The New Jersey Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments (BCWA) is a statewide, bipartisan group convened in years when there is an open seat for governor. The purpose of BCWA is to ensure the placement of women in key positions throughout state government.
Interested in a state appointment?
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's transition team is now accepting applications for employment or appointment in her new administration on the transition website.
Need more information about serving in appointed office?
- See our frequently asked questions about the appointments process in New Jersey.
- See also the list of New Jersey Boards, Commissions, and Authorities on the State of New Jersey web site.
About BCWA
The New Jersey Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments (BCWA) is a statewide, bipartisan group convened in years when there is an open seat for governor. BCWA convened for the first time in 1981.
The purpose of BCWA in 2025 is to secure a two-fold commitment from the major party nominees to:
- Reform the appointments process, prioritizing accountability and transparency by creating an accurate catalog of active boards and commissions, tracking demographic data of state appointees, and publicizing vacant positions.
- Appoint more women to positions across government, including the Cabinet, front office, and across state boards and commissions.
Read our press release about the questionnaire given to gubernatorial candidates during the 2025 election: Bipartisan Coalition Asks Both Gubernatorial Candidates About Women's Appointments; Sherrill Promises Transparent Appointments Process That Reflects New Jersey.
Read more about the pledges made by gubernatorial candidates during the 2017 election: Gubernatorial Candidates Respond to Group's Call for Equity in Government, Promise to Appoint More Women.
Questions?
If you would like to learn more about the Coalition or the Center's work on women's appointments, contact Jean Sinzdak.
2025 Members
Affiliations for identification purposes only.
Laura Ali
Chair, Morris County Republican Committee
Alexis Bailey
Associate, Public Strategies Impact (PSI)
T. Missy Balmir
Partner, Thorough Planning
Rosemary Becchi
Founder, New Jersey Policy Institute & Jersey 1st
Christine H. Buteas
President & CEO, HealthCare Institute of NJ
Patricia Campos-Medina
The Worker Institute at Cornell University
Silvia Catalan-Culnan
Legislative Director, New Jersey Assembly
Dyese Davis
Chair, Monmouth County Democratic Committee
Alyssa Dawson
Former Chief of Staff, NJ State Senator Holly Schepisi
Tara Dowdell
President, The Tara Dowdell Group
Amalia Duarte
Former Chair, Morris County Democratic Committee
Nancy Fitterer
President & CEO, Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ
Jeanne Fox
Rutgers Trustee; Women's Political Caucus Board; Columbia Adjunct Professor
Theresa Furmato Velardi
Chair, Monmouth County Federation of Republican Women
Kate Gibbs
New Jersey Republican State Committee
Gail Gordon
Attorney and Commissioner, New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority
Jody Herkloz
COO, NorthStar Strategies
Fatima Heyward
President, New Jersey Young Democrats
Jeanette Hoffman
President, Marathon Public Affairs
Uyen "Winn" Khuong
Executive Director, Action Together New Jersey
Karen J. Kominsky
CLB Partners and Co-Chair, PAM's List
Jacy Lance
Director of Government Affairs, Porzio Governmental Affairs
Jeannine F. LaRue
Partner, Moxie Strategies
Kay LiCausi
President, Hoboken Strategy Group
Jennifer Mancuso
Director, Government Affairs, NJLECET
Andrea Martinez-Mejia
Greater Newark Health Care Coalition and Chair, Latina Civic Foundation
Sabeen Masih
Senior Vice President, Capital Impact Group
Laura Matos
Partner, MAD Global Strategy Group and Chair, Latina Civic PAC
Maggie Moran
Partner, Moxie Strategies
Paulina O'Connor
Executive Director, New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance
Toral Patel
Board Member, AAPI NJ
Arlene Quiñones Perez
Equity Partner, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP
Grace Strom Power
General Counsel and EVP, Government Affairs, Solar Landscape
Cheryl Quinio-Blodgett
Director, UBS
Scarlett Rajski
New Jersey Schools Development Authority
Samantha Roman
President & CEO, Associated Builders & Contractors
Stacy Schuster
Executive Director, Women for a Stronger NJ
Afsheen Shamsi
Board Member, Emgage Action
Christine Shipley
Managing Director, Stevens & Lee Public Affairs
Michele Siekerka
President & CEO, NJ Business and Industry Association
Christine A. Stearns
Chief Government Relations Officer, New Jersey Hospital Association
Amanda Stone
Vice President of Public Affairs, NJ Restaurant and Hospitality Association
Brittany Wheeler
Vice President of Government Affairs, NJ Bankers Association
Amanda Woloshen Glass
Senior Vice President, Checkmate Strategies
Patrizia A. Zita
CEO, The Zita Group
Data on State Appointees
In 2022, the New Jersey Legislature passed legislation mandating the collection and analysis of the demographics, specifically race, ethnicity, and gender, of the state’s appointed officials. The legislation directed the Eagleton Institute of Politics and the Center for American Women and Politics to conduct this study. Our first two reports, released in 2023 and 2025, found significant and ongoing disparities in representation by race, ethnicity, and gender in state appointed positions for women and among certain racial/ethnic groups. The chart below provides a recent snapshot of the demographics of state appointees relative to their share of the population. Full data and analysis can be found in the reports linked below.
Reports on the Demographics of New Jersey's Appointed Officials
The reports below, released in 2023 and 2025, reveal continued underrepresentation of women and certain racial/ethnic groups in appointed positions, while highlighting the ongoing systemic challenges in studying appointees, including decentralized record-keeping on state appointees within the state administration. The reports include recommendations to increase transparency about appointee demographics, expand awareness of appointment opportunities, and ensure more diverse representation in these crucial positions.
