Ex-NJ legislator joins Trump administration

Former Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has joined the U.S. Department of State as a special advisor to Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce.

Casagrande, 41, was elected to the State Assembly in 2007, defeating Democratic incumbent Michael Panter.  She served four terms before losing to Democrats Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey in 2015, a casualty of voter disapproval with Gov. Chris Christie.

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ mission “is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange that assist in the development of peaceful relations,” according to their website.

Casagrande started her post on April 30.