Rutgers Law Welcomes Director of New Programs Maureen Saraco
Meet Maureen Saraco, Rutgers Law School’s newest director of new programs. She arrives from Temple University, where she directed several pre-college and dual enrollment programs, creating a pathway to undergraduate education for students from Philadelphia, across the country, and around the world. Saraco's background also includes developing executive education for adult learners, managing programs for local nonprofits, and teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In this interview, Saraco—a Rutgers grad herself—shares her vision for her new role, the work that needs to be done, and her enthusiasm for working with students of all kinds.
What attracted you to Rutgers Law School?
I am always very energized when I get to work in an educational environment full of incredibly smart and talented people whose sole goal is to do the best possible job for their students, so Rutgers Law definitely provides that. I am also inspired by the Rutgers Law student body, their tenacity, their willingness to strive, and their commitment to making an impact in their communities. Coming to Rutgers Law feels a bit like coming home—I earned my M.A. in English at Rutgers University–Camden in 2012 and I’m very happy to be back!
What about this role in particular appealed to you?
I am a builder, so I’m looking forward to bringing my entrepreneurial skills and creativity to a new challenge. In every role I’ve ever had, I’ve always been either the first or second one to hold it—so I’ve gotten good at figuring out what the strategic direction should be, how to move new projects forward, and how to scale them and sustain them over time.
What are some of your goals for programs at Rutgers Law?
As director of new programs, my goal is to create programs that eventually won’t be “new” anymore. I want to create educational programs that are sustainable for the university and that help the Law School reach new audiences. There are so many people who interact with various aspects of the law and the legal system at work—folks in business, education, healthcare, and so many other fields—who could benefit from knowing more about the law as it relates to what they do. I want to create opportunities for them to learn in a way that’s flexible, engaging, and relevant to their work so they can advance in their careers. But I also want to look for ways that we can be of additional service to the legal profession, especially in New Jersey, and find opportunities to partner across the university to give lawyers, especially our alumni, ways to grow their careers, too.
What do you see as your biggest challenge in this role?
I think the biggest challenge is managing the enormous potential and prioritizing which ideas get to go first by what’s going to resonate most with the prospective students we need to reach. Our faculty and staff have been very open with their ideas, and I look forward to connecting with alumni in the coming months to hear from them, too. If you are reading this as part of the Rutgers Law School community and you have an idea for a new program, or an educational need for your employees, please reach out to me at lawprograms@law.rutgers.edu. Let’s talk!
What excites you most about your new position?
I am excited to expand the definition of what it means to be a Rutgers Law student and to expand the ways that Rutgers Law School can make an impact in New Jersey and beyond. The best part of working in education is seeing how students seize the opportunities presented to them and use them as springboards to do incredible work in their respective fields.