New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced three new appointments to lead key agencies and offices across city government. The appointments include Indian American Nisha Agarwal as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities (MOPD), Lisa Gelobter as New York City’s Chief Technology Officer and Commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation, and Lisa Scott-McKenzie as Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging.

According to a February 10 statement from the Mayor’s Office, Nisha Agarwal, an accomplished public interest attorney and longtime public servant, will serve as Commissioner of MOPD. The statement noted that Agarwal has built a career spanning the public, advocacy, and legal sectors, with a focus on advancing equity and supporting vulnerable New Yorkers.

Commissioner Agarwal previously served as Executive Director for Policy and Communications at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Mental Hygiene. 

“She also served as Deputy Executive Director for Impact and a Senior Advisor at International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a global legal aid and advocacy organization,” the statement added. “Under the de Blasio administration, Commissioner Agarwal led the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs — building landmark initiatives like IDNYC, the city’s municipal identification card, and Cities for Action, a national advocacy coalition of local elected officials.”

The statement further noted that Agarwal served as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, where she worked to strengthen civic engagement and advance DemocracyNYC’s initiatives related to immigration, people with disabilities, and justice-involved communities.

Before entering city government, Commissioner Agarwal “led the Health Justice Program at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, served as Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Popular Democracy, and worked as Executive Director of the Immigrant Justice Corps,” the statement added.

As head of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities, Commissioner Agarwal will work across city agencies and in partnership with the disability community to ensure that all New Yorkers can access the city’s spaces, services, and resources. 

“I am honored to be the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. All of the priorities that Mayor Mamdani supports are critical for people with disabilities: affordable housing and food, access to health and mental health, free transportation, education equity, and employment opportunities,” said MOPD Commissioner Agarwal. “I will work with and on behalf of disabled New Yorkers to tackle these issues and ensure that people with disabilities are at the forefront for creating this city more livable for all.”

“It’s not enough for New York City to be affordable for everyone — it must be accessible to everyone, too. With decades of experience in public service, Commissioner Agarwal will help our administration deliver on that mission and build a city where every New Yorker can succeed,” Mayor Mamdani said. “From housing to health care to education, Commissioner Agarwal will work across government to break down barriers and ensure that our administration delivers for New Yorkers with disabilities.”

“New York’s most vulnerable populations rely on steady leadership in government to make our city more accessible, livable, and affordable,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “I am so proud to welcome these outstanding public servants — each of whom brings a wealth of experience in their respective fields — to the administration. Every voice should be heard and valued, and I look forward to working alongside the incoming commissioners to ensure New York is a city where everyone can live to their full potential.”

“Nisha Agarwal has been a staunch advocate for New Yorkers’ health and the accessibility of care in her role at the NYC Health Department. She has always led the pursuit for equity with compassion and determination,” said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “In public health, we champion the inclusion of peers and the irreplicable insight that comes with lived experience, opening the door to a wealth of knowledge that allows us to not only celebrate the strength of diversity but better serve our communities. We will all benefit greatly from Nisha’s expertise in her new role as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities.”

“New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) applauds Mayor Mamdani’s appointment of Nisha Agarwal as the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities,” said Ruth Lowenkron, Director, NYLPI’s Disability Justice Program. “NYLPI has worked with Ms. Agarwal extensively over the years, including in her role as executive director for policy and communications at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and as executive director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, where she started up a disability justice program. Her lived experience as a person with disabilities, as well as her advocacy on behalf of the disability community, make her an excellent candidate for the job, and we look forward to working with her.”

“Nisha Agarwal will be a tremendous partner and advocate for disabled New Yorkers as Mayor Mamdani’s Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities,” said Joe Rappaport, Executive Director, Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled. “We congratulate her. As in her past work with us, we know she will listen to New Yorkers with disabilities, fight for us and work inside and outside the administration to advance equal access and equity for our community.”

“Nisha Agarwal is a dedicated public servant and we are thrilled to see her serve as the next commissioner for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities,” said Roderick Jones, President, Goddard Riverside. “At Goddard, we help thousands of community members get the supports needed to live with dignity and respect. But we cannot do this without partners who understand diverse communities, the barriers they face, and how to ensure they have what they need to thrive. As a lawyer with both nonprofit and government leadership experience, Nisha has the combination of knowledge, creativity, and heart needed in City Hall to ensure New Yorkers with disabilities have equitable access to services and opportunities. We will be excited to work with her towards a more accessible New York City for all.”

Related posts:

Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as New York City’s 112th Mayor, Pledges Inclusive and Expansive Governance An Unexpected Détente: Trump and Mamdani’s White House Rapprochement President Trump and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Pledge to Work Together on Affordability After “Productive” Oval Office Meeting Zohran Mamdani Makes History as New York City’s Next Mayor, Quotes India’s First PM Nehru in His Victory Speech