Keynote Speaker

Tahesha Way, NJ Secretary of State

Since 2018, Tahesha Way has served as New Jersey’s 34^th Secretary of State. She serves as New Jersey’s top election official, overseeing the state Division of Elections and its work in securing our democracy and ensuring broad, fair access to the right to vote. Ms. Way spearheads the New Jersey Ballot Bowl collegiate and high school competition and the Democracy in Action NJ initiative to further civic engagement and voter participation. In addition to this critical work, Ms. Way also oversees the state government offices supporting New Jersey’s vibrant arts, culture, history, and business communities.  

Throughout her career, Secretary Way has devoted herself to public service.  Secretary Way serves as the incoming president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and will assume the role of President in July 2022. 

Prior to becoming Secretary of State, she was an Administrative Law Judge for the State of New Jersey. In 2006, Secretary Way was elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and served as the Freeholder Director in 2009. She served as a council member for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Secretary Way also previously served on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a leading national think tank geared towards advancing dialogue and policy for improving women’s lives and their families.

Secretary Way is a graduate of Brown University, where she served as Vice President of the collegiate chapter of the NAACP and President of her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Ms. Way holds a juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law at Charlottesville.