Patricia Campos
Ms. Campos works as the Political Director of the New Jersey State Council of UNITE HERE!. The State Council represents more than 30,000 workers in the hotel, restaurant, gaming, industrial laundries, distribution centers, and textile and apparel sectors in the state of New Jersey. As a Political Director, she is responsible for developing a state-wide political and educational program that strengthens the union's ability to organize new members and defend workers' rights in their workplaces and communities.
Ms. Campos was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine and confirmed by the NJ State Senate to serve as a member of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). She is also an officially appointed member of the NJ Economic Growth Council, the NJ Task Force on Port Security, and the Newark Workforce Investment Board. She has the honor of having served as a member of the Transition Team for both Governor Corzine and Mayor Cory Booker (Newark, NJ). She is currently serving her third term as a Board Member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), in Washington, DC.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Campos served as the Legislative Director for UNITE HERE* in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for all aspects of the unions’ government relations program with the US Congress, the White House and relevant agencies of the US government. During her tenure, she served as the union's Staff Representative in the Labor Advisory Committee on Trade. From 1997 until 2001, Ms. Campos served as National Deputy Director for LCLAA, a trade-association for Latino union members.
Ms. Campos has extensive experience both as an advocate, political organizer, and community activist. She has been a guest commentator on several national news media outlets such as National Journal-CSPAN, CNN en Espanol, UNIVISION and TELEMUNDO.
In 2001, the Rockefeller Foundation named Ms. Campos a Next Generation Leader. She has received many awards including the "Power of Women" Award by (LUPE) Latinas United for Political Empowerment, the Professional Achievement Award by Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., Young Women of Achievement Award by the Women Information Network and the National Democratic Committee, a Portrait of Success Award by The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, and the Women of the Year Award by the Salvadoran American Association of WDC.
Ms. Campos holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations and a Masters of Public Affairs both from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
She was born in the small town of Chirilagua, El Salvador and migrated to the United States in 1988. She currently resides in New Jersey.
