Sherrill Names Seton Hall Law School Alum As Secretary of Higher Education

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has named a Seton Hall law school alum as her pick to serve as the next Secretary of Higher Education.

On Thursday, Sherrill announced that she has tapped Margo Chaly for the position.

Chaly currently serves as the executive director of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA), where she has directed over tens of billions in need-based grants, scholarships and financial aid to help thousands of students across the state. She previously served as the chief of staff at the authority.

Prior to that, Chaly was manager of litigation and 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.

According to Sherrill, some priorities moving forward include “making New Jersey’s world-class higher education more affordable for all residents, ensuring colleges and universities have the resources they need to thrive, and expanding New Jersey’s workforce.”

“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,” Chaly said.

“I look forward to working with Governor-elect Sherrill and our partners in the state Legislature to make higher education more affordable and accessible for every New Jerseyan,” Chaly said.

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