Institute for NJ Politics at Rider University (2008-2017)

  • Professor – Rutgers University (2007-2016)

  • CEO – Dworkin Strategic Communications (1999-2009)

  • Vice President – JCC Audiobooks (1999-2005)

  • Vice President – Robinson, Lerer, & Montgomery (1996-1999)

  • Assistant Director of Research – NJ Assembly Democratic Office (1992-1996)

  • Madrich – Young Judea (1981-1994)

Background

Dr. Benjamin Dworkin serves as the founding Director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship (RIPPAC) at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ.  He began at this position in January 2018.

With a focus on informing, engaging, and training Rowan students, faculty and the public, Dworkin is responsible for positioning the Institute at the nexus of applied politics and the issues of the day, further building on Rowan’s reputation at a leading research institution of higher education in New Jersey.

Under Dworkin’s leadership, the Institute offers programs and guest speakers focusing on both the practice of politics and citizen participation; supports students through academic and career development, internship placement and scholarships; and connects faculty and students from across the University with public entities to facilitate public policy research.

Additionally, Dworkin teaches courses in the Rowan University Department of Political Science.

As one of New Jersey’s most astute and widely quoted political analysts, he serves as a non-partisan commentator on political developments for media in New Jersey and nationally.  He has appeared on numerous network and cable news shows, and is frequently quoted by all of New Jersey’s major newspapers and radio stations, as well as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and The Los Angeles Times.

In 2020, Dr. Dworkin was named one of the top influencers in higher education in New Jersey.  Previously, he was named one of the 100 most powerful unelected people in New Jersey politics (2016).

Prior to launching the Institute at Rowan, Dr. Dworkin spent 10 years as Director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.

Before entering academia, Dr. Dworkin spent several years in the private sector.  He served as President & CEO of Dworkin Strategic Communications, and prior to that as a Vice President at Robinson Lerer & Montgomery, a leading New York-based corporate public relations firm.  His clients included several leading Fortune 500 companies, such as WebMD, Time-Warner, Texaco, Maidenform, and Hollywood Video.  His primary areas were media relations, strategic communications, and crisis management.

Dr. Dworkin has also worked as Deputy Research Director for the New Jersey Assembly Minority office in Trenton.  He helped oversee a staff of several other policy analysts and developed expertise in insurance, health care, public safety and veterans' issues.  In this position, he wrote and edited legislation, policy analyses, floor speeches, talking points for use in debates and media interviews, as well as overall strategy.

His initial job in politics was as a Legislative Aide to the late state Senator Matthew Feldman, past president of the State Senate and longtime chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.  His primary responsibilities were speechwriting, constituent relations, and legislative monitoring.

Through much of his early career, Dr. Dworkin worked on political campaigns, focusing on message development, press relations, advertising development, debate preparation and field operations.

An award-winning journalist for his work with the New Jersey Jewish Standard, New Jersey's oldest Anglo-Jewish newspaper, Dr. Dworkin has also been published in local newspapers throughout the state and has been recognized as a leading freelance film critic.  Miramax featured Dr. Dworkin on the DVD of the Oscar-winning film, Life is Beautiful.

Dr. Dworkin earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science at Rutgers University.  His undergraduate degree is from Princeton University.  He has presented his research and analysis at academic conferences across the country and has had his original research published in the academic press.

He lives with his wife and three daughters in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Social Media/Contact

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https://sites.rowan.edu/academic-affairs/rippac/meetthedirector.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-dworkin-a983561/

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