Chancellor Francine Conway Honored with Richard L. Edwards Outstanding Career Advocate Award

The Office of Career Exploration and Success (CES) proudly celebrated Dr. Francine Conway, Chancellor of Rutgers—New Brunswick, as the recipient of the prestigious Richard L. Edwards Outstanding Career Advocate Award during the 25 Years of FIGS (First-Year Interest Group Seminars) celebration on December 11, 2024. This accolade, named in honor of the first Chancellor of Rutgers—New Brunswick, Dr. Richard L. Edwards, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to advancing positive career outcomes for students. Chancellor Emeritus Edwards joined the celebration, adding to the significance of this recognition of Conway’s contributions to career readiness. 

A Legacy of Career Advocacy

The Richard L. Edwards Outstanding Career Advocate Award honors individuals who foster an environment where career development is integral to student success. Honorees are distinguished by their commitment to enhancing career education, collaboration with stakeholders, and dedication to innovative strategies that prepare students for meaningful careers.

Dr. Conway, only the second recipient of this prestigious award, follows in the footsteps of Dr. Edwards, who was the inaugural honoree in 2017 when the award was named in recognition of his contributions to career readiness. Conway has made a lasting impact by embedding “world readiness” and post-graduation success into key institutional strategies. Her leadership in initiatives such as the Academic Master Plan and Discovery Advantage Plan has ensured that Rutgers students gain critical career competencies, engage in experiential education, and excel in their chosen fields. Her support for CES has been pivotal, particularly her involvement with the First-Year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) program.

Transforming Career Readiness Through FIGS

The integration of the FIGS program with Career Exploration and Success (CES) in 2017 marked a pivotal milestone in its evolution since its founding in 2000. Since then, FIGS has become a cornerstone program for first-year success at Rutgers. The program introduces first-semester students to university resources through a career interest lens and has experienced unprecedented growth. In 2024, FIGS set a record by offering 44 unique topics across 82 sections, engaging 1,956 first-year students. Over its 25-year history, FIGS has impacted more than 27,000 students, providing a supportive environment for career exploration while fostering essential skills such as academic planning, personal wellness, diversity and inclusion, and career exploration.

Dr. Conway’s commitment to the success of FIGS is evident. As Chancellor, she secured additional funding in 2022 to extend the FIGS program’s reach, enabling it to impact a record number of first-year students this year. Dr. Conway also served as a FIGS faculty mentor, supporting Goldy Zazon, a School of Arts and Sciences undergraduate and Fall 2024 FIGS Peer Instructor who taught Exploring Psychology. Goldy shared her experience as a FIGS Peer Instructor: “The FIGS program at Rutgers University offered me the incredible opportunity to further explore my passion for psychology under the guidance of Dr. Conway as my faculty mentor. Dr. Conway generously offered advice and resources, both for my seminar and my future, for which I am deeply grateful.” During her acceptance speech, Dr. Conway highlighted Goldy’s passion and curiosity, stating, “It was truly my pleasure this past year to support Goldy’s planning and her excitement. It’s infectious.”

A Visionary Leader

Dr. Conway embodies the belief that advancing career readiness requires a shared commitment and teamwork. Through her vision, Rutgers has strengthened its focus on developing students as lifelong learners and ensuring that, regardless of their academic path, they graduate with the skills and opportunities to secure fulfilling careers. Her leadership has been instrumental in aligning these diverse efforts, prioritizing social mobility, and ensuring that Rutgers graduates are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to secure fulfilling careers. Her recent approval of a Chancellor’s Challenge initiative to transform faculty into career influencers further underscores her dedication to integrating career readiness into all facets of the Rutgers experience. Executive Director of CES and Chief R Careers Officer William Jones praised Dr. Conway's leadership, stating, "Dr. Conway views world readiness as an essential part of student success. Through her vision and her example, she has challenged all of us to think bigger and work harder to ensure our students graduate with the knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and the competencies and confidence to succeed in the world beyond Rutgers."

Celebrating 25 Years of FIGS

The award ceremony was held as part of the 25 Years of FIGS celebration, highlighting the program’s rich history and evolution. Members of the Board of Trustees and former FIGS Peer Instructors were also in attendance, underscoring the significance of this milestone event. Starting in 2000 with five sections and 120 students, FIGS has grown to become one of Rutgers’ most impactful initiatives for student engagement. These one-credit courses, led by Peer Instructors, offer first-year students a supportive space to explore career interests while transitioning to college life. The program’s success has been made possible through the collaboration of faculty mentors, advisors, campus partners, and CES staff.

As Rutgers—New Brunswick reflects on the milestones achieved through FIGS and CES, the recognition of Dr. Conway with the Richard L. Edwards Outstanding Career Advocate Award underscores the university’s commitment to fostering career readiness as an essential component of student success. Reflecting on her role as a mentor and leader, Dr. Conway remarked, "Young people are the hope for the future. Supporting their growth and nurturing their potential is the cure for everything."