Jeannine LaRue, Vice President, Public Affairs Rutgers University

Jeannine LaRue currently serves as Vice President of Public Affairs which is part of the University President’s Cabinet and is charged with advancing the University’s goals of cultivating and maintaining relationship with key leaders in the public and private sectors. Jeannine brings to this position over three decades of experience from a regulatory, elected/appointed official, and private industry background.

Prior to joining the University’s administration, Jeannine served as Governor Jon S. Corzine’s Deputy Chief of Staff from the beginning of his Administration until December, 2007. In that role she was the senior staff liaison to the Office of Appointments, the Office of Constituency Services, and the Office of Inter-governmental Affairs, Jeannine was also the Governor’s contact person on selected urban initiatives in both Camden and Newark.

Jeannine has spent most of her professional life in the both the fields of health and education. She served as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Saint Barnabas Health Care Systems from 1997-2006. That System is the State’s largest healthcare system and the State’s third largest private employer. Jeannine came to the Saint Barnabas Health Care System after spending a year developing an ambitious mentoring program in the City of Newark…10,000 Mentors. That program matched over 500 elementary school children with one-on-one adult mentors to help these children become independent, productive citizens of society. 10,000 Mentors was so successful that it was ultimately acquired by the nationally-renowned Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Essex County.

In 1974, Jeannine kicked off her professional career at Penns Grove High School as an English teacher. Her love for education and interest labor relations lead her to the New Jersey Education Association, the State’s most powerful union where she remained for a decade. She left that position when former Governor Jim Florio appointed her to a five-year term to the Casino Control Commission where she used the bully pulpit to talk about urban renewal, job training, and minority set-aside programs.

In addition to being an appointed official, Jeannine served on both the Winslow Township Board of Education and Town Council. In 1979, she became the first woman, first minority, and the youngest person elected to public office in the 56-square mile township. She remained in office for a total of 12 years.

Jeannine has served on scores of charitable and non-profit boards as well as been honored by more than 70 organizations. She is the mother of two biological children and one surrogate daughter. She has five grandchildren…two of whom she’s raising.