SUMMIT, NJ — Susan G. Komen North Jersey recently announced the appointment of two new officers to its board of trustees; Kristin Wenger of Maplewood has assumed the role of president and Michele Caselnova of Sparta is the affiliate’s new vice president. Both have already served on the Komen North Jersey Board; Wenger has been a trustee for six years and just completed a two-year term as vice president and Caselnova has been a trustee and member-at-large for three years.
“I am honored to take on the role of president of the Komen North Jersey Affiliate board of trustees,” Wenger, a breast cancer survivor who credits Komen North Jersey with providing essential advice and guidance during her diagnosis and treatment, said in a press release. “It is this very organization that provided encouragement and advice to me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago. Komen North Jersey continues to provide assistance to so many in our region, especially to those who, without our help, might not have access to the care they need. Simply put — we save lives. I am impassioned and inspired to work with such an amazing board and staff as we advance our mission, strengthen our commitment and build our support.”
Wenger is the director of the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, the unifying organization and central resource for arts education information, policy and advocacy in New Jersey. From 1985 to 2005, she was the executive director of Young Audiences of New Jersey, and taught “managing the arts” at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies as an adjunct professor from 2006 to 2008.
She is a fellow of the Prudential Foundation Nonprofit Executive Program, a member of the Newark Arts Education Roundtable Leadership Council, Sustainable NJ and Creative NJ. She is a past president of the Alliance for Arts Education/New Jersey and a founding member of the NJ Arts Education Collective and the Artists in Education Consortium. She received the Tribute to Women in Industry Award presented by the YWCA. In 2013, Wenger was honored by Komen North Jersey as a Journey of Courage; her portrait was added to this photo essay that portrays breast cancer survivors who shared their stories to heighten awareness of the disease.
During her three years as a member-at-large, Caselnova has assisted the Komen North Jersey staff with marketing support for its annual Pink Tie Affair and Race for the Cure, as well as other events and activities to raise awareness of breast cancer and drive fundraising in support of the affiliate.
“The Susan G. Komen North Jersey staff and volunteers work tirelessly every day to help families in our community touched by breast cancer. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the Affiliate’s mission and future direction,” Caselnova said, adding that she feels an even stronger commitment to support the objectives and goals of Komen North Jersey.
Currently, Caselnova is chief of staff for the chief executive officer of Dun & Bradstreet. In this strategic and facilitative role, she works closely with the CEO and his executive staff to orchestrate programs and communications with employees, customers, partners and others. She joined the company as director of internal communications in September 2012, and then became its head of global communications and brand before assuming her current role. Prior to Dun & Bradstreet, she held communications leadership roles at TD Ameritrade, CIT Group and Honeywell.
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