Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano recently appointed College of New Rochelle (CNR) alumna Sonja Smash CNR SNR '07, GS '10 to the city’s first-ever equity officer position. In the role, Smash is helping to ensure that the city’s administrative procedures and policies promote equity and inclusion, and that all constituents have opportunities for involvement in government. She assumed the position on June 1, 2022.
Smash holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree in Communications from CNR. She has more than 10 years of experience in human resources and most recently served as director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging/business operations for Gigi Gilliard Development.
According to Smash, the education and leadership experience that she received at CNR has been integral to her career success and will continue to influence her new role in public service.
"I'm honored to have been appointed by Mayor Michael Spano as the first Equity Officer for the City of Yonkers. I look forward to partnering with the mayor and his administration as we work together to foster a more equitable and inclusive future for the city,” Smash said.
She continued: “As I celebrate my appointment as the first Equity Officer for the City of Yonkers, I reflect on the legacy of both my lived and professional experiences that have birthed this historic moment in my career. An individual's legacy is defined as the richness of the individual's life, including what that person accomplished and the impact he or she had on people and places. The comprehensive instruction I received at CNR has greatly enriched and impacted my professional career and will continue for years to come. To sum it up, legacy begets legacy."
The Mercy College and CNR communities look forward to what Smash will accomplish in this position of importance.