Westchester County and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) today announced the appointment of Bonnie Blumer as the Partnership Representative for the RPI and Westchester Partnership, marking an exciting next phase in the growing collaboration between the County and the nation’s first technological research universities.
In this role, Blumer will serve as a dedicated connection between RPI and Westchester County employers—expanding access to education, talent, and collaborative research opportunities across high-growth STEM sectors including quantum, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and technology. She will also help coordinate pathways for employers to engage RPI students through internships, co-ops, and applied, project-based experiences.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Hiring a dedicated RPI representative based in Westchester is a key pillar of our partnership and a powerful signal of RPI’s long-term commitment to this collaboration. Having someone on the ground, working directly with employers, allows us to more effectively connect Westchester’s small, mid-sized, and large-scale STEM-based companies with RPI’s forward-thinking educational offerings—helping businesses upskill their workforce and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.”
RPI President Martin A. Schmidt said: “RPI is pleased to strengthen our ongoing partnership with Westchester County. Bonnie Blumer will have a pivotal role connecting the County’s workforce and organizations with RPI programs, supporting our collaborative efforts to cultivate and retain technical talent in the region.”
Westchester County Director of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said: “Bonnie is exactly the right person to advance this partnership. Her deep experience, institutional knowledge of RPI, and decades of higher education marketing and enrollment leadership will accelerate and expand the tangible results of this partnership for Westchester employers and their workforce.”
Blumer said: “It is a true honor to serve in this pivotal role on behalf of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute within Westchester County. This partnership is about connection—ensuring that residents and employers can readily access the very best of RPI’s educational offerings, talent pipeline, and collaborative partnerships. I look forward to working closely with county leadership and industry to create meaningful, lasting impact for the region’s workforce and innovation ecosystem.”
Before assuming this role, Blumer spent eight years on the RPI at Work leadership team, where she helped shape marketing, enrollment, and strategic partnerships that drove national enrollment. She has worked closely with Westchester County since the partnership’s inception—meeting with employers, co-hosting events, and helping local organizations understand how to leverage RPI’s programs to meet evolving workforce needs. Her higher-education marketing, enrollment, and partnership experience spans more than two decades.
Through its RPI at Work programs, RPI offers online, project-based professional development led by industry experts. These programs prepare the workforce for high-demand sectors, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, technology, clean energy, and quantum computing. To learn more about the Westchester County partnership with RPI, visit: https://westchestercatalyst.com/rpi/.