The Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ) announced on Thursday the selection of former New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio as its next president and CEO, effective Sept. 8.
Muoio will succeed Steve Reynolds, who has led the organization for the past five years.
“Providing access to a quality education – producing a well-educated workforce and next generation of leaders and citizens – is one of our greatest means of ensuring the future success of our state and its residents,” Muoio said in a statement released by ICUNJ.
“New Jersey is rightly proud of its reputation for educational excellence, and our state’s independent colleges and universities are a critically important part of that success, helping to ensure that students in New Jersey are provided unparalleled opportunity and access to an education that best fits their unique needs and future goals,” Muoio said.
“I greatly look forward to supporting our independent colleges and universities in their continuing mission to provide an accessible, affordable and high-quality education, helping position our students, and our state, for future success,” Muoio said.
Muoio brings to ICUNJ a wealth of relevant experience in New Jersey government, economic development, and public policy. She served as New Jersey treasurer from 2018 through early 2026, and prior to that represented Mercer and Hunterdon counties in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2015 to 2018.
Earlier in her career, she served as Mercer County’s director of Economic Development and Sustainability, as an elected Mercer County commissioner, as Mercer County Democratic chair and as legislative director for Texas Congressman Jack Brooks. Most recently, Muoio was named to the board of the nonprofit New Jersey Healthcare Quality Institute.
Muoio earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law School.
“We are thrilled to welcome Liz Muoio to ICUNJ,” said ICUNJ Board of Trustees Chair and Monmouth University President, Patrick Leahy. “Her deep experience in New Jersey government and finance, combined with her longstanding commitment to public service, make her exceptionally well-suited to lead our organization and advance the interests of New Jersey’s 13 independent universities and their over 63,000 students.”
Tom Spellman, chairman of the ICUNJ Corporate Advisory Board and Global VP, Law Cardiovascular at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, thanked Reynolds for his leadership of ICUNJ during the past five years and congratulated Muoio on her appointment.
“We look forward to working with Liz and her team as we support the students served by these exceptional institutions,” Spellman said.
