Middlesex College Announces New Trustees
Middlesex College has welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees: Iris Delgado and Shivi Madhukar. Both were named to the Board by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners on February 1, 2024.
Iris Delgado, left, and Shivi Madhukar, right.
Iris Delgado, a resident of Metuchen, is a political data and targeting expert who has worked to help elect public officials in more than 16 states, including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, and U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell, the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives from Alabama.
Delgado graduated from J.P. Stevens High School in Edison and completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English, as well as in Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Upon graduation, she joined then Governor Jon Corzine’s re-election campaign. She later went on to serve as National Campaign Operations Director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU), overseeing a $3.1 million operations budget, which was part of a $10 million political program budget supporting 425-member political organizers across 26 states.
Delgado returned to her home state in 2017 to run the coordinated campaign to elect Governor Phil Murphy. Since 2017, she has lead campaigns to elect leaders at all levels of government throughout the state, was appointed by Speaker Coughlin as a Commissioner to the New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission, and opened a strategic consulting firm to train the next generation of leaders.
“I am proud to join the Middlesex College Board of Trustees, an institution that strives to ensure all persons, regardless of their age or background, can receive the education, skills, and training needed for their career. As a daughter of Middlesex County, I am especially honored to contribute to a college that has played such a vital role in the future of our communities,” said Trustee Delgado.
“Iris Delgado brings a rich array of expertise and a fresh perspective to our Board of Trustees. I am eager to see how Iris’s varied professional experiences will enrich our Board’s collective vision and endeavors. We look forward to the positive impact Trustee Delgado will undoubtedly have on our institution and the students we serve,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick.
Shivi Madhukar, a resident of Edison, is a public policy expert, with more than two decades of domestic and international experiences.
Trained in quantitative research methods, Madhukar has worked at a nonprofit research group since 2006. She began her tenure as a senior researcher and policy analyst, and is now serving as director, supervising data-based research projects on poverty in New Jersey.
Previously, Madhukar’s worked at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), as part of a five-person team that assessed and analyzed UNCDF projects and identified lessons learned for a NYU capstone project.
Madhukar’s association with the United Nations dates back to her early career in India. As a media and communications consultant for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), she provided a variety of media strategies and deliverables, including writing a script for a documentary film, “Violence and Crime Against Women, and on Local Government. She also wrote many research articles on development-related issues that were published in major news magazines.
An active member of her community, Madhukar serves on the Middlesex County Ethics Board and has served in multiple roles on the Edison Board of Education: as vice president (2020-2022) and as chair of the curriculum and technology committee (2016-2018).
She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Delhi. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in public policy and non-profit management from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed to serve at an esteemed institution like Middlesex College, which helps so many students get access to quality higher education at an affordable cost,” said Trustee Madhukar. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my community further, and look forward to working with President McCormick and fellow trustees, to continue to enrich and enhance student experiences at Middlesex College.”
“Middlesex College welcomes Shivi Madhukar to its Board of Trustees. With a distinguished career that spans both foreign and domestic spheres, Trustee Madhukar will bring a unique perspective to our Board. I am eager to work alongside Shivi in her new role to enhance and advance our institution to the benefit of our students,” said President McCormick.
“On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to Iris Delgado and Shivi Madhukar on their appointments to the Middlesex College Board of Trustees,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “Their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience will undoubtedly enrich the Board’s discussions and decisions, furthering Middlesex College’s mission to provide accessible, robust higher education opportunities for all. I look forward to their contributions and the positive impact they will have on the future of the College and our communities.”
The Middlesex College Board of Trustees governs the College and has the fiduciary responsibility to develop policy and direct the strategic vision for the College. The Board oversees the College’s performance, provides fiscal oversight of the institution and approves all personnel actions, including appointing and evaluating the president.
