Rutgers-Newark Professor and Pulitzer Prize Winner Salamishah Tillet Honored by Gov. Murphy for Women’s History Month

Rutgers-Newark professor and Pulitzer Prize winner Salamishah Tillet was honored by Gov. Phil Murphy at a Women’s History Month ceremony held at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion.

Tillet, director of Express Newark–an arts center dedicated to social change and supported by Rutgers-Newark–and a professor of Creative Writing and Africana Studies, was recognized for her work as a writer and activist.

In a proclamation that listed her accomplishments, Murphy cited the fact that feminist legend Gloria Steinem named Tillet “one of America’s most important contemporary writers.’’

The proclamation also named several other achievements, including her 2022 Pulitzer Prize for cultural commentary as a contributing critic-at-large for The New York Times and her book, In Search of the Color Purple: The Story of an American Masterpiece.

Murphy’s proclamation also mentioned Tillet’s work as co-founder of A Long Walk, an arts organization that empowers young people to advocate for reproductive justice and end gender-based violence, which she co-founded with her sister, artist and activist Scheherazade Tillet. In 2024, the two also collaborated with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, as well as with Ted Bunch of A Call To Men, to launch the Courage Fund, an initiative that raises awareness and provides resources to prevent sexual violence.

“Dr. Tillet continues her legacy of enriching the quality of life for women and survivors across the entire Garden State,’’ the proclamation read.

Tillet, who was raised in Orange and lives in Newark, expressed her heartfelt appreciation. “It was especially memorable to receive this proclamation from Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy because of their longstanding record championing gender equality,’’ she said.

In addition to Tilllet, Jenny Green, a Princeton University professor of Astrophysics, and co-founder of the Prison Teaching Initiative (PTI) at Princeton University, was also recognized at the ceremony, which more than 200 state leaders attended.

 “This honor celebrates our scholarship and advocacy,” said Tillet. “As a sexual assault survivor, I have spent much of my life helping other victims and trying to end this global trauma, so being recognized for that aspect of my work was even more humbling,’’ she said.

The Murphys’s Women’s History Month event at the governor’s mansion has been an annual ceremony.

“From trailblazers in government and business to changemakers in education, healthcare and the arts, we recognize the many achievements of women across New Jersey,’’ Murphy stated.