Joan M. Quigley \u201977, former New Jersey assemblywoman, provided the keynote address for the 2013 Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University Michaelmas Convocation. Students, faculty, staff, parents and friends gathered at the Yanitelli Recreational Life Center (RLC) on the University\u2019s Jersey City campus on Wednesday, September 25, for the Convocation, which recognizes Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s students who have excelled academically throughout the 2012-2013 school year.<\/p>\n
During her address, Quigley recounted what she believed her life would consist of as a woman: being a wife and mother. She achieved the stereotypical goals set upon her, stating that she had the family, the house in Jersey City and even a dog. Yet, she always felt that something was missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I looked out my window, there was Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s calling to me,\u201d she said. Quigley finally decided to enroll. I took the plunge, and my life truly changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quigley joined the Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s community at the same time that her youngest child entered school. She received a bachelor\u2019s degree in urban studies (summa cum laude) in 1977, while simultaneously receiving an associate\u2019s degree in public policy from Hudson County Community College. Quigley went on to receive an academic scholarship to Rutgers University, where she earned a master\u2019s in public administration.<\/p>\n
Her political career began during the campaign for Frank J. Guarini H \u201994 for Congress, in which he asked Quigley to become his campaign manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, I was the first woman to run a major political campaign,\u201d she said, a campaign that turned into a victory for Guarini.<\/p>\n
Later, Quigley became an assemblywoman, representing parts of Hudson and Bergen counties in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994 to 2012.<\/p>\n
Quigley is presently the president and CEO of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, which consists of 11 family health centers in three counties, four Head Start programs and a host of social service agencies that provide job placement, food and housing assistance, immigration counseling and help for veterans.<\/p>\n
Quigley stated the secret to her professional success was communication, and urged all students in attendance to connect and correspond with as many people as possible for their professional and personal wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever you want to achieve, you won\u2019t be able to do it alone,\u201d she stated, stressing the importance of communicating with bosses, family, coworkers and other individuals to network, work as a team in the workplace and more.<\/p>\n
Quigley concluded by saying, \u201cÂ鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is justly proud that the University educates future leaders in every field.\u201d Many of those leaders were in attendance to receive distinct awards, such as undergraduate awards and inclusion into various honor societies.<\/p>\n