REACH Researchers Honored for Community-Engaged Scholarship
As the 2025–2026 academic year comes to a close, REACH celebrates the work of our affiliated faculty who have been honored for their work not only in teaching and research, but also in community engagement.
Lee Awarded Cheryl Wall Faculty Fellowship
Kwangwon Lee, PhD, was among 12 Rutgers faculty receiving fellowship support for the 2026–2027 academic year. Lee is director of the Rutgers–Camden MARC Program and professor, Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences–Camden, Rutgers University–Camden.
The prestigious Wall awards, announced each spring for the following academic year, recognize full-time Rutgers faculty who have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following key areas: curricular redesign, scholarship and research, service, and/or leadership in innovation. The fellowships pay tribute to Dr. Cheryl Wall, who worked throughout her career to strengthen the university and support its mission of serving the people of New Jersey.
Lee is passionate about increased access to STEM fields for students from historically underrepresented groups; under his leadership, the MARC program provides mentorship and guidance to undergraduates interested in pursuing a PhD in STEM disciplines. With his REACH-funded project, Pathways to STEM Leadership for Camden High School Students, Lee extends the pipeline of support to the high school level in partnership with the school district and the community. The project creates a structured pathway for Camden high school students to explore and excel in STEM careers, offering mentorship, leadership development, and hands-on STEM experiences.
2025–2026 Faculty Year-End Excellence Awards Include Two REACH Investigators
Danley Named Presidential Outstanding Faculty Scholar
This award honors tenured Rutgers faculty members “whose breadth of academic portfolios reflect outstanding research, scholarship, or creative work, as well as truly outstanding contributions to teaching along with extensive service to the Rutgers community and beyond.”
Stephen D. Danley, DPhil, associate professor, Department of Public Policy and Administration, School of Arts and Sciences–Camden, and director of the Center for Urban Research and Education, Rutgers University–Camden, was one of just five recipients of this distinction, universitywide. Danley was honored and proud to be selected, commenting: “Community-engaged research takes a village….We're building something special at the Center for Urban Research and Education (CURE), and it feels good to have that recognized.”
Danley’s REACH-funded project— Hidden Hands — investigated corporate property purchases with a view toward increasing homeownership opportunity for Camden residents. Danley also collaborated with CURE colleague Michael S. Hayes, PhD, principal investigator, on two REACH projects concerned with education equity. Working with Danley, CURE fellows, and community partners, Hayes’s projects focused on gathering data to support parental decision-making and inform policymaking surrounding school choice in Camden.
Cadenas Receives Rutgers College Class of 1962 Presidential Public Service Award
Funded by the Class of 1962 of Rutgers College, this award “honors members of the faculty, student body, or staff in recognition of distinguished and non-compensated service to government bodies, professional or scholarly organizations, and/or the general public, such as voluntary community leadership, or personal acts of heroism.”
Germán A. Cadenas, associate professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology; director of the Global Mental Health and Immigration Programs; and associate director of the Center for Youth Social Emotional Wellness (CYSEW), Rutgers University–New Brunswick, was named this year’s honoree for his service to both his profession and to the immigrant community.
Cadenas’s community-based work developing and validating strategies to support psychological well-being and health of underserved communities has informed policies and programs supporting immigrant youth and families. With co-investigator Claudia M. Castillo-Lavergne, PhD, and their community partner, Cadenas undertook Empowered and Healthy Immigrant Families with funding from REACH. This curriculum on social determinants of health, piloted in two Camden high schools, sought to empower immigrant youth through education and the development of advocacy skills, resulting in better mental health outcomes and increased ability to navigate health system barriers.
Congratulations to all of the honorees!
