CFLP congratulates former faculty co-director Adrienne Harris, the first Black woman confirmed to head the New York State Department of Financial Services. Harris, who was also a professor of practice at the Ford School of Public Policy, was confirmed to the position January 25th after serving as acting NY DFS supervisor since her nomination in August of 2021. Prior to her time at the CFLP, Harris also served as a special assistant to the Barack Obama White House on economic policy
In her new role, Harris will oversee the activities of almost 1,800 insurance companies and 1,400 banking and other financial institutions. In a statement from Harris released by the NYDFS, she thanked New York governor Kathy Hochul for her nomination to the position, along with the New York Senate for their support in her confirmation, and stated: “I am honored to serve as the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services. As the first African American woman to lead DFS, I am personally committed to working with all stakeholders to build a robust, fair, and sustainable financial system, creating a better economic future for all New Yorkers.”