Advising a Governor

Melissa DeRosa ’04, MPA ’09 has been appointed as Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aide.

DeRosa was promoted this month to secretary in the gubernatorial administration from the chief of staff position.

She has been part of the governor’s staff since 2013, when she started as communications director.

The New York Times story, DeRosa is described “as perhaps his closest adviser.”

DeRosa’s previous positions include working for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and as the New York state director of the organizing group for President Barack Obama.

As part of Cuomo’s staff, she has played roles in the governor’s push to increase the minimum wage and to approve free SUNY tuition measure for income-eligible students.

DeRosa graduated from ILR in 2004 and received a Master of Public Administration degree from Cornell’s College of Human Ecology in 2009.