James W. Hughes, dean of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, will step down and return to teaching at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—After 22 years as dean, James W. Hughes will step down from the post at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, the school announced Thursday.

In an exclusive email interview with GlobeSt.com, Hughes described his career as dean as “an extraordinarily long tenure.”

Hughes, who began his academic career at Rutgers as a member of the faculty in 1971, is a nationally recognized expert on demographics, housing, and regional economics.

“I am grateful for his exceptional leadership of the Bloustein School since he became dean in 1995,” says Richard L. Edwards, Ph.D., chancellor, Rutgers University–New Brunswick in an email statement. “Dean Hughes leaves the Bloustein School in tremendous shape and with national acclaim – the school is indeed one of the finest of its kind in the nation. As Jim worked these many years to build the school into the venerated institution it has become, he has done so with a dry sense of humor that I will miss and pride in Rutgers that will be hard to replace.”

“By far I'm the senior dean at Rutgers,” Hughes says. “Its definitely time to free myself of administrative and managerial responsibilities and do more of the things I like to do. This year is also the 250th anniversary of Rutgers, the 50th anniversary of the school's planning program (which predated the school), and the 25th anniversary of the Bloustein School itself. So this will be a celebratory year at the end of which is an appropriate time to step down.”

Hughes has been a prolific researcher and scholar for Rutgers, and has been available frequently for comment on statewide planning and real estate development issues for GlobeSt.com.

He is a director of the Rutgers Regional Report, which has produced more than 40 major economic, demographic, and real estate studies on New Jersey and the broader metropolitan region. He is author or co-author of 34 books and monographs and more than 150 articles. Among his books are New Jersey's Postsuburban Economy, published by the Rutgers University Press, and The Atlantic City Gamble, published by the Harvard University Press. He was also a contributing editor to the magazine American Demographics for 14 years.

Hughes has provided budgetary and economic testimony before many New Jersey State Legislative committees, and has given numerous policy briefings both in Washington, DC and Trenton on demographics, housing, and the economy. He has served on numerous New Jersey commissions and task forces, including the Governor's Commission on Jobs, Growth and Economic Development, the Governor's World Class Economy Task Force, and the Governor's Property Tax Commission and was appointed to the Economic Advisors Board of the Council of the City of New York.

Among his awards are the 2014 Distinguished Service Award of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the Rutgers School of Engineering 2014 Medal of Excellence, the Warren Hill Award of the New Jersey Bankers Association, the Rutgers Richard P. McCormick Award for Excellence in Alumni Leadership, the Distinguished Service Award of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Rutgers Presidential Award for Distinguished Public Service. Hughes has been both a Woodrow Wilson and Ford Foundation Fellow and was a Distinguished Fellow of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Hughes says he is planning to take a sabbatical during the 2017-1028 year, but if you think he is going to sit back and take it easy, guess again.

“This will not be a vacation,” he says. “I will be working on two books that are under contract, and maintaining my usual heavy speaking engagement schedule (probably around 50 or so), as well as continuing some research contracts. I will then return to faculty status for the 2018-19 academic year and hope to continue to be very active and productive.”

In an exclusive email interview with GlobeSt.com, Hughes described his career as dean as “an extraordinarily long tenure.”

Hughes, who began his academic career at Rutgers as a member of the faculty in 1971, is a nationally recognized expert on demographics, housing, and regional economics.

Hughes has been a prolific researcher and scholar for Rutgers, and has been available frequently for comment on statewide planning and real estate development issues for GlobeSt.com.

Hughes says he is planning to take a sabbatical during the 2017-1028 year, but if you think he is going to sit back and take it easy, guess again.

Instant Insights /

Hughes Leaving Dean Post at Rutgers' Bloustein School, Returning to Teaching

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