Zakiya smith bio

Gov. Phil Murphy has named one of his cabinet members, Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, as his new chief policy advisor, a senior staff position with wide-ranging influence over the governor’s entire agenda as the state looks to rebound from the health and economic impacts of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Smith Ellis has served as the Secretary of Higher Education since early 2018, when Murphy recruited her to come to New Jersey to coordinate policies for the state’s colleges and universities.

She will replace Kathleen Frangione, who left the administration to take a new job.

The move leaves Murphy with two open cabinet posts to fill: Commissioner of Education Lamont Repollet is departing to become the new president of Kean University.

“It has been an honor to have Dr.

Zakiya Smith Ellis serve as our Secretary of the Office of Higher Education for the past two and a half years, and I’m thrilled to announce that she’ll soon join the Governor’s Office as Chief Policy Advisor,” Mur