American Jewish Congress has announced the
appointment of Meryl Frank, mayor of Highland Park,
New Jersey, as the new President of its Women’s
Division.
“Meryl Frank has proven her ability to lead and inspire
others,” said Harriet Kurlander, AJCongress
Women’s Division director. “She is a dynamic and
highly respected activist on behalf of social justice,
women’s rights and human rights. I look forward to
working with her.”
AJCongress President Richard S. Gordon hailed
Mayor Frank’s appointment. “I am extremely proud
and pleased to appoint Meryl Frank as president of
the American Jewish Congress’ Women’s Division.
Meryl is an outstanding leader. In every aspect of her
life, Meryl has demonstrated an ability to bring people
together to get things done. As a political leader, as
mayor of Highland Park, NJ, as a nationally
recognized leader on women’s issues and as a
leader in the Jewish community, Meryl Frank has
proven herself time and time again. She will take her
place in the historic line of truly amazing women who
have headed the Women’s Division.”
The Women’s Division of American Jewish Congress
was founded in 1933 by Louise Waterman Wise.
Since then, the role of Women’s Division president
has been filled by several notable women in the
Jewish community, including Justine Polier, Thelma
Richman, Lillian Steinberg, Virginia Snitow,
Jacqueline Levine, Leona Chanin, Chaie Herzig and
Marian Wilen.
“One of my goals upon becoming President of the
American Jewish Congress less than a year ago was
to revitalize the Women’s Division and return it to the
forefront of the discussion of women’s issues and
women’s empowerment,” said Mr. Gordon. “Meryl
Frank has all the qualities necessary to do that. She
will bring a new vitality and determination to the
Women’s Division. I greatly look forward to working
extremely closely with Mayor Frank in achieving the
vitally important mission of the Women’s Division.”
Since assuming office as mayor of Highland Park in
January 2000, Mayor Frank has focused on running
an open government that provides municipal services
while cutting costs. Highland Park 2020, her plan for
the future of her community, offers a vision of a future
that is economically, environmentally and socially
sustainable, creating New Jersey’s first “Green
Community.” Mayor Frank has been awarded a host
of awards for innovation in governance. She is a
speaker—nationally and internationally—on
sustainability, ethics in government, democracy and
women in politics.
Mayor Frank’s book, The Parental Leave Crisis:
Toward a National Policy, provided the academic
framework behind both the New Jersey and the
National Family and Medical Leave acts.
Mayor Frank is a graduate of Rutgers University and
holds graduate degrees in Public Health, International
Relations and Political Science from Yale University.
She serves on the National Board of the Women’s
Leadership Forum of the Democratic National
Committee (DNC) and is a National Co-Chair of
Jewish Relations for the Hillary Clinton for President
campaign. She is a Lion of Judah and serves on the
Board of the Jewish Federation of Middlesex County
and Warmheart Worldwide, Inc. She is the recipient of
the Johnson & Johnson’s 2003 H.O.N.O.R.
Community Service Award and the 2000 Myrtle Wreath
Award from the Southern New Jersey chapter of
Hadassah. In 2006, she attended the American
Jewish Congress’ Jerusalem Conference of Mayors.
