AAUW NJ names Anjali Mehrotra as Agent of Change

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) of New Jersey is proud to announce that Anjali Mehrotra, of Mountainside, has been named the 2023 Woman as Agent of Change. The award selection committee noted in their recommendation that Ms. Mehrotra has worked toward greater equality for women across every area of her life: as an entrepreneur, tech professional, political candidate, nonprofit leader, mother, immigrant, and woman of color. “We can’t imagine a woman who better exemplifies what it takes to be an agent of change,” selection committee co-chair Sharon Suber stated. Ms. Mehrotra currently serves on the national board of the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Board of Trustees for Union College of Union County NJ, and as leader and founder of the Equality, Period NJ Coalition.

Ms. Mehrotra came to the United States from India to pursue a degree in technology and is now an entrepreneur in web development and design as well as a mother of two young women. She serves as chair of her local Democratic Committee, and in 2021 ran for NJ State Assembly. As an immigrant and a woman of color, Ms. Mehrotra has faced biases and barriers to equality herself. In 2022 she stepped down as President of the National Organization for Women of New Jersey — along with the seven other officers of NOW-NJ Board — in the face of racism and ageism from local chapter leaders. “We admired her decision to take a hard stand against bias wherever she saw it. She’s fighting not just for her own benefit, but for every woman and every marginalized community,” noted Karen Kaplan, selection committee co-chair.

The AAUW NJ Woman as Agent of Change Award is granted annually to a New Jersey woman who has worked to assist women in their endeavors to reach their true potential; demonstrated leadership in supporting the empowerment of women; and continues to strive to reform political, economic, or social arenas in support of women. Past recipients have included Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill; Dr. Jacquelyn Litt, Dean of Douglass College at Rutgers University; Jeannine LaRue, lobbyist and policy advisor who worked to convene the first New Jersey Women’s Summit in 1993, now the New Jersey Governor’s Conference for Women; and Laurel Brennan, the Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. Ms. Mehrotra will address the members of AAUW NJ at their annual meeting on April 29, 2023.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. AAUW of New Jersey is the state affiliate representing approximately 1200 members throughout New Jersey. Learn more and join us at aauw-nj.aauw.net.

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