In March 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced a charitable donation to fund the new Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver Leadership Scholarship as part of the Public Service Leadership Program at Rutgers School of Arts & Sciences–Newark. The scholarship – for which applications will open in the first half of 2024 – will provide four Rutgers-Newark students with stipends to participate in public service internships over the next five years.
A Newark native, Sheila Y. Oliver was the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly in 2010 and was only the second Black woman in U.S. history to lead a state legislative house. In 2017, she was elected as the state’s second Lt. Governor, becoming the first Black woman in New Jersey’s history to hold a statewide elected office; she was re-elected in 2021 and died while in office on Aug. 1, 2023.
Johnson & Johnson’s donation also coincided with the renaming of the Rutgers-Newark Center for Politics and Race in America in Oliver’s honor. Both the new center name and the scholarship were announced at a ceremony held at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall on the Rutgers-Newark campus. The event was attended by more than 150 guests, including executives from Johnson & Johnson, top NJ elected officials, Oliver’s family, members of local press, as well as Rutgers-Newark faculty and students.
At the ceremony, Vanessa Broadhurst, Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, spoke on behalf of the Company: “Lt. Gov. Oliver dedicated her life to public service and improving the lives of all New Jerseyans, especially those in underserved and marginalized communities. She was a trailblazer and continues to be an inspiration for so many. Johnson & Johnson is proud to honor Lt. Gov. Oliver’s legacy of public service through the scholarship in her name to cultivate the next generation of ‘Sheila Olivers'—well-rounded, passionate, and driven public servants who represent the very best of New Jersey and the state’s rich diversity and culture.”
Current New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way also gave remarks and State Senators M. Teresa Ruiz and Britnee Timberlake read resolutions in honor of Johnson & Johnson’s gift and the center renaming. Gov. Phil Murphy, who was not able to attend the event, shared a statement: “My dear friend and partner in government, the late, great Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver was a trailblazer whose legacy lives on in many ways…. Sheila’s work in New Jersey, especially in her community, has left a lasting impact on many folks who hold careers in public service. She was a mentor and role model to many, and this new honor will ensure that the legacy of her work lives on and continues to inspire young people seeking to make positive change in our state, nation’s capital, and beyond.”
Johnson & Johnson has a long legacy of supporting civil engagement in NJ. This initiative highlights the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which fuels its efforts to create a healthier, more equitable world.