Senior Vice President for Research Michael Zwick Selected to New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Rutgers senior vice president for research Michael E. Zwick, PhD, has been selected to be the university’s representative on the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, where he will serve on the Board of Directors and continue to build and strengthen the relationship between Rutgers, industry, and the state of New Jersey.
“Rutgers University plays a major role in New Jersey’s economic development through our research and academic programs, which means we likewise have a vital role to play on the NJCC to be able to bring our perspective as the State University of New Jersey to discussions of key issues facing our state,” said Zwick. “I am deeply honored to have been selected to represent Rutgers, and I hope to build relationships and help grow awareness of the incredible research and innovation being carried on daily at the university.”
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce (NJCC), a non-profit entity, is “a business advocacy association based in Trenton that lobbies key stakeholders for legislation and policies designed to make New Jersey a desirable state to operate a business and establish good-paying jobs.” Its mission is to “promote a vibrant business environment and economic prosperity through vision, expertise and innovative solutions.”
“New Jersey is navigating a period of both significant opportunity and complex challenges,” said Thomas Bracken, president & CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “We are honored to welcome Dr. Zwick to our Board. His leadership in driving innovation, fostering research partnerships, and strengthening the state’s knowledge economy will be invaluable as we continue our mission to advance New Jersey’s economic prosperity. Dr. Zwick joins an esteemed group of business and academic leaders dedicated to shaping a stronger future for our state.”
Among the responsibilities of the NJCC Board of Directors is to establish policy and perhaps adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with the organization’s by-laws, as well as select the NJCC’s chair and vice-chairs. Zwick was nominated and then voted to join the board and will attend regular meetings and events to network with business leaders from throughout New Jersey and promote collaboration between the university, its researchers, and industry.
“As we highlighted in the 2025 Rutgers Research and Innovation Annual Impact Report, collaboration is crucial for research and innovation,” said Zwick. “Rutgers University researchers pursue fundamental and translational research that tells us more about our world and solves problems facing the people and communities of New Jersey and beyond. Industry has the ability to bring those solutions to market to improve all of our lives. In the Office for Research, one of our roles is to help faculty get their inventions to market quickly and efficiently. Connecting with industry is essential for our success.”
