New Leaders Council – New Jersey on Monday said it named Mayrose Wegmann to serve as its next director, effective Aug. 1. Wegman assumes the role from Chapter Director Petra Gaskins, who is stepping down to run for city council in New Brunswick.
Additionally, Robert Matos-Moran will replace outgoing Deputy Chapter Director Louis Di Paolo. Gaskins and Di Paolo have led the organization in various leadership roles for the last six years.
“I’m eager to lead NLC-NJ and pick up where Petra and Louis left off,” Wegmann stated. “This organization does incredible work building the progressive bench, and our alumni are a powerful group of leaders making real, collective change in their communities. I can’t wait to lead this impressive group of leaders who are bringing about progressive change throughout our great state.”
Wegmann, a campaigns strategist and union organizing director, was an NLC-NJ fellow in 2020. An Iowa native, she began her political career in 1999 when she was in high school, working as an organizer for Al Gore for President in the Iowa caucus. Prior to moving to New Jersey in 2018, Wegmann worked for 15 years in Washington, D.C., at the National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union. In 2016, she served as senior adviser to Hillary Clinton for President in the battleground state of Iowa. Wegmann currently works at the New Jersey Education Association as Northwest Region director, where she leads collective bargaining, member representation, political and legislative advocacy and union membership organizing. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa.
“Mayrose brings a lifelong commitment to progressive leadership development and bench building,” NJEA President Sean Spiller said. “New Leaders Council is lucky to have her as their incoming director and I know NLC will continue to partner with NJEA in our shared vision for justice and equity.”
Wegmann will lead NLC-NJ with Matos-Moran, who will serve as NLC-NJ’s deputy chapter director. Matos-Moran was an NLC-NJ fellow in 2019 and currently works as an aide to Gov. Phil Murphy, where he leads Latino community outreach efforts.
Formed in 2011 by Justin Braz and Jackie Cornell, NLC-NJ has trained and graduated more than 230 rising progressive leaders. Over the last 15 years, NLC has trained over 10,000 alumni from 50 chapters across the country.
