Carmen Theresa Morales is a Democratic Assemblywoman representing New Jersey's 34th Legislative District, which includes Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley, and Orange. She made history as the first Puerto Rican Assemblywoman in Essex County and advocates for education, community advancement, and empowering women. Elected in 2023 alongside Michael Venezia, she serves on the Labor Committee, Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee, Joint Committee on the Public Schools, and Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity. A Belleville resident, she is a lifetime member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., holding various leadership roles, and serves on the board of trustees for Essex County College.

Education and Political Experience

Morales is the first in her family to attend college, earning a B.A. in Speech Communications from Montclair State University, a Master's in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, an Education Specialist degree, and completing doctoral studies at Seton Hall University.

Her career spans over 22 years in education: starting as a preschool teacher and Education Coordinator at North Ward Child Development Center in Newark, then Adult Education Teacher in Newark Public Schools, Principal at Essex County Newark Tech High School , and currently Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Essex County Schools of Technology since June 2023. She launched school-based and district-wide programs to advance education in Essex County.