Rimshah Jawad, a Master of Public Informatics student at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, has been recognized in connection with National Student Parent Month. Her academic work centers on the use of artificial intelligence and data to serve the public good.
Jawad recently presented her paper titled “MOMCare with AI: A Dual Embedding-based RAG-LLM Chatbot for Postpartum Depression” at a conference. She is also scheduled to present another paper, “Unlocking Business Value with Generative AI! Economic Value Assessment for Chatbots and Gen AI ROI Discovery,” later this fall. According to Jawad, her projects aim to develop technology and data-driven solutions that are practical, equitable, and meaningful for communities and families.
As a mother of two children, ages 11 and 6, Jawad says her family motivates her pursuit of graduate education. “Their curiosity, honesty, and resilience keep me grounded. The best part is seeing the world through their eyes; it makes me want to build a future where opportunities are more accessible for all kids, not just my own,” she said.
Jawad’s journey toward graduate school began while teaching computer science to high school students as topics like AI became part of their curriculum. Realizing she needed additional skills to guide her students effectively—and seeking personal growth—she chose Rutgers as a place to expand those abilities within the context of public sector impact.
Balancing parenting responsibilities with academic demands has posed challenges for Jawad. She described initial difficulties adapting to daily routines in graduate school but noted that support from friends and community helped ease the transition over time. “Each milestone, whether academic or personal, feels more meaningful because of the juggling act behind it,” she stated. “Motherhood has reshaped me — not just as a student or researcher, but as a human being. It’s taught me patience on the hardest days, empathy when I try to understand experiences different from mine, and practicality in how I approach challenges. Whenever I dive into a project, I find myself asking: how would this affect families like mine, with kids like mine? That perspective keeps me grounded, and it gives my work not only purpose but also heart.”
Jawad acknowledged several members of the Bloustein School’s student services staff—Dean Weston, Courtney Culler, Greg Marrero, and Andrea Garrido—for their guidance during her studies. She also credited Professor Clint for his welcoming gesture when he invited her family to his picnic early in her program; Program Director Professor Jim Samuel for encouragement; Assistant Dean Ghada in Graduate Student Life for consistent support; and members of Rutgers’ Supporting Parents and Caregivers (SPCR) Graduate Student Organization.
Reflecting on her experience as a student parent pursuing higher education while raising children, Jawad offered advice: “Your children will see your perseverance, and that example is worth every late night and hard moment.”
She hopes that by witnessing her efforts in graduate school despite obstacles faced along the way, her children will learn persistence: they can create their own opportunities through determination.
