About Me
We all have stories and we all have life mottos. Like many of you, my life stories are a complex series of victories and defeats, but my life motto is simple: ‘There are only two days important in your life,
the day you were born and the day you know why.’ I emerged from humble beginnings in a New Jersey farm town to find my place in the world as a public servant for the greater good. My childhood dream was to become a concert pianist and grace the stage with my talents all over the world.
Jeannine is the proud mother of two children and grandmother of five, her life travels began in rural Mannington Township, Salem County NJ with the dream of becoming a concert pianist. But, a series of disappointments and tragedies put Jeannine on a road of detours, rugged roads, and roadblocks that would have destroyed most human beings. But, not Jeannine! This thirst to become an agent of change catapulted Jeannine into the world of education, politics, and public affairs.
In 1974, Jeannine kicked off her professional career in New Jersey at Penns Grove High School as an English teacher. Her love for education and interest in labor relations led her to the New Jersey Education Association, the State’s most powerful union where she served as a lobbyist for a decade. She left that position when former Governor Jim Florio appointed her to a five-year term to the Casino Control Commission where she used that position as a catalyst to talk about urban renewal, job training, and minority set-aside programs.
She pressed on through sexual assaults, domestic violence, failed marriages, the passing of both parents when she was in her twenties and the responsibility of raising her biological children, an orphaned sibling, and shared care of stepchildren. Jeannine often felt broken and bound in a world of deep despair with no way out and no place to go.
In addition to being an appointed official, Jeannine served on both the Winslow Township Board of Education and Town Council. In 1979, she became the first woman, first minority, and the youngest person elected to public office in the 56-square mile township. She remained in office for 12 years.
In 1993, Jeannine became outraged at the treatment of Anita Hill during the Senate hearings for then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Watching the daily grilling of Dr. Hill day after day prompted Jeannine to organize a group of women to hold the first-ever NJ Women’s Summit which she was President from 1993 to 95. Gov. Christine Whitman memorialized that event as the New Jersey Governor’s Conference for Women, which was held for two decades attended by more than 2,000 women and men.
Jeannine served as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Barnabas Health from 1997-2006 which is New Jersey’s largest healthcare system and the state’s third-largest private employer. Jeannine came to Barnabas Health after spending a year developing an ambitious mentoring program in the City of Newark--10,000 Mentors. That program matched over 500 elementary school children with one-on-one adult mentors to help these children become independent, productive citizens of society. 10,000 Mentors was so successful that it was ultimately acquired by the nationally-renowned Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Essex.
Serving on scores of charitable and non-profit boards, Jeannine has been honored by more than 70 organizations. She is former Chair of both Women Advocating for Good Government, WAGG and Women’s Political Caucus-NJ’s, WPC-NJ Political Action Committee. She is a Founding Board member and former chair of the Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center in Newark.
Jeannine also became the first African American woman to serve as President of the Executive Women of New Jersey EWNJ, a leading regional not-for-profit organization promoting women’s executive leadership in business and on corporate boards.
From 2007 to 2011, Jeannine was appointed by Rutgers University Board of Governors as Vice President of Public Affairs where she served in the President’s Cabinet and was charged with advancing the University’s goals of cultivating and maintaining relationships with key leaders in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the University’s administration, Jeannine served as Governor Jon S. Corzine’s Deputy Chief of Staff from the beginning of his Administration until December, 2007. In that role she was the senior staff liaison to the Office of Appointments, the Office of Constituency Services, and the Office of Inter-governmental Affairs. Jeannine was also the Governor’s contact person on selected urban initiatives in both Camden and Newark.
In 2011, Jeannine served on the Congressional Redistricting Commission whose charge was to redraw the lines for New Jersey Congressional delegation for the next decade.
Today Jeannine is a partner at Moxie Strategies and President of LaRue list Cafe along with many more accomplishments including her prominent role in helping to elect the current New Jersey Governor, Mikie Sherrill while serving as a Senior Advisor in the administration.