Senator Eldridge Promotes Afnan Nehela to Legislative Director

Nehela brings prior experience as Team Eldridge’s Communications Director & Policy Advisor to her new role

BOSTON — State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D- Marlborough) announced today that Afnan Nehela will serve as Legislative Director in his office.

For the past five years, Afnan has served as Senator Eldridge’s Communications Director, leading communications strategies related to legislative action and district-wide news. She has also been the lead staffer for both the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus and the Medicare for All Caucus, coordinating legislative strategy and stakeholder engagement.

In the criminal justice space, Afnan has drafted and researched policy, organized briefings and prison visits, and built coalitions to move key bills forward. Her work has helped drive reforms to the parole system, solitary confinement conditions, and access to higher education for incarcerated individuals.

Before her work in the Senate, Afnan brought a community-centered lens to public policy through her career in journalism and documentary storytelling. She previously reported for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, produced content for Cambridge Community Television, and contributed to digital storytelling at GBH World Channel, focusing on stories of racial and social justice.

Afnan is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a BA in Journalism and Psychology. This spring, she completed her Master of Public Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, further deepening her expertise in policy development and analysis.

“I am very proud that Afnan has been promoted to be the Legislative Director in my office,” said Senator Eldridge. “Over the past five years, Afnan has proven her policy skills with my criminal justice, civil rights and healthcare legislation, dramatically expanded my communications platforms, outreach and ability to reach constituents and the general public, and brings a passion to helping people who are less fortunate. Balancing her dual roles in the office while completing a Master’s in Public Policy at Brandeis highlights her dedication to this work and makes her transition to becoming my Legislative Director a natural next step that will enhance our office’s effectiveness and sharpen our approach to advancing key policy initiatives.”

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