Patrick O’Connor

Mr. Patrick O’Connor ’80, Government Relations Officer, joined Ramapo College full-time in July of 2018, after a public service career spanning over four decades. His current responsibilities include representing Ramapo College while working with federal, state and local government officials. He works closely with the Student Government Association to engage students in advocacy efforts while providing them the opportunity to become active members in the legislative process. A disability rights advocate, he helped establish the casino revenue funded New Jersey paratransit system and he successfully convinced the Port Authority of NYNJ to make the PATH rail system accessible by providing elevator access to select train stations. While working for the Hudson County Executive he organized many stakeholders to ensure the establishment of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line. As the Chief of Staff to the NJ General Assembly Democratic Leader he played an instrumental role in laws that mandated insurance companies provide 48- hour post birth hospital stay coverage as well as laws mandating booster seats for children up to eight years old. As Assistant State Treasurer for Legislative Affairs and Chief of Staff to the State Treasurer, Pat oversaw the daily operations of over 3,000 full time employees. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Garden State Preservation Fund and New Jersey Transit. Pat is no stranger to Ramapo having served as an adjunct professor since the 1990’s. A 1980 Ramapo College Alumni, he was a member of the College Alumni Association Board of Directors during which time he helped establish the D. Bennett Mazur Scholarship Fund. He has a B.A in Environmental Studies from Ramapo College, spent a year at Mississippi State University, in their initial Small Town Studies Masters’ program and went on to earn his M.A in Environmental Management from Montclair State University.