Mary Pat Angelini: A Champion for Community, Wellness, and Education

Serving on the Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees, Mary Pat Angelini continues to make an indelible impact on the Monmouth County community, driven by her lifelong passion for human services and advocacy. Having retired from a distinguished behavioral health and public service career, Angelini has not slowed down. Her work with Brookdale and a host of leadership roles across influential organizations underscores her deep commitment to supporting families, first responders, and students.

Angelini joined the Brookdale Board of Trustees with a wealth of experience, yet she admits she was astonished by the depth and breadth of the college’s offerings. “Every email from President David Stout and every board meeting reveals something new and remarkable about Brookdale,” Angelini said. Serving as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Student Success and Governance Committees, she has gained a front-row seat to the transformative work happening at the college.

Reflecting on her tenure thus far, she is particularly proud of the board’s strategic planning efforts, including the comprehensive facilities assessment that will help shape Brookdale’s future. Angelini has also been inspired by Brookdale’s emphasis on community partnerships, a value that resonates deeply with her background in human services. “Brookdale has always been at the table when it comes to community problem-solving. Their commitment to addressing community needs has been a constant throughout my career,” she noted.

Her work in human services, including leadership roles at Prevention First and Preferred Behavioral Health Group, has long focused on the importance of mental health and addiction services. That perspective has shaped her appreciation for Brookdale’s Caroline Huber Holistic Wellness Center. “Seeing the Wellness Center come to life was especially rewarding because I was part of the early conversations before joining the board. Brookdale is looking at the whole student, addressing mental health, nutrition, and overall wellness,” Angelini said.

Since retiring in 2023, Angelini has expanded her community involvement. Governor Phil Murphy appointed her to the New Jersey Council on Local Mandates. She serves as President of the 200 Club of Monmouth County, which provides financial support to families of fallen or injured police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. With her husband, a retired law enforcement officer, and her son serving as a New York City police officer, this cause is especially close to her heart.

Additionally, Angelini is the Vice Chair of the Jersey Shore Partnership Board, advocating for beach replenishment and coastal preservation along New Jersey’s shoreline, a region she has cherished since childhood. She also sits on the Board of Education for the College Achieve Charter School in Asbury Park, helping to provide educational alternatives and supporting student success in an underserved community.

Her legislative career from 2008 to 2016 in the New Jersey Assembly is marked by notable achievements, including co-sponsoring the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and the Lifeline Legislation. Angelini served on the Health and Senior Services Committee and the Human Services Committee, championing mental health reform and substance abuse prevention.

A proponent of incremental progress, Angelini defines success as setting realistic goals and celebrating every achievement along the way. “Sometimes people focus so much on the end goal that they overlook the progress they’ve made. Each class a student completes is a victory,” she advised.

A fun fact many may not know about Angelini is that she once had breakfast with the Queen of Sweden during a drug prevention conference in New York City, a unique brush with royalty that reflects her global perspective on public health.

Her family remains a cornerstone of Angelini’s life. Her immediate family includes her daughter, son, and three grandchildren. She beams with pride when speaking about them. Her eldest grandson, Alex, is a software engineer who graduated from Brookdale’s dual enrollment program, earning his associate degree before finishing high school, and continued to obtain his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers. Her middle granddaughter, Angelina, is set to graduate from The College of New Jersey in May, while the youngest, Nelly, is a freshman goalkeeper for Marist College’s soccer team.

As she improves her golf game in retirement and cheers on her grandchildren from the sidelines, Mary Pat Angelini continues to embody a life dedicated to service, wellness, and community. Her leadership at Brookdale and beyond is a testament to her belief that true success is measured not just in accomplishments but in the lives touched along the way.