Meet The Ticket
Megan Coyne
President
Megan is a junior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, studying Political Science. She currently serves as President of the Rutgers University Democrats, the largest political organization at Rutgers and the largest College Dems chapter in the state. For 11 months, Megan was an intern on the Phil Murphy for Governor campaign. Additionally, she currently serves as Vice President of Rutgers NO MORE, an organization that seeks to raise awareness about sexual violence.  Previously, she served as the organization’s Policy Director. Megan is currently conducting an independent research project on women’s political leadership in New Jersey, under the guidance of the Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Last year, she worked as a Research Assistant to the Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, where she examined the role gender played in the 2016 presidential election and the barriers women face in pursuit of political power. She is also a member of the Rutgers School of Arts & Sciences Honors Program and the Eagleton Undergraduate Associates Program. Megan is running for President because she wants to ensure that College Dems have the support and resources necessary to help turn New Jersey a brighter shade of blue, as well as help prepare the state’s next generation of leaders. If elected, Megan would be the first female President of CDNJ.
Michael Zhadanovksy
Vice President
Michael is a junior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, studying Political Science and Information Technology & Informatics. Michael is the Executive Director of the Rutgers University Democrats, and previously served as the organization’s Co-President. He co-founded Rutgers for Phil Murphy and served as the organization’s president from 2016-2017. From November 2016 - June 2017, he was an intern with the Phil Murphy campaign and then served as a Campus Team Lead for Victory 2017 until the election. During the Fall of 2016, he was an intern with Hillary for America on the National Finance Team. Additionally, during the Spring of 2017, he was an intern with the Princeton Public Affairs Group. Michael is running for Vice President because he wants to make CDNJ an effective organization that candidates, elected officials, and Democrats can rely on.
Meagan Warner
Treasurer
Meagan is a student at Mercer County Community College, and currently serves as the Communications Director of CDNJ. Meagan also serves as Chair of CDNJ's LGBT Caucus and President of the Mercer County Community College Democrats. In the 2017 election, Meagan ran and defeated the incumbent to serve on the South Hunterdon Regional School Board. Additionally, she worked as Scheduler for the 15th Legislative District Campaign and Victory 2017, and previously served as a Constituent Services Intern in the office of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. In her hometown of Lambertville, Meagan is a member of the PennEast Pipeline Committee, Recreation Commission, and Human Rights Commission. Meagan is running for Treasurer because she wants to continue to grow and develop a state federation that works for every chapter. She is so excited to be running in this election alongside a great slate of candidates.
Ricky D. Stephens, Jr.
Communications Director
Ricky is a senior at Rutgers University - Newark, studying Public Administration and Political Science. Currently, he serves in various roles on campus including Vice-President of the school’s College Democrats chapter and Chief Arbitrator of the Judicial Council. He has interned for Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., and the Phil Murphy for Governor campaign. Ricky is currently interning in Senator Cory A. Booker’s office. His future aspirations entail a Master’s in Public Policy, thereafter addressing system issues in destitute communities with a primary focus on education. He believes that individuals, given the right leadership skills, can change the world and believes strongly that he can provide others with a platform to learn, grow, and perform their civic duties through CDNJ.
Edwin Soto
Membership Director
Edwin is a junior at Rowan University, where he serves as Vice President of Growth & Retention for the Rowan University Democrats. Edwin has immense experience mobilizing Democrats in previous New Jersey elections, including the Dave Cole for Congress campaign and the Steve Sweeney for Senate campaign in Legislative District 3. Through these roles, he has forged relationships with many South Jersey candidates, politicians, and voters. Edwin is eager to bring his experiences and background to CDNJ, and work as Membership Director to make the organization better for College Dems around the state.
Hafiza Kazi
Development Director
Hafiza is a sophomore at Rowan University, where she is President-Elect of the school's College Democrats club. Additionally, she currently serves as Southern Regional Co-Chair of CDNJ. Hafiza is running for Development Director because she wants to make sure all chapters are up to date and get the support they need.
Jude Ezeh
Political Director
Jude is a junior Political Science major and Pre-Medical student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is the Northeast Regional Director for the College Democrats of America, Northeast Canvas Coordinator for the College Democrats of America, and President of the New Milford Democratic Club. Additionally, he is a member of the FDU College Democrats, Vice President of the FDU Green Team Club, Treasurer of the African Student Association, and the Organizational Affairs Student Senator for FDU’s Student Government Association. Jude is also a member of the FDU Chess Club, FDU Optometry Club, FDU Pre-Professional Club, and FDU Spectrum Club. Jude worked as a canvasser for the Legislative District 38 Campaign.
Amanda Glatt
State Council Chair
Amanda is a member of the Class of 2019 at Princeton University, where she is majoring in Politics and seeking a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is interested in pursuing issue advocacy work after graduation, and she is particularly passionate about women's reproductive rights. Amanda is currently the President of the Princeton College Democrats, the hub for liberal students on campus which coordinates campaign-related and political activities with local, state, and national Democrats. She is also the current CDNJ Central Regional Chair and a member of the Governing Council of the Whig-Cliosophic Society, Princeton's bipartisan debating society. She is also employed by a local tutoring company. If elected, Amanda would be the first female State Council Chair of CDNJ.
Awilda Pomales-Diaz
Northern Regional Chair
Awilda is a senior at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, where she is majoring in Communications and Political Science. She is the current President of the College Democrats at Saint Peter’s University. The organization is only in its second year, but Awilda has helped grow membership exponentially by organizing on-campus events, including voter registration drives, phone banks, speaker panels, and connecting students to internships. Additionally, Awilda has interned for Assemblyman Chiaravalloti. She is also the digital editor and managing editor for Saint Peter's campus newspaper, The Pauw Wow. Awilda is committed to engaging students in the American political process and hopes to make young people, especially young people of color, more involved and help make politics more accessible to them. She hopes to foster bonds between universities and colleges across the state.
Lance Taylor
Central Regional Chair
Lance is currently a senior at The College of New Jersey, where he is an Interdisciplinary Business major. He was born in Newark where he lived for 9 years before moving to Marlton in Southern New Jersey.  Lance serves as President of TCNJ’s College Democrats chapter; additionally, he is a member of the school’s varsity basketball team and Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. This past summer, he interned on Governor-Elect Phil Murphy’s campaign, where he gained valuable knowledge of New Jersey’s political landscape as a Political Outreach Intern. His major political interests include criminal justice reform and the economy. Lance’s goal for CDNJ is to improve communication and transparency between the state organization and local chapters in order to create a smoother chain of command, which will lead to more efficient and effective operations throughout the state and the full execution of CDNJ’s agenda.
Nick Brago
Southern Regional Chair
Nick is a junior at Rowan University and currently serves as Southern Regional Co-Chair of CDNJ. A Law/Justice major, Nick plans to go to law school after graduation. Nick previously worked as a field organizer for the Victory 2017 campaign in South Jersey. He is also the author of This Nation and That Nation, which are books centered about American politics. Nick plans to continue working hard to make CDNJ a prosperous organization as Southern Regional Chair.