Pack Jam Packs Them In
On February 25, 2022, Rutgers’ Packaging Engineering Program hosted a virtual Packaging Jamboree, or Pack Jam, designed to inspire attendees to network, collaborate on, and consider the big topics in packaging today. This year’s theme was “The Packaging Industry and E-Commerce During the Coronavirus Pandemic.”
Pack Jam, an annual, national student-run event connects students with other packaging institutions and professionals. While Pack Jam was postponed in 2020 and 2021, Rutgers worked with the packaging community to hold a virtual event this year, rather than postpone it for a third year. Students and faculty joined the event from Clemson University, Michigan State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Ryerson University, Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin - Stout, in addition to Rutgers University.
“Student attendees had the opportunity to engage with packaging peers from other institutions and learn about packaging e-commerce trends and sustainability, Says Hao Lin, the director of the School of Engineering Packaging Program. “This is the best opportunity to bring us back together as a community after a long pause due to the pandemic.”
Another Pack Jam benefit, according to packaging program junior Spencer Blakeslee, was the opportunity to meet and connect with packaging students from other schools.
A Jam-Packed Schedule
Blakeslee and fellow School of Engineering packaging student Mariela Garcia moderated the full event which kicked off with an opening keynote address by James Reagan, senior director, packaging design & development at Pfizer on the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Additional keynote speakers included L’Oréal senior vice president of human resources Angela Bennett, who gave students tips on applying for jobs during a pandemic, and Mondelēz International's director of packaging Christine Grilli, who discussed packaging considerations and e-commerce.
