Marla Blunt-Carter Wins Torchbearer Award for Excellence in Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Access at Rutgers

Marla Blunt-Carter, an associate professor of professional practice at Rutgers School of Social Work, received the Torchbearer Award, which honors leaders in promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and access at Rutgers through their academic research, teaching, community engagement, and/or workplace engagement, program development, and leadership. 

Recipients of the Torchbearer Award meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Addressed issues of equity in the workplace and/or community.
• Utilized their academic research, teaching, or other forms of engagement (program development or leadership) to promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and access. 
• Built effective and meaningful coalitions across differences to move work forward and hold space for divergent points of view.
• Made a difference in the lives of the residents of the cities and towns where Rutgers resides, bridging equity gaps and serving the most vulnerable populations.

In his nomination letter, Chien Chung-Huang, professor and associate dean for faculty development at the School of Social Work, wrote, "Marla has dedicated the past decade to advancing social work, addressing systemic inequities, and inspiring students to be agents of change. Through her extensive work in academia, political consulting, and public service, she has promoted diversity, equity, and social justice on both local and national levels. Marla’s initiatives, such as organizing a White House briefing for social workers and the Campaign School for Social Workers, demonstrate her ability to bridge gaps between academia, practice, and policy. Her relentless pursuit of equity, commitment to education, and impactful community engagement exemplify the values of the Torchbearer Award."

Blunt-Carter brings a unique perspective to her teaching that intertwines professional experience and public policy, with social work practice approaches to inspire students for work that is rooted in social change and social justice. Blunt-Carter’s areas of interest include social policy, community organizing, advocacy and political social work. She was awarded the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award in 2020, 2017 and 2018, Most Creative and Innovative Professor in 2021 and 2019, and Most Supportive Professor in 2019 by the students at the Rutgers School of Social Work.

Prior to joining the faculty at the School of Social Work, Blunt-Carter served as the Projects Manager and Director of Constituent Services in the Senate Office of then-U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the State Director for the 2008 Obama/Biden Presidential Campaign, White House Staffer-Senior Agency Liaison in the Executive Office of President for the Obama/Biden Administration, Senior Advisor and Communications Director for Delaware’s Insurance Commissioner, and the Director of Community Planning and Policy Development at Delaware HIV Consortium.

In 2015, Blunt-Carter became the Senior Advisor and Political Strategist for Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester on her historic run to represent Delaware as the first woman and first person of color in the U.S. House of Representatives. Blunt-Carter has served on Congresswoman Blunt Rochester’s subsequent re-election bids and continues to serve as the Senior Advisor to the Congresswoman and a campaign consultant to state and local candidates running for office.