Karen Jezierny

Why PCH? Why were you interested in joining the PCH Board and working for affordable housing in Princeton?

I was on the board from 1986-1990 as a representative of Princeton University.  I was thrilled to be asked to join the board again in the Spring of 2023.  So, at this point, my total board service stands at about five years…stretched over 4 decades!

Early in my career, in the early 1980’s, I was a staff person in the NJ General Assembly and I staffed the Assembly Housing Committee on behalf of the Assembly Democrats.  At that time, the Committee was working on the early affordable housing legislation, implementing the principles outlined in the first Mount Laurel lawsuit.  It was fascinating work!  Later in my career I was the NJ Treasurer’s designee to the board of the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.  That provided a chance to work to implement the Mount Laurel mandates and the legislation enacted by the Governor and Legislature at that time. I am excited to come ‘full circle’ and to be back to working to provide affordable housing opportunities for New Jerseyans in my hometown.

What is your professional background?

I have an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.  I spent 5 years working in NJ state government and nearly 35 years working in higher education administration.  Most of my higher ed work has been on behalf of Princeton University where I worked at the School of Public and International Affairs for a dozen years and in the public affairs arena for more than 20 years.  I retired in 2022 as Princeton’s Director of State Government Affairs.

How long have you been in the Princeton area and why did you come to this community?

I moved to Central NJ in 1981 and to Princeton in 1988.  My husband was a school teacher at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South for 35 years.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I’m an avid skier, a novice hiker, a recreational kayaker, and a committed walker. In retirement, I’ve become an election board worker - having worked in and around the public policy arena for my entire professional career, I believe that nothing is more powerful and important than our small ‘d’ democratic process and I am humbled to play a small role in helping that process work fairly and efficiently.