Ms. Burgess was appointed to represent the 28th District in the Senate in September 2022 by a special convention of Essex County Democrats.

She previously served on the Irvington Town Council from 2014-2022 and was Council President from 2019-2022. She also served on the Irvington Board of Education from 2003-2014, being elected Vice President from 2005-2007, and President from 2007-2009. In addition to these accomplishments, Burgess founded and is the president of the Thurgood Marshall Area Block Association and is the committee chair of the Irvington South Ward Democratic Committee.

Burgess’ professional experiences have prepared her and continue to add to her service of people. She was previously employed for over ten years at Merck Pharmaceutical Company, six years at CA One Services, and more than eleven years at CIT Capital in Livingston. Burgess received numerous awards and acknowledgments for her performance and leadership skills in these roles. Burgess was also employed by the Township of Irvington as the Purchasing Clerk before assuming the position of Payroll and Purchasing Specialist for the Irvington Housing Authority. She was then promoted from this position to become the Housing Authority’s Supervisor of Accounts and Human Resource Administrator.

She was prepared academically as a student of St. Leo’s, Essex Catholic Girls High School and Irvington High School. Burgess earned her associates degree in business at Essex County College, her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Pillar College and a Master of Public Affairs and Administration from Metropolitan College of New York.

Senator Burgess has a daughter, Giovana, who is a college graduate and current teacher at a Charter school in Newark.