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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Timothy Hogues nominated Commissioner and President of NYS Civil Service Commission NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced Timothy Hogues will be nominated to serve as the commissioner and president of the State Civil Service Commission. “New York’s exemplary civil servants deserve leadership that is equally qualified and committed to the work of the State,” Hochul said in statement. “With his wealth of experience and passion for public service, Timothy Hogues will be an extraordinary leader for the Commission, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to solve the State’s most pressing challenges and deliver for New Yorkers.” Timothy Hogues most recently served as a Personnel Commissioner for Erie County where he was responsible for overseeing services provided to over 130 appointing authorities, and approximately 24,000 employees county-wide, through the implementation and maintenance of services that support and facilitate the recruiting, selection, hiring, development and retention of local government and school district employees in accordance with Civil Service Laws and Regulations. Hogues began this role after being appointed by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz in 2019. Previously, Hogues served as Commissioner for the Erie County Department of Senior Services where under his leadership the department was able to improve the congregate dining experience and expand non-traditional dining options for thousands of older adults across Erie County that rely on the dining program to meet their nutritional needs. In addition to his dedicated government service, Hogues worked as an Operations Manager at private firms in the Buffalo area helping them to improve their bottom line by utilizing his problem-solving skills he learned early on in his leadership career as well as his ability to effectively communicate with people at all levels of an organization. On top of his managerial experience, he served in the Erie County Legislature (201213). Hogues serves on several community Boards throughout the Buffalo area and he is a proud graduate of the University of Buffalo where he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Management. The New York State Civil Service Commission adopts and modifies rules governing a wide range of State civil service matters. These rules are subject to the approval of the Governor and have the force and effect of law. The Commission also hears and determines appeals on such matters as examination qualifications, examination ratings, position classifications, pay grade determinations, disciplinary actions, the use of preferred lists, and requests to continue the employment of individuals who are retired. In addition, the Commission regularly inspects and oversees the operations of municipal Civil Service Commissions and city and county personnel officers. The Commission is composed of three members: the President of the Commission, who
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is also the head of the Department of Civil Service, and two Commissioners. By law, not more than two of the three can be members of the same political party.
AALDEF Announces Bethany Li as New Legal Director At the start of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) announced that Bethany Li will join the staff as its new legal director. She will litigate cases that have broad impact on Asian American communities, build AALDEF’s community lawyering model, work with pro bono attorneys, and provide leadership on advocacy and community outreach programs. “Bethany’s approach to community lawyering and her experience as a litigator will strengthen AALDEF’s work in protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans,” said AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung. Before joining the AALDEF staff, Li was the Asian Outreach Unit Director for Greater Boston Legal Services, where she supervised the Chinatown and Dorchester Anti-Displacement Project, the Southeast Asian Anti-Deportation Project, the Low Wage Worker Nail Salon Project, and other programs on behalf of tenants, immigrants, students, and voters. Li also served as the Robert M. Cover Fellow in Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic and an adjunct professor at CUNY-Hunter College. Li received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College with a B.A. in History. Li’s career with AALDEF began over a decade ago, when she was an Equal Justice Works Fellow and then a staff attorney. “Bethany has consistently used her legal skills in service of civil rights and the Asian American community, and I am delighted that she is returning to AALDEF at this critical moment in the racial justice movement,” Fung said. “I am excited to join the AALDEF staff at a time when the organization’s legal services, community education, and advocacy are urgently needed. With the rise in anti-Asian violence and harassment, it is especially important to protect the rights of immigrants and persons with limited English proficiency by addressing the root causes of structural racism. It is equally important to collaborate with other communities of color on common issues of concern. I look forward to being part of this next chapter in AALDEF’s storied history,” Bethany Li, incoming Legal Director of AALDEF, said. As Li leaves her current role at Greater Boston Legal Services, AALDEF will also create a partnership with the Asian Outreach Unit. The community lawyering approach that the programs share will deepen civil rights work and advocacy locally and nationally. Jacquelynne Bowman, the executive director of Greater Boston Legal Services, said, “This partnership will strengthen the voice of Asian American communities and further our commitment to eradicate poverty.”
Li begins her new role as the AALDEF legal director on May 2, 2022.
Lauren Haynes appointed Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs
The Queens Museum is excited to announce that Lauren Haynes will join the team in midJuly as Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs. In this new role, Haynes will lead the team to curate timely and ambitious exhibitions and programs at the Queens Museum. “The Queens Museum is an institution I have long admired,” Haynes said. “Its connection to both global and local communities and embrace of diverse artistic practices provides unique opportunities for experimentation and radical inclusivity. After many years away, I am excited to make my return to New York, where I spent much of my early career, and to contribute towards the incredible and important work the Museum is doing.” Haynes joins the Queens Museum from the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, where she serves as Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Senior Curator of Contemporary Art. She is the curator of the upcoming exhibition “Beyond the Surface: Collage, Mixed Media and Textile Works from the Collection” and co-curator of “Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now at the Nasher.” Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2021 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. BQE Media assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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