Nisha Agarwal Appointed as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities by Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of NYC
Los Angeles/Feb 13, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of NYC announced 3 appointments to lead critical agencies and offices across city government on Feb 12, 2026:
- Nisha Agarwal as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
- Lisa Gelobter as New York City’s Chief Technology Officer and Commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation
- Lisa Scott-McKenzie as Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging.
About Nisha Agarwal
An accomplished public interest attorney as well as public servant, Nisha Agarwal will serve as Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD).
Working across the public, advocacy, and legal sectors, Commissioner Agarwal has dedicated her career to empowering vulnerable New Yorkers. Commissioner Agarwal previously served as the 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. 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. Commissioner Agarwal also served as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, where she worked to boost civic engagement among New Yorkers and build DemocracyNYC’s efforts on 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.
As head of MOPD, Commissioner Agarwal will work across city government and with the disability community to make sure that every New Yorker can access the city’s spaces, services, and resources.
MOPD Commissioner Agarwal:
- 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,”
- 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.
Mayor Mamdani said:
- 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.
- 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.
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga said:
- New York’s most vulnerable populations rely on steady leadership in government to make our city more accessible, livable, and affordable,”
- 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.
NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse said:
- 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.
- 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.
Ruth Lowenkron, Director, NYLPI’s Disability Justice Program said:
- 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.
- 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.”
Joe Rappaport, Executive Director, Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled said:
- 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 . “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.
Roderick Jones, President, Goddard Riverside said:
- 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.
- 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.
About Lisa Gelobter
A recognized leader in social impact and digital equity, Lisa Gelobter will serve as New York City’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI).
About Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie
A longtime city employee and community leader, Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie will serve as Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging).
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