Candidates: Ben Arenger, Maria Eva Dorigo , Josh Eaise, Andrew Geller, Mary Gragen, Melissa Hartland, Djar Horn, Jessica Hunsdon, Isaac Jimenez, Lekha Kanchinadam, Olga Lozano, Mary Ellen Maguire, Rex Miller, Lucye Millerand, Josephine Nagle, Carmen Nieves, Christine O’Connell, Oren Rabinovich, Arly Rubens, Kay Schechter, Darlene Smith, Jennie Thomas, Laura Transue, Sarah Washington, Mi Hyun Yoon
Statements
Josh Eaise Senior Program Coordinator: Josh works for NJ-STEP, a higher education in prison program where he works with incarcerated students at a prison in south Jersey. He currently serves on the URA Executive Board and Finance Committee and also helped negotiate the last contract. He has previously represented URA at the state level at both the state convention and delegate assembly and would take pride in being granted the opportunity to do so again.
Andrew Geller Rutgers Gardens, Program Coordinator II, Student Farm Coordinator. I am a new member and want to learn more about how to get involved in the union. I am passionate about union education and knowing your contract and hope to find ways to make an impact in our community.
Mary Gragen Theater – Program Coordinator: As a master’s student in Labor and Employment Relations and an active union member, I see how it is now more important than ever to strengthen labor advocacy in New Jersey. I am especially interested in the unique challenges of regional organizing efforts. Serving as a URA State Delegate would allow me to contribute to meaningful discussions that directly impact working conditions at Rutgers. I am also interested in advocating for NJ-specific policies and ensuring our local voices are represented in Trenton.
Melissa Hartland MFA Creative Writing Program Coordinator: As VP for the Newark Campus, I believe it’s important to stay informed at all levels. Keeping in the know at the university, state, and even national level is so important. As they say, knowledge is power!
Djar Horn SMLR LEARN Senior Labor Education Specialist: I am running for delegate to the NJ AFT State Convention so that I can contribute to the important work of our Union at the state level. URA members need continued strong representation at the state convention where decisions are made for the Union. I have 30 years’ experience in the labor movement as a Union organizer, representative, educator and union member. I have been at Rutgers for 3 years as a labor educator and I am an active URA member.
Jessica Hunsdon Graduate School of Education, Program Coordinator (on union leave to serve as Executive Vice President): As the Executive Vice President of our union, I work directly with members on issues that matter most to them – whether that be fighting against increasing workplace surveillance (e.g. Facial Recognition Timeclocks), fighting for Flex Work, advocating for members in the grievance process and meetings with management, or organizing for our contract campaign. I am currently on union leave from my role as a Program Coordinator for the Graduate School of Education, working directly for you as a full-time elected officer. Serving as a delegate will allow me to represent our union at a state and national level and bring what matters to you into those governing spaces.
Isaac Jimenez SASN Dean’s Office – Editorial/Media Spec I: 2026 AFTNJ State Convention is our chance to advance the most progressive stances, as we just elected one of the most progressive state legislatures in NJ history. I’d work with members in locals like NTU and Rutgers AAUP to ensure we support measures like statewide single-payer healthcare, which would alleviate our spiking healthcare costs.
Lekha Kanchinadam Program Coordinator I, School of Social Work: Hello coworkers! I would like to attend the AFT NJ Convention in order to learn more about what goes on at the state level, and share that information with my building.
Mary Ellen Maguire: Rutgers English Language Institute – International Student Advisor: I am honored to be nominated to represent URA-AFT Local 1766 at the New Jersey State AFT Convention. I am the Lead Steward on the Livingston Campus and I have been a member of URA-AFT Local 1766 since we first organized in 2007. I believe in listening to our members’ concerns and will represent our local by focusing on workplace issues that affect our daily lives. I believe in building bridges with other locals in New Jersey, strengthening our bargaining power to fight for pay equity, safe working conditions, and job security. I am dedicated to representing our diverse membership on these issues that unite us all.
Lucye Millerand Executive Board Member: I have extensive experience with AFTNJ’s processes that helps us advance our goals.
Josephine “Jo” Nagle Senior Administrative Assistant: I am seeking your vote to represent URA-AFT Local 1766 at the 2026 AFT New Jersey state convention, the AFT national convention, and the AFT New Jersey Delegate Assembly. I have proudly represented URA in the past at the conventions and the delegate assembly. I hope to continue to provide a balanced voice that represents our diverse membership. I listen to everyone, but I stick to the “bread and butter” issues that directly affect our jobs. I am also committed to building strong, professional relationships with other locals across New Jersey and the nation to increase our collective bargaining leverage, without getting distracted by divisive politics. I would appreciate your vote.
Christine OConnell President: Representation at the state level is important because we need to push staff interests at the AFTNJ Convention. As URA members, we need to take a larger role in our statewide federation to develop overt acknowledgement and respect for our contributions to the success of our institutions.
Oren Rabinovich Manager CCIB: I want to make sure balanced and member minded interests are represented.
Kay Schechter COPE Co-Chair: I am serving on multiple AFTNJ Committees – COPE, Constitution, Elections and was past COPE Chair for many years and was HE VP for many years in the past. I really enjoy working with the diverse opinions and love learning new information that helps understand issues of our constituent unions.
Darlene Smith Retiree @ PALS-Newark, Program Coordinator: I currently serve as a VP with AFTNJ and also chair their Legal Defense Committee; my participation with AFT, AFTNJ and the URA, along with being a VP with the Middlesex-Somerset CLC provides me the ability to have access to and the experience of fully representing the URA based on my may roles and labor experience.
Laura Transue Sr. Editorial/Media Specialist: As a 15-year employee at Rutgers and active member of URA as a building rep and Communication Committee member, I am seeking to represent URA as a State Convention Delegate in order to (1) gain further insight into how our organization functions and makes meaningful impact, (2) bring the concerns of our members to the statewide conversation, and (3) share knowledge and experiences from the convention with our members and better connect us to the current labor efforts in New Jersey. It is vital that our member concerns are robustly represented and regular members have greater access to organizational decision-making mechanisms and can meaningfully engage in the wider collaborative efforts in NJ to protect and advance workers rights and well-being.