Meet the Director
Karl Weiskopf (He / Him / His) is the Director of Policy and Research at the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy & Research at Kean University. In this role, Weiskopf supports the work of the Institute to serve the urban communities of New Jersey. He will oversee and conduct research to synthesize policy solutions for the clients and constituencies of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association and the New Jersey Legislative Black and Latino Caucuses. He will also assist in the compilation of a repository of research conducted by the Kean campus community and act as a liaison between the Watson Institute and its partners in government and the private and non-profit sectors. Weiskopf's goal is to utilize policy research to advance innovative and transformative legislative and regulatory action for the benefit of all New Jerseyans, particularly residents of urban communities.
Prior to joining the Watson Institute, Weiskopf oversaw the provision of services for the Trenton-area, Spanish-speaking community as a Latino youth services specialist at El Centro de Recursos para Familias, a program of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. He drove briefly for Uber and Lyft and then served as a legislative aide, legislative director and chief of staff at the Office of Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli in the New Jersey General Assembly. During his tenure in the Assembly, Weiskopf oversaw the signature into law of nine pieces of legislation that effectuated change in the areas of domestic manufacturing, mental-health licensure, transparency in naloxone pricing, workers’ rights and animal welfare. Weiskopf secured and presided directly over the disbursement of the Mercer County Reentry Pilot Program, an appropriation of $1 million in state funding to assist individuals who exited incarceration during Fiscal Year 2021.
Weiskopf holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The College of New Jersey and a certificate in international studies from the Franklin Institute for North American Studies at the Universidad de Alcalá in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
For more information about the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy & Research, visit kean.edu/watson-institute or contact:
Karl Weiskopf (He / Him / His)
Director of Policy and Research
kweiskop@kean.edu
John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy & Research
Kean University
10 West Lafayette Street • Suite 308
Trenton, NJ 08608-2002