AAUW NJ recognizes Ms. Murphy for improving outcomes for Black Maternal and Infant Health in New Jersey by raising awareness, creating programs and helping to pass legislation. She has led the charge to include Climate Education and curriculum in our K-12 system and partnered with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to ensure that women-led businesses are getting their share of angel investments.

“I am honored to be recognized by the American Association of University Women of New Jersey as a 2024 Agent of Change,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “From our maternal and infant health work to implementing the nation’s first climate change education standards to promoting women-led businesses, I have benefitted from the support of a vast network of talented and hardworking women who have helped propel New Jersey to new heights. Without their partnership, none of these achievements would be possible. Together, we are on the road to making New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to live, work, go to school, and raise a family.”

Senator Ruiz has long been focused on eliminating disparities in education and ensuring that all students in New Jersey have access to quality public education. The highest-ranking Latina legislator in state history, Senator Ruiz has expanded employment opportunities for underserved communities by sponsoring bills to expand apprenticeship programs and increase teacher diversity.

“I am deeply moved and honored to receive this year’s ‘Agents of Change’ award alongside First Lady Tammy Murphy. Championing the advancement of women and girls in New Jersey has
been a constant pursuit of mine throughout my time in public service, strengthened by partnerships with organizations like AAUW NJ. Last year, AAUW NJ was instrumental in helping pass legislation that now provides free period products for girls in public schools,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex/Hudson). “I could not do this work alone and thank the fierce advocates on the ground for their vital contributions. As we look towards the future, collaboration will be crucial to keep pushing the needle to promote equity and inclusion for all women in education, healthcare, business, and beyond. Let’s continue to work together on our mission of empowering women. Thank you for this meaningful recognition.”

AAUW NJ was proud to name Anjali Mehrotra as the 2023 Woman as Agent of Change. Anjali currently serves on the national board of the National Organization of Women (NOW), the Board of Trustees for Union College of Union County NJ, and as the founder of the Equality, Period NJ Coalition.

Anjali Mehrotra came to the United States from India to pursue a degree in technology, and is now an entrepreneur in communications and design. She serves as chair of her local Democratic Committee, and in 2021, she ran for NJ State Assembly. As an immigrant and a woman of color, Anjali has faced bias and barriers to equality herself. In 2022 she stepped down as President of the National Organization of Women of New Jersey — along with seven other members of the NOW-NJ Board — in the face of racism and ageism from local chapter leaders. Undaunted, she continues to stand for equity, as a role model and a committed activist, in every role.

Congresswoman Sherrill is deserving of this award because of her many successes as a female leader, particularly in male dominated professions. She was a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot serving almost 10 years of active duty in Europe and the Middle East. Later, she earned her law degree, worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey as an Outreach and Reentry Coordinator, and then became an Assistant U.S. District Prosecutor.

Mikie Sherrill won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. As a mother raising four children in New Jersey, she is a strong voice in Congress for New Jersey’s families. As a freshman Congresswoman, she introduced eleven pieces of legislation and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the Education and Labor Committee. She has promoted equity for women in the military and women veterans through the creation of the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus.

Jacquelyn Litt joined Rutgers University in 2010 to serve as Dean of Douglass Residential College and the Douglass Campus. Dr. Litt has a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and administrative service that focuses on women’s issues.  In addition to serving as the Dean, she is Professor of Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Prior to coming to Rutgers, she was founding chair of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Missouri. 

She has expertise in women in STEM, was a P.I. and consultant for the ADVANCE program to advance women in STEM at the National Science Foundation and a grant reviewer for innovative STEM pedagogy projects at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. She is the author of two books and numerous articles. Litt received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Inspiring! Challenging! Passionate! Powerful! Lobbyist! Public affairs executive in NJ! Jeannine challenges her listeners to step beyond self-pity and experience the futures they can’t even imagine. Jeannine LaRue, founder of the well-known blog “LaRuelist Report,” and Senior Vice President of the Kaufman Zita Group, has spent almost 40 years serving the public on policy, governmental, and political issues in the public and private sectors. “The Network Journal,” New York’s leading Black profession and small business  magazine named Jeannine one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business. She has been mentioned as a political New Jersey powerbroker on the prestigious “PolitickerNJ” list at least five times. Her many influential roles include: NJEA lobbyist, member of the Casino Control Commission, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Barnabas Health, Vice President of Public Affairs in the Rutgers University President’s cabinet, and founder of the first major New Jersey Statewide women’s conference that ultimately became the Governor’s Conference for Women.

Laurel Brennan was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO in January 1997 and was re-elected to her sixth term in 2016. She is the first woman to serve in this office in New Jersey and is one of only seven to do so across the nation.

In her position as Secretary-Treasurer, Laurel is responsible for the organizational budget and other financial obligations of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. In partnership with New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech, she develops and implements statewide policies that impact one million union members and their families.

Candace Straight is a private investor and investment-banking consultant specializing in the insurance industry. Throughout her successful career, she has worked for numerous corporations including, Merck & Co. Inc., headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and Bankers Trust Company. Straight has also served as a principal of Head and Partners and as an Advisory Director of Securitas Capital, L.L.C., a global private equity investment firm specializing in insurance and financial services related industries

In 1982, Straight was appointed by Governor Thomas Kean to be a Trustee of the Public Employees Retirement System of the State of New Jersey, serving until 1988. Straight was Co-Chair of Governor Whitman’s Budget Advisory Committee and appointed by Governor Christie to the Board of Governors of Rutgers University. In 1994 Straight was appointed to the Board of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (“NJSEA”), serving until 2003.

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2005 and is now serving her fourth term. She was also a member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2001 to 2007.

Ms. Vainieri Huttle sponsored the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which focuses on prevention, responsiveness, and school district accountability. She also sponsored laws establishing the Department of Children and Families, civil unions, the posting of legislative voting records on the Legislature’s website and a one-stop web portal for non-profit organizations. Ms. Vainieri Huttle is the lead sponsor of the Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey accountability initiatives.

Asw. Vainieri Huttle is a member of the Tourism & the Arts Committee and serves as an Ex-Officio member of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts. In 2003 she helped establish the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood. In 2012, she started a Young Women’s Leadership Program to introduce high school students in her district to government and public service.