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Idida Rodriguez ‘86, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a founding partner of 1868 Public Affairs.; Wartyna Davis, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; and Carol Cuadrado ’97, associate vice president for government and university relations are among the trailblazing women recognized on Insider NJ’s “2025 Powerful Women of New Jersey” list compiled by former state Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.
“This carefully curated group of remarkable women serves as a powerful reminder of the value women bring to every space we occupy including politics, business, education, and healthcare,” Sumter wrote of the 254 women on the list. “Our voices drive humanity forward, advocating for fairness, dignity, and opportunity, and pushing for fair wages, access to affordable housing and healthcare, expanded educational opportunities, and true economic mobility.”
Rodriguez is a founding partner of 1868 Public Affairs, a full-service firm of government and public affair consultancy in Trenton, New Jersey. She is a renowned and respected political strategist and experienced consultant with a concentration in grassroots and grass-tops marketing, public relations, government relations and business development. Rodriguez is a member of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Local Finance Board. She formerly served as the president of the Passaic Valley Water Commission’s Board of Commissioners and the secretary to the board of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. She also served on the boards of the LUPE PAC, Paterson Parking Authority, New Jersey Real Estate Commission, and St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation. Rodriguez is a 1986 graduate of William Paterson with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Davis has served as dean of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences since 2021. She previously served as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2019 to 2021, and as associate dean from 2011 to 2019, when she was named interim dean. She joined William Paterson in 1998 as assistant professor of political science and rose to earn the rank of full professor. During her tenure, she served for seven years as chair of the political science department. Davis established Contexts, the College’s annual multidisciplinary conference, now in its 14th year. She also developed a comprehensive career readiness program in collaboration with the Career Development Center, as well as other academic initiatives. She served on the University’s Faculty Senate for seven years and spent four years as a member of the Senate Executive Committee. Davis served as an elected councilwoman at-large for the Township of Bloomfield, New Jersey from 2014 to 2025. She is also an active member and leader of many civic and community organizations. A graduate of the University of Alabama with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science, she earned a PhD in political science from Florida State University.
Cuadrado, who joined William Paterson in September 2025, previously served as state director and deputy chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou. Prior to her role as a senior Congressional staffer, she spent nearly three decades as chief of staff and director of public policy for Rep. Pou during her time in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate. Among her public service, Cuadrado also served in the New Jersey General Assembly Clerk's Office, the City of Paterson Business Administrator's Office, and as the liaison to the NJ Legislative Latino Caucus. In addition to her legislative career, Cuadrado continued her longstanding commitment to the Passaic County Board of Social Services as commissioner for the past 28 years. She has been recognized for her public service by several organizations, including the U.S. House of Representatives, the New Jersey Legislature, the National Hispanic Journalist Association, the Passaic and Bergen County Board of Commissioners, and the Passaic County Commission on the Status of Women. A 1997 graduate of William Paterson with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, she holds an executive master of public administration degree from Rutgers University.
