Ramapo College of New Jersey proudly announces the appointment of Marize Helmy of Franklin Lakes to its esteemed Board of Trustees. She was sworn in during the January 30 Board meeting to join the governing body of the 53-year old public liberal arts college, following her nomination by Governor Phil Murphy and confirmation by the New Jersey Senate.

“The Ramapo College Board of Trustees is a group of truly dedicated, thoughtful, and discerning fiduciaries who embody the values that mark our institution. I am excited to work with and learn from Trustee Helmy and know that her expertise will be a wonderful addition to the Board and to the College at large,” said College President Cindy Jebb. “We all look forward to serving with her to leverage her talents in support of our students and in furtherance of our mission as NJ’s premier public liberal arts college.”

A partner with The Manna Helmy Law Group, Helmy brings a nuanced understanding of governance, compliance, and ethical considerations to the board. Helmy is passionate about making a positive impact on the educational landscape, teaching at local schools and sharing her expertise in elder law and guardianships with social workers to help them secure valuable continuing education credits for licensure. 

“I am honored to have the responsibility to serve the Ramapo College community as a Trustee especially during this time in its demonstrated rising excellence,” said Helmy. “As a big proponent of interdisciplinary learning and the importance of a broad holistic understanding, I am excited to contribute towards this mission.”

Helmy is the newest member of the Board of Trustees, following the May 20, 2023 appointments of Michael Ben-David of Franklin Lakes, Chris Lopez of Oakland, and Albert C. Nieves of Wood-Ridge. 

Marize Helmy, Esq.

Helmy is a practicing attorney specializing in Elder Law and Estate Planning at The Manna Helmy Law Group, formerly known as Michael A. Manna & Associates. She holds a BA in Visual Arts from Fordham University and a JD from SUNY at Buffalo Law School. During her time in law school, Helmy was president of the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program and raised funds to support and fund otherwise unpaid internships. She also worked in the career services office and was also involved with student conduct, later serving as the Assistant Chief of the Student Wide Judiciary. Upon graduation, she received an award from the law school for the greatest contribution to the community. While studying for the bar exam, she volunteered her time translating and filing immigration applications for domestic violence victims and also dedicated her time to rehabilitative and innovative court developments such the Newark Drug Courts and Child Welfare Improvement Project. Helmy teaches at the local community schools as well as to social workers for their mandatory continuing education credits on topics relating to elder law, guardianships and other ethical issues. She is board member and acting treasurer of her church in Bergen County and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Bergen County Bar Association. Helmy has been honored by Thomson Reuters as a New Jersey Super Lawyers™ Rising Star in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.