Jennifer M. Howard, MD, MPH is the President of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. She has been a member of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area since 2013 and currently serves on the Leadership Committee. Jennifer is a practicing OB/GYN physician in NYC having also previously practiced in NJ. She has been a Vice President for the African American Parent Support Group, WW-P Regional School district (a parent advocacy organization with over 25 years of addressing racial disparities and educational achievement gaps in African-American students), a preceptor to medical students and residents, a medical volunteer for overseas medical missions and a medical director of a reproductive health organization. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard/Radcliffe, her medical school degree from Howard University’s College of Medicine and her Master’s of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
Lauren Nance, CMP is an active contributor to the business, service, and civic uplift of northern New Jersey. Driven by her passion for efficiency and community, Lauren frequently leverages her community connections to help other people excel.
As Chief Executive Officer of Nance Communications, LLC, and a Certified Meeting Professional, Lauren is an award-winning contributor to her profession. Her clients include nonprofits, entrepreneurs and creatives in a variety of industries. Nance’s greatest body of work in service, civic engagement, and leadership engagement is done through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She joined while attending Rutgers University in 1989. Zeta’s global impact on social action, community service, and voter education initiatives are well known. Nance has served in several leadership roles, including local chapter president and on the board of directors. Nance has also served on the board of directors of Meeting Professionals International, New Jersey Chapter, as its director of education.
For nearly 30 years, Nance has shared her life and love with retired law enforcement officer, Bert Nance, Jr. They have one daughter who is studying to be a music therapist for children.
Mariel Mercado-Guevara, Esq., has been a member of the League of Women Voters of Ridgewood since 2020 and now serves as a Board Member of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. She is a corporate defense attorney and civil litigator practicing in the areas of insurance law, intellectual property, and workers compensation defense and is licensed in both New York and New Jersey. Mariel frequently speaks and writes about voter suppression, insurance law, legal ethical issues, and diversity and inclusion matters. Before becoming a lawyer, Mariel was the New Jersey Hispanic Campaign Coordinator for Barack Obama’s first Presidential campaign. This inspired her to become a lawyer in order to expand her service to her community. She has served as a Panelist on Contract Law and a Coach for the Hispanic Entrepreneurship Training Program with the NJ Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as Past-Chair of the Minorities in Profession Section with the New Jersey State Bar Association, and is a longtime member of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey. Mariel earned her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University Law School, Newark. She also graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelors degree from Boston University in classical vocal music, and was a professional Opera Singer for several years before moving to the New Jersey/New York tristate area.
Elected to the Board of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey in 2021, Janet Fisher-Hughes serves on the Finance, Budget, Development, and Building, and SALL Committees. She has applied her professional skills and experience as a marketing research consultant to conduct interviews among current and former League members. The resulting insights from these interviews have been used to inform LWVNJ’s Strategic Plan. Janet has been on the Board of the League of Women Voters of Camden County since 2018, serving as Treasurer since 2022. She has directed LWVCC’s Running & Winning program and Vote411 efforts and very much enjoys moderating candidate forums and registering voters at naturalization ceremonies. Janet lives in Pennsauken with her husband, Bob and dog, Griff. She is Treasurer of the Pennsauken Historical Society and is a member of the Westmont Accordion Club. Janet holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kelly A. Shea is an associate professor of English/Director of the First-Year Writing Program (and former Writing Center director) at Seton Hall University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate composition and literature courses; trains graduate students as composition instructors; and studies, presents, and publishes on writing, teaching, faculty development, and technology issues - and their intersections. She is a co-leader of the SHU reading-/writing-intensive core proficiency project and works closely with SHU’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center on course management systems, virtual instruction platforms, digital humanities tools, and other pedagogy-improvement initiatives. She was a founding member and officer of the League of Women Voters of Warren and West Morris Counties (NJ) and has been actively involved with voter education, voter registration, get-out-the-vote, and other LWV initiatives since 2018. She is also a small business owner in Hackettstown, NJ, and, like her two grown sons, has been a lifelong, attentive voter.
Arun Ayyagari is an active member of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ), serving on the Governance Committee and State Education Committee. He is passionate about educational reform, juvenile justice reform, and civic education, advocating for informed civic engagement and policy-driven change. A computer programmer, licensed airplane pilot, and certified substitute teacher in New Jersey, Arun brings a multidisciplinary approach to his work. He holds a Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science from Georgia State University, and an MBA Diploma in IT Project Management from the London School of E-commerce. A firm believer in democratic values, his interests span mathematics, international relations, social studies, U.S. history, aviation, and aerospace, combining technology and governance to drive meaningful change.
Lucy was the Alice Paul's Institute's Executive Director until 2021, where she established public visitation at Paulsdale, Alice Paul’s birthplace in Mt. Laurel, and created the Alice Paul Leadership Programs for girls to inspire today’s young women to pursue leadership into the future. Beard led efforts to raise awareness of Alice Paul’s work for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Beard co-chaired New Jersey’s statewide commemoration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. She co-chairs the board of directors of the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites. She is a charter member of Kiwanis of Greater Mount Laurel and is an active member of the Mt. Laurel Society of Friends (Quaker) Meeting. She earned a B.S. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and an M.A. in American History from Rutgers University. Beard lives in Mt. Laurel with her husband and the world’s friendliest cat.
Dr. Marlena Brown is a Sr. Specialist in Quality Engineering E-Systems at Bristol Myers Squibb in the Cell Therapy Operations division. She is a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Masters in both Engineering Management and Pharmaceutical Engineering. In 2014 she earned her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University where her research focused on the feasibility of the utilization of drop-on-demand technology in the fabrication of flexible dosing and novel multi-drug dosage forms. Marlena has worked in bio-pharma space for over ten years. Her main area of focus has been in quality, compliance, and manufacturing for oral solid dose (OSD), topical, and CAR-T Therapy for cancer treatments. Marlena is an active member of the Monmouth County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. Originally born in Neptune and raised in Asbury Park, NJ, Marlena recognizes her responsibility to give back and volunteers her time and services to help others. Marlena is a volunteer member of the Medical Reserve Corps of Monmouth County and a recent volunteer member of the American Red Cross. In her spare time, she enjoys comedy, reading, and spending time with her family.
Erik Cruz Morales (He/Him) is an immigration activist. Erik has led comprehensive advocacy and organizing efforts across immigration, social, and racial justice campaigns. Previously, Erik was a Program Associate and Philanthropy Fellow at The Fund for New Jersey, a private foundation in Princeton, NJ, supporting nonprofit organizations advocating for a range of public policy issues affecting New Jersey, including affordable housing, environmental justice, immigrant rights, racial justice, and more. Erik holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Leadership for public organizations from Rutgers University-Newark. Erik sits on the Rutgers University Alumni Board, representing the needs of +600,000 alumni and the New Leaders Council NJ board as cochair of the Selections committee.
Tyra Maya Gravesande is a proud alumna of Spelman College, is completing her Master of Science in Bioethics with a concentration in Reproductive Ethics from Clarkson University–Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (May 2025), and she is poised to begin her Master of Science in Public Health in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in August 2025. Tyra serves as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Development Committee for the National Women’s Health Network and holds additional leadership positions with Ancient Song's Birth Justice Task Force, the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition, and the American Public Health Association’s Action Board. As Director of Reproductive Health Education at The SHEA Project, she leads reproductive health workshops, reproductive justice campaigns, and the publication of Repro Magazine. Tyra has been a Research Assistant at the UTA Maternal & Reproductive Health Equity Lab, the M.O.T.H.E.R. Lab at Tufts, and the Center for Health Equity Advancement at the Perelman School of Medicine. In public service, she has contributed to policy development and analysis at the federal level through fellowships with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy), Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Impact Health. She is also a certified abortion doula and a leading member of the YouthASC Council for Advocates for Youth.
Kanesha Jones is a dedicated pharmaceutical leader with over 20 years of experience and currently serves as Director of Product Quality Vigilance at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. A passionate advocate for equity and education, she joined the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County in 2023 and supports civic engagement initiatives such as Running & Winning and voter outreach. Kanesha holds a B.S. in Biology from Monmouth University and actively serves her community through leadership roles in The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC Inc.), and as a trustee for Monmouth University, YMCA of Greater Monmouth, Parker Family Health Center, and LADACIN Network. Kanesha is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. As a member of Impact 100 Jersey Coast, she helps direct funding toward transformative local projects. Kanesha brings a strong commitment to civic empowerment, strategic leadership, and advancing access for underserved communities across New Jersey. She and her family reside in Neptune, NJ.
Sudha has served on several Boards, including: Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association – New Jersey (APALA-NJ) – President (2007-2008), Vice-President (2006-2007), Treasurer (2005-2006), Secretary (2005-2006); Skylands Preservation Alliance – Vice President (2009 – 2011) - Co-founder and served as general counsel as well as incorporated 503(c) to fight over-development, developed website and fund raised; CASA SHAW – Board Member (2012– 2013) – Fundraising and governance; Franklin Township Board of Education – Personnel Committee (2014 – 2015); and, Franklin Township Land Use Board – (2014 – 2019). Among others, Sudha is the recipient of the 2009 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism, the 2015 SABA-NJ Large Firm/Corporate Award, and the 2016 APALA-NJ Corporate Leadership Award and The Equal Justice Medal from Legal Services of New Jersey (2022 and 2023). Sudha Tiwari Kantor is Managing Associate General Counsel, Verizon Business Group, Global Product and Marketing legal team for Cyber Security Products. Sudha is a CoChair of Verizon’s Public Policy, Responsible Business, Legal & Security department’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council and has held various committee leadership roles including Law Firm and Supplier Diversity, Impact & Innovation, and Liaison committees. Sudha earned her B.A., cum laude, from Rutgers University, Camden College of Arts and Science and her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, Camden. Sudha graduated summa cum laude from Strayer University, where she received a degree of Masters of Business Administration, concentration in Management.
Deborah Lee joined the League of Women Voters in Ridgewood in 2020 and currently serves as a Director, as well as co-chair of the Ridgewood League’s Education committee. She is also a co-chair of the NJ State Education committee. Deb is currently the Founder & CEO of Dancing Panda (www.dancingpanda.com), an education technology startup focused on school and family engagement. She has been in a variety of different roles in education - from a Chief of Staff consultant supporting senior education leaders to an operational school leader at an elementary school in East Harlem. She also was a founding team member of edtech startup Newsela, and led the talent development and anti-racism work at an education non-profit in East Harlem. Deb has a Masters in Education Leadership from the Broad Center, an MBA from Babson College focused on Social Entrepreneurship, and a BA in Economics from Wellesley College.
Yvette J. Lincoln, Executive Director of Business Process & Governance Excellence, Global Product Development & Supply, Bristol Myers Squibb. Yvette identifies and drives strategic initiatives for process and system improvements for global teams.Yvette believes that by combining diverse perspectives, cutting edge science and outof- the-box thinking, that we can provide more lifesaving medications to patients around the world with life threatening illnesses every day.Yvette holds an MBA and a MS in Finance from Drexel University and BS of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from Rutgers University. She is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSPC), Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) and is PMP certified.In her free time Yvette enjoys serving the community with her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, playing golf with her daughters and is an avid jazz fan. She and her family reside in Southern New Jersey and are members of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.
Henal Patel is Director of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
Before joining the Institute, Henal was an associate at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter. Previously, Henal had the honor of serving as a law clerk to Chief Justice Stuart Rabner on the New Jersey Supreme Court. While in law school, Henal was an Eagleton Institute of Politics fellow, participated in the Constitutional Litigation Clinic, and served as an assistant to the Chairman of the New Jersey Redistricting Commission. Henal received her J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law – Newark and B.A. from Rutgers University.
Raisa Rubin-Stankiewicz is the Policy Associate for NJ Coalition to End Homelessness, where she organizes state policy efforts and oversees the Homeless Does Not Mean Voteless: Power to the Polls campaign to register and get out the vote among unhoused New Jerseyans. She serves on the board of Bulletproof Pride, a national, youth-led organization focused on gun violence and other intersectional issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community. Previously, she was the State Policy Lead for March for Our Lives NJ, the state chapter of the youth-led, gun violence prevention movement. She also formerly served on Vote16USA’s National Youth Advisory Board and on the board of the racial justice organization Not in Our Town Princeton. Raisa graduated from Rutgers in 2024. While there, she interned for Eagleton’s RU Ready program, focused on youth civic education, and helped create the Open Arms thematic living community, a residential community focused on neurodiversity and disability.
Alejandra Sorto is a Campaign Strategist at the ACLU of New Jersey where she leads advocacy portfolios with a focus on advancing democracy, reproductive freedom and immigrants’ rights. Prior to joining the ACLU-NJ, she was the Director of Civic Engagement and Organizing for Hispanic Federation, where she led large-scale voter education and mobilization campaigns across multiple states. Previously, she was the Field and Training Coordinator for the Long Island Civic Engagement Table, leading efforts to expand civic participation and build grassroots political power within communities of color. Alejandra holds a bachelor’s degree in social communications and journalism from the University Jose Simeon Cañas – UCA (El Salvador) and has worked as a freelance journalist for publications in El Salvador and NY. She serves as a Board Member of Physicians for Reproductive Health and is part of the COMS Project Advisory Group, supporting advocacy efforts across the Reproductive Health Rights and Justice (RHRJ) field.
Rebecca Uwakwe, Esq. is a civil rights attorney, author, and former public defender. She currently serves as the Director of the Clemency Project at the ACLU of New Jersey, leading statewide advocacy to reduce excessive sentences and expand executive clemency. Prior to this role, she served as a supervisor at Brooklyn Defender Services, where she represented clients in complex felony cases and mentored new attorneys. Rebecca is the author of The Black Advocate: The Guide to Your Professional Success and founder of The Black Advocate LLC, a platform that provides resources, mentorship, leadership tools for Black students and professionals. She is a member of the League of Women Voters of Fair Lawn.
Andrea is a dedicated mother, community advocate, and passionate about volunteering. Andrea is also a dedicated and seasoned professional with a number of years in the financial services industry. She currently serves on the board of our local Montclair league as Advocacy Chair, as well as assisting with the Why Voting Matters campaign and voter registration. She is the proud parent of two children - one a vibrant and resilient Autistic teenager, and the other a high achieving student at an Ivy League university. Balancing the unique needs of her family, Andrea channels her experience into meaningful community service, supporting causes related to Autism awareness, education, and family support network. As a committed fundraiser and volunteer, she has led numerous initiatives to benefit local organizations and national nonprofits, always driven by a desire to create inclusive, supportive communities. Her journey reflects strength, empathy, and a deep commitment to making a difference.
Evelyn C Murphy, PhD (she/her) was elected to the LWVNJ Nominating Committee in 2019 and elected chair in 2021. She is President of the LWV of Monmouth County, an LWVNJ Certified Moderator, and co-leads the LWVNJ Moderator Group. At LWVUS, Evelyn was appointed to the League Structure Task force in 2021, and to the Framing the Future Team Business Modeling Working Group in 2023. She served as an LWVUS Delegate to the 65th Annual Session of the UN Committee on the Status of Women in March 2021. An economist by training, Evelyn began her career in the banking industry at the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Minneapolis before moving to the nonprofit sector. Today, she works with nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and government agencies as a management consultant. Evelyn holds a BA in Economics from Manhattanville College and a PhD in Economics from Michigan State University.
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Jesse Burns has been with the League of Women Voters of New Jersey since 2007, previously serving as Communications Director before becoming the organization’s executive director in 2015. Under Jesse’s leadership, the League has strengthened its position as a critical, influential, and trusted voting rights and civic engagement organization, providing nonpartisan voter education to hundreds of thousands of voters, protecting them at the polls, and advancing equitable policy reforms. The League has championed critical voting rights advancements including online voter registration, automatic voter registration, an end to prison-based gerrymandering, in-person early voting, and rights restoration for people on parole and probation, among others. Jesse has sat on two New Jersey Supreme Court committees, serves on the Democracy Committee of the New Jersey Reparations Council, was named to the Insider Out 100: LGBTQ Power List, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter's Women of Power list, and is the recipient of LUPE Fund’s 2022 Power of Women Amiga Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Dickinson College and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Drew University.
Elissa joined the League of Women Voters of New Jersey as Operations Coordinator in 2023 to support the organization’s office administration and day-to-day operations. She is excited to remake and refresh the processes and tools that help the League do its timely work. Prior to her work with the League, Elissa worked for over five years as Project Coordinator at a regional nonprofit that supports the state’s autism community. Her contributions to the organization’s projects and data-based initiatives highlight a passion for utilizing technology to maximize organizational efficiency. When she needs a screen break, Elissa may be doing yoga or drawing. Her illustrations can be found in The Birthday Thief, a picture book she published along with her husband in 2015. She is inspired every day by her beloved and very spoiled pets.
Ary joined the League of Women Voters of New Jersey as a Community Organizer in 2025. Through his work during the 2024 elections, he brings a solid background in community engagement, voter education, and coalition building to the League. Ary’s passion for voting rights aligns perfectly with the League’s mission and institutional values.
Ary also brings a diverse perspective to the League as an immigrant from Nepal and a deeper understanding of engaging and mobilizing low-propensity voters, including AAPI voters, and realizing their political power to shape policies and democracy.
Ary holds a double bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Tribhuwan University in Nepal and a BS in Government-Politics & Policy, Pre-Law from Liberty University. With a profound understanding of the power of the law to shape societies, he intends to attend law school and fulfill his dream of becoming a civil rights attorney, specializing in voting rights and immigrants’ rights. Besides his passion for democracy, Ary loves to read, write nonfiction and poetry, travel, experience different cultures and perspectives, and share unique stories with people from all walks of life.
Melissa Marks, Manager of Mission Impact, manages the League of Women Voters of New Jersey's program team and portfolio to achieve the organization's strategic goals. Melissa works to strengthen relationships with League members and partners, to enhance the organization's capacity to mobilize the public, and to empower both League members and the community to create a more equitable state.
In her previous position as the League's Senior Community Organizer, Melissa launched several initiatives, including the Activist Training Program, the Lobby Corps, the Democracy Organizer Program, and a range of Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. She has collaborated closely with partners to empower voters through initiatives to reach newly naturalized citizens, formerly incarcerated voters, and more. This work has educated thousands of voters and fostered strong voting habits across the state. Melissa has also helped to advance key legislation and fought to defend democratic values through campaigns for reproductive rights, government transparency, economic justice, and racial justice.
Melissa grew up in New York and earned her degree from Lehigh University where she studied the environment, political science, and business. Prior to joining the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, she advocated for environmental protection and empowered future activists as Canvass Director with Clean Water Action.
Norhan Osman joined as the League of Women Voters of New Jersey’s Communications Associate in 2024. A proud alumnus of the Rutgers University Honors program, Norhan holds bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and comparative literature, and two minor certificates in creative writing and Spanish. Outside of the classroom, she served as Vice President of the Rutgers Professional Fraternity Council and volunteered for social causes both at home and abroad. Namely in Peru, where she completed her Honors Research Capstone on the struggles of the Indigenous population. In addition to Spanish, Norhan is also fluent in Arabic, making her trilingual. Her interdisciplinary experiences have honed her into a critical thinker, communication powerhouse, and a creative visionary. Previously, Norhan worked for the Rutgers Research Center for Women and Work and the Rutgers Center for Cultural Analysis for 4 years as an Office Assistant. In years prior, she served as a Policy Research Intern heading many sub-caucuses for a primary political campaign. Her background in poetry and the arts infuses her work with unique visual flair, combining her passion for democracy and her belief in the power of communication. Norhan is eager to create compelling narratives that reach new audiences and inspire greater involvement in the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
