Governor Nominates Former Board of Education President to State Post

Former Hillsborough Board of Education President Loren Lemelle has been nominated to serve on the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA).

Lemelle was nominated by Gov. Chris Christie and awaits confirmation by the State Senate. The state has not given a definite confirmation date for the nomination, however.

Created in 2008, the SDA focuses on special-needs districts (SDA Districts), managing funds for eligible project costs in the former Abbott districts.

The SDA is currently managing nearly 50 projects representing more than $360 million in state investment, including capital plan projects and work addressing health and safety needs in the SDA Districts. The SDA also administers grants for Regular Operating (RO) districts.

The SDA is made up of permanent board members the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, the Treasurer, the Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority and 11 public members.

At least one public member must have expertise in law enforcement, while the remaining public members must have knowledge or expertise in real estate development, construction management, finance, architectural or building design, or any other related field.

Currently employed as a certified foreclosure intervention counselor with the Faith Fellowship Community Development Corporation, Lemelle spent more than 20 years in finance with Johnson & Johnson and its companies, advancing to the posts of corporate controller and director of organizational and professional development, both in Corporate Finance.

Lemelle earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Queens College, New York and her MBA in finance from Columbia University, New York. She is also a certified executive coach and has her real estate license in New Jersey and Maryland.

Lemelle has been an active member of the community. During her time on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education, Lemelle served as president, vice president and chair of negotiations.

She also served on the scholarship committee of the Audrey West Foundation, co-chair of the African American Women’s Leadership Council, chair of the scholarship committee for Hillsborough Neighbors of Color and sits on the boards of directors at both Norwescap and the African American Leadership Council, according to a resume provided by the state.

She is also an elder at the Faith Fellowship Ministries World Outreach Center.