Brian Quigley will lead the Office of Government Relations for Rutgers University, school president William Tate IV announced Thursday afternoon.
As senior vice president for government relations, Quigley will oversee the team responsible for advocating on the university’s behalf with elected officials and government policymakers in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Quigley, who will report directly to Tate, will begin in the role Monday — a move that appears to be an ideal fit.
He currently serves as vice president for government affairs at Prudential and brings more than two decades of experience across the public and private sectors in legislative and regulatory strategy, policy analysis and development, and legal counseling.
Quigley joined Prudential in the fall of 2020 after more than six years as deputy executive director and general counsel for the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office, where he served as chief legal advisor to the Assembly Speaker and the majority caucus.
That background made an impression on Tate.
“Brian brings a reputation for strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s public institutions, economic vitality and the higher education ecosystem,” he said. “I look forward to working closely with him to build on Rutgers’ strong relationships with government leaders and to further elevate the university’s impact as The State University of New Jersey.”
A graduate of Rutgers Law School and a former Eagleton Institute of Politics fellow, Quigley said he’s excited by the chance to return to the university.
“I’m thrilled to join President Tate and the Rutgers community in representing Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — an institution that for more than two and a half centuries has shaped New Jersey’s history and continues to power its future,” he said. “Few institutions are as deeply woven into the daily life of this state.
“Rutgers drives research, opportunity and economic mobility in every region of New Jersey, and I’m eager to work with partners across the state to advance a mission that matters deeply to the communities it serves.”
Quigley’s experience in Trenton adds meaningful depth to his portfolio. During his tenure in the Assembly Majority Office, he provided strategic counsel on complex legislative matters, guided major policy initiatives, and helped implement the state’s first-ever electronic voting session during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin praised the appointment.
“During his time as general counsel to the Majority Office, Brian served with a steady presence and was a principled voice on behalf of the people of New Jersey,” he said. “He approached the role with deep reverence for the responsibility that came with the job, quickly recognizing the impact our work has on families and communities across our state.”
Coughlin added that Quigley’s influence at Rutgers could be significant.
“Rutgers is not only our state university, it is one of the most powerful economic engines in New Jersey and the cornerstone of our innovation economy,” he said. “Having a person of Brian Quigley’s caliber helping guide its government relations efforts will only strengthen that mission and position the university for great things in the years to come.”
In addition to his professional work, Quigley serves on several nonprofit and public interest boards, including Choose New Jersey, the New Jersey Life and Health Guaranty Association and the New Jersey–Ireland Trade Commission.
At Prudential, he led the company’s legislative, regulatory and executive engagement in New Jersey and with the state’s federal delegation, strengthening the company’s presence through cross-team collaboration and proactive engagement with key stakeholders at the local, state and federal levels.
