Alyana Alfaro Post will serve as Governor Phil Murphy’s new press secretary.

The former PolitickerNJ reporter originally went to the Murphy Administration as an aide, then stepped up to the position of deputy press secretary.

Now she will be the front office’s full-fledged press secretary.

She will replace Dan Bryan, who is moving into his own promoted position as a special adviser to the Governor.

From the Governor’s Office:
Murphy today announced the promotion of two current members of his communications team and the hiring of two new staffers.

“Dan and Alyana have been vital in helping us communicate our accomplishments, and I’m thrilled they’ll continue to serve our administration in their new senior roles,” said the governor. “And, with the additions of new key staff, our administration will continue to keep the public informed and work collaboratively and professionally with the press.”

Bryan, current Press Secretary to the Governor, will be promoted to Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications. In his new role, he will serve as the administration’s strategic communications point person for long-term initiatives, ensuring inter-departmental coordination and mobilizing allied groups to support the Governor’s priorities. Prior to his role as Press Secretary, Dan served as Communications Director for Transition2018, Governor-elect Murphy’s gubernatorial transition committee. He served the Murphy for Governor campaign as a Senior Advisor for Communications and Political Outreach, a role which included spearheading the campaign’s digital outreach operations. Previously, Dan served as Chief of Staff to Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer from 2009 to 2015. A graduate of the University of Scranton and Don Bosco Prep, Dan grew up in Ringwood, New Jersey. He currently resides in Maplewood with his wife and daughter.

Alyana Alfaro Post, current Deputy Press Secretary to the Governor, will be promoted to Press Secretary, where she’ll serve as the administration’s chief spokesperson and manage the Governor’s press operation. Previously, she served as Press Aide to the Governor. From 2015 to 2017, Alyana served as a politics reporter for Observer New Jersey, covering local, state, and national politics in the Garden State. She previously served as a freelance journalist and as Specialty Editor for the monthly medical journal Federal Practitioner. Alyana received her bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and a Masters of Arts in Multimedia Journalism from New York University. She currently resides in Plainsboro with her husband.

Joanne Sidoti will join the Governor’s Office as Deputy Speechwriter. For the past two years, she has served as Director of Outreach for Assemblyman Gary Schaer. She has served as Assistant Editor of The Living Pulpit Journal in New York City and as Associate Pastor at Flatbush Reformed Church in Brooklyn, NY. Joanne received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Connecticut and has a graduate degree from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. She currently lives in Wyckoff.

Megan Coyne will serve as Digital Assistant. A native of Livingston, she is the immediate past President of the College Democrats of New Jersey and a 2019 graduate of Rutgers University. She has served as a communications intern for the Governor’s Office since the start of the administration.

The communications team will continue to be led by Mahen Gunaratna, the Governor’s Communications Director.