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Angela Bethea currently serves as the Acting Secretary of Higher Education, succeeding former Secretary Brian Bridges whose tenure ended on December 31, 2025.

Prior to this appointment, Angela was serving as Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer for the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), where she provided strategic oversight of the agency's finance, research, and accountability functions. In this capacity, Angela managed critical capital bond programs totaling $1.7 billion and has played a key role in shaping investments in several state budgets to advance statewide higher education policy objectives and goals.

Angela brings more than two decades of experience in higher education and public service, including 23 years in state government. Her career reflects a deep commitment to data-driven decision-making and operational excellence. Early in her tenure at OSHE, she served as a data analyst and later as Assistant Director of Special Projects, where she supported longitudinal studies on retention, graduation, and transfer patterns that informed strategies to improve student success. She subsequently became Director of Finance and Technology, overseeing agency budgeting, finance, and IT portfolios to ensure efficient resource allocation and seamless operations.

Angela's experience also includes a brief period outside state service as a Database Administrator at Western Wyoming Community College, as well as prior roles in the private sector with CIGNA's Property and Casualty division. Her diverse background has equipped her with a unique blend of financial, technological, and analytical expertise.

Angela holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University, with a concentration in Management Information Systems, and a Professional Master of Accountancy from Rutgers University-Camden. Angela was born and raised in Philadelphia and lives in Bordentown, NJ with her family.