Today, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced Margo Chaly as her pick to serve as the next Secretary of Higher Education. Chaly currently serves as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA), where she has spent the last half decade helping families and students afford higher education. Together, Chaly and Gov.-elect Sherrill will work to make New Jersey’s world-class higher education more affordable for all residents, ensure colleges and universities have the resources they need to thrive, and expand New Jersey’s workforce.

“Margo Chaly is an experienced, innovative leader, and I’m excited to nominate her as New Jersey’s next Secretary of Higher Education. Margo brings years of leadership experience in helping students and families afford higher education which will be critical as we fight back against cuts from the federal government. New Jersey has some of the best colleges and universities in the world, yet far too many of our students are pursuing their degrees out of state. Every New Jerseyan deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education in the Garden State,” said Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill.

“Thank you to Gov.-elect Sherrill for her trust in me and the opportunity to continue supporting higher education here in New Jersey. While the Trump administration continues to cut funding that makes college affordable for students and guts research funding at our schools it’s critical we support the thousands of New Jerseyans who want to pursue a college degree. I look forward to working with Gov.-elect Sherrill and our partners in the state legislature to make higher education more affordable and accessible for every New Jerseyan,” said Secretary of Higher Education Nominee Margo Chaly. 

Margo Chaly is the current Executive Director of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, where she directed over tens of billions in need-based grants, scholarships, and financial aid to help thousands of students across the state and previously served as the Chief of Staff at the NJHESAA. Prior to that, Chaly was Manager of Litigation & Operations at a law firm and worked for more than a decade at multinational insurance companies. Chaly is a lifelong New Jerseyan and a graduate from Ithaca College and Seton Hall University School of Law.