ESU Names Maureen Madden Legislative Fellow for 2019-2020 Academic Year

Maureen Madden Legislative fellow

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on September 27, 2019, No Comments

Pictured from left to right: Albert Rivera ‘21, ESU student majoring in criminal justice major and member of ESU’s Council of Trustees; Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of ESU, Andrea McClanahan, Ph.D., professor of communication and member of the ESU Legislative Fellow Committee; State Representative Maureen Madden, 115th Legislative district; Leila Bouchekouk ‘21, ESU student majoring in chemistry and president of ESU’s Student Government Association; and L. Patrick Ross ‘67, chair of ESU’s Council of Trustees.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania announced the selection of its 2019-2020 Legislative Fellow, State Representative Maureen Madden, at a breakfast held in her honor on Friday, September 27. ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., introduced Representative Madden at the event to university faculty, students, staff and special guests from the community.

The Legislative Fellow program, established in 1999, is designed to bring state legislators to campus to participate in a variety of campus activities and to meet formally and informally with students, faculty and staff throughout the year. As part of the program, ESU Legislative Fellows may also request a student intern.

The program is co-sponsored by the university administration and the local chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). Fellows are selected by a committee of faculty and administrators, and jointly appointed by the university president and the president of APSCUF at the beginning of each academic year.

Representative Madden was elected to represent the 115th Legislative District in 2017. She serves on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the Education Committee, the Human Services Committee, and the Tourism and Recreation Development Committee on which she serves as the democratic chair of the subcommittee on recreation.

Representative Madden’s legislative priorities are to create economic opportunities, including raising the minimum wage, strengthening public education through equitable school funding, and protecting the environment. Madden re-introduced the Workplace Freedom Act (HB1178) which would strengthen collective bargaining and inform workers of their rights. She has also introduced legislation that would ensure all employees have the same workplace protections against harassment and discrimination, regardless of the size of their employer or type of work (HB1025). Madden is currently co-sponsoring legislation which establishes safe staffing for nurses (HB867) to protect patients across Pennsylvania. When Madden was elected, the number one issue constituents spoke about was healthcare. Madden is a proud co-sponsor of HB3, recently signed by Governor Wolf into law, which allows PA to take advantage of federal funding to create a state-run health insurance exchange, lowering state insurance premiums for Pennsylvanians enrolled and lowering state operating costs by as much as $60 million.

Madden earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marymount Manhattan College and a master’s degree in communication arts from Marywood University. Before being elected to represent the 115th legislative district, Madden was a professor of communications at Northampton Community College and East Stroudsburg University. Madden also volunteered and taught women in the Monroe County Correctional Facility.

Madden is a member of the Monroe County Homeless Initiative and has worked with the homeless for the past 16 years. She is a member of the Pocono Heritage Land Trust, the Brodhead Watershed Association, and PennEnvironment.

She has received recognition from her community as a legislator including the Women of Distinction Award for community work with the homeless from the ESU Feminist Alliance. She was honored by Monroe County United for the Monroe County Image Award and by the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women for the Outstanding Elected Official Award. She was recognized by the Monroe County Commission as a champion of peace and non-violence. Madden has also received the Greater Pocono Section of the National Council of Negro Women Service Award, as well as the JNESO Professional Healthcare Union Public Servant of the Year Award.

Madden has resided in Tobyhanna with her husband and local musician, Roy Ramos, for the past 15 years. She is the mother of Alex and Rich, who are both police officers in New York City.

For more information on the Legislative Fellow program, contact Miguel Barbosa, chief of staff in ESU’s Office of the President at 570-422-3545.