New Leaders Council – New Jersey (NLC-NJ) Announces Mayrose Wegmann as New Chapter Director

Rob Matos-Moran elected to serve as NLC-NJ Deputy Director

For Immediate Release


August 1, 2022

Trenton – New Leaders Council – New Jersey (NLC-NJ), the local chapter of the nation’s largest non-profit organization that works to develop, connect, and uplift cross-sector leaders in social justice and progressive politics announced today that Mayrose Wegmann will serve as its next Director. On August 1, Wegmann will take over from Chapter Director Petra Gaskins who is stepping down to run for City Council in the City of New Brunswick.

Robert Matos-Moran will replace outgoing Deputy Chapter Director Louis Di Paolo, Communications Director at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP).

Gaskins and Di Paolo have led the organization in various leadership roles for the last 6 years.

“I’m eager to lead NLC-NJ and pick up where Petra and Louis left off,” said Mayrose Wegmann, Chapter Director of NLC-NJ. “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. She has worked for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA), and Howard Dean for President. Prior to moving to New Jersey in 2018, Wegmann worked for 15 years in Washington, DC at the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest labor union. At NEA, she specialized in campaigns and elections, legislative and governmental affairs, building local union power, and union leadership development. In 2016, she served as Senior Advisor to Hillary Clinton for President in the battleground state of Iowa. Wegmann currently works at NJEA 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,” said NJEA President Sean Spiller. “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 Aide to Governor Phil Murphy where he leads Latino community outreach efforts. Prior to this role, he served as an Outreach Specialist for U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and a Constituent Services Representative for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). Matos-Moran is the son of Peruvian and Portuguese immigrants and is a graduate of The College of New Jersey.

“I am excited to work alongside Mayrose to support our incredible alumni and continue to train New Jersey’s current and upcoming change-makers,” said Rob Matos-Moran, Deputy Chapter Director of NLC-NJ.  “I am grateful to Petra and Louis for their steadfast leadership during the pandemic and look forward to building on this momentum.”

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.

Applications for the 2023 NLC-NJ Fellowship are open now through September 12, 2022.  Please consider nominating someone with leadership potential or apply for yourself.  Applications can be found here: https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/apply/