Kerri Neifeld
Deputy Director of State Operations for Governor Kathy Hochul
Kerri Neifeld serves as Deputy Director of State Operations for NYS Governor Kathy Hochul. She was previously the Commissioner of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Assistant Secretary for Human Services & Mental Hygiene in the Governor’s Office, and Assistant Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Kerri first joined OTDA as Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner while serving as an Excelsior Service Fellow, before being promoted to Assistant Deputy Commissioner.
Prior to joining the Excelsior Service Fellowship Program, Kerri was a Fellow on Women & Public Policy at Rockefeller College’s Center for Women in Government & Civil Society. A passionate advocate for others, Kerri also worked as a Project Manager at the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, a Child Protective Services Caseworker and a Foster Care Caseworker as well as a Youth Care Worker at WAIT House Homeless Youth Shelter. Kerri plans to use her years of public service experience to inform new and innovative ways to support and serve people with developmental disabilities.
Kerri holds a B.A. from Elmira College and an M.S.W. from the University at Albany School of Social Welfare.