ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul will nominate Maria Imperial as commissioner of the Division of Human Rights.
Most recently, Imperial served as the CEO of the YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester, whose mission is eliminating racism and empowering women.
Under her leadership, the YWCA completed a $26 million green renovation of its Residence, a $4 million bond refinancing of its North Street Activity Center, re-aligned the organization’s programs to better reflect its mission, including the creation of the Center for Racial Equity opening in April 2021.
Imperial has been recognized by Westchester 914 as a 2018 Women in Business Awardee and received Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice Champion of Justice Award, the Westchester Human Rights Commission Award for promoting human rights in the county and also the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WESTCOP) Community Service Award.
She serves on the Board of Directors of Nonprofit Westchester, and the Advisory Board for the Women in the Courts Committee for the Ninth Judicial District.
Imperial began her career working as an associate at O’Melveny and Myers law firm.
She is a graduate of Harvard University, the Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and Harvard Law School.
Imperial will serve as acting commissioner until confirmation by the Senate.
