Governor Mikie Sherrill
Honorary Degree Recipient: Doctor of Laws
Mikie Sherrill is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, wife, and mother of four kids. And on Jan. 20, 2026, she became New Jersey’s the 57th governor – only the second woman to hold that title in our state’s history.
Her career has been defined by service to her country and New Jersey, having previously represented New Jersey's 11th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
Gov. Sherrill was inspired to join the military by her grandfather, a World War II veteran. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1994 – the first class of women eligible for combat roles on ships and aircraft – she spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy, leading missions throughout Europe and the Middle East as a Sea King Helicopter pilot. She worked on the Battle Watch Floor in the European Theater during the Iraq War, served as a Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was a Russian policy officer aiding in the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations, overseeing the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy.
Following her service in the Navy, Gov. Sherrill attended and graduated from law school at Georgetown University. She worked in private practice before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, first working as an Outreach and Reentry Coordinator and later as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.