Several SPAA Alumnae Named to Insider NJ’s 2025 Powerful Women List

Insider NJ has named five Master of Public Administration (MPA) alumnae from Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) to its 2025 Powerful Women of NJ list: Christine Buteas (MPA'07); Carol Cuadrado (MPA'24); Brianna Donahue (MPA'25); Natasha Hemmings (MPA'16); and Shante Palmer (MPA'14).

In announcing this year's honorees, New Jersey Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter noted the "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."

Christine Buteas, MPA'07

Chrissy Buteas is president and CEO of HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ). Before joining HINJ, she served as the vice president of government affairs at Optimum, the chief government affairs officer of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), and president and CEO of the Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey.

Carol Cuadrado, MPA'24

Carol Cuadrado is associate vice president for government and university relations at William Paterson University. She was previously chief of staff and director of public policy to U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou. She serves on the Passaic County Board of Social Services as commissioner.

Brianna Donahue, MPA'25

Brianna Donahue is director of policy and government affairs at Inspira Health. Previously, she was at the Advocacy & Management Group, where she served as vice president. She serves on the board of directors for the South Jersey Young Democrats, and is co-founder and vice-chair for the Paul Michael Donahue Memorial Foundation.

Natasha Hemmings, MPA'16

Natasha Hemmings is chief executive officer for the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) and is the first African American woman in the council’s history to lead the organization. As CEO, she holds the most senior leadership role with significant strategic and supervisory responsibilities for the second largest Girl Scout Council in the state. 

Shante Palmer, MPA'14

Shante Palmer is a vice chancellor for external and governmental relations at Rutgers University–Newark. Her tenure in government, community relations, higher education and grassroots campaigns spans over a decade and demonstrates exceptional experience and professional distinction.