Governor Mikie Sherrill announced on X that Margo Chaly has been sworn in as New Jersey’s Secretary of Higher Education, formally taking the permanent role after previously serving as acting secretary. Sherrill praised Chaly’s leadership and said New Jersey will continue investing in universities and students’ futures under her direction.
Margo Chaly has been sworn in as New Jersey’s Secretary of Higher Education, formally taking the permanent role after serving as acting secretary since the beginning of the Sherrill administration.
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the swearing-in Friday, saying Chaly’s leadership will help New Jersey demonstrate how investment in universities can shape students’ futures.
“It was a pleasure to join the swearing-in of Margo Chaly as New Jersey’s Secretary of Higher Education,” Sherrill wrote on X.
Chaly was appointed Acting Secretary of Higher Education in January 2026 and has since been responsible for coordinating statewide higher education policy and planning. Her nomination to become the permanent secretary was submitted to the New Jersey Senate to replace former Secretary Brian Bridges.
Before joining the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, Chaly spent five years with the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, better known as HESAA.
She became HESAA’s Chief of Staff in 2021 and was appointed Executive Director by former Governor Phil Murphy in March 2024. During her leadership, the agency awarded nearly $1.4 billion in grants and scholarships to eligible students attending New Jersey colleges and universities.
Between 2024 and 2026, HESAA also committed $19.9 million to student loan relief and programs designed to strengthen the workforce in high-need fields. Chaly was involved in programs aimed at making higher education more affordable and expanding access to college across the state.
Chaly is a first-generation Guatemalan-American and a lifelong New Jersey resident. She earned her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College.
Before entering state government, she worked in the private sector, including more than a decade with multinational insurance companies and as a manager of litigation and operations at a law firm.
She also serves on the board of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and was named a Top Lawyer Under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2025.
As secretary, Chaly will oversee statewide higher education policy at a time when New Jersey continues to focus on college affordability, financial aid, workforce development and access to postsecondary education.
Source: Governor Mikie Sherrill / X
By NJ RADAR Team