Andrea Bender is a seasoned professional in the field of public service and external affairs, currently serving as Vice President of External Affairs and Chief of Staff at the NYC School Construction Authority since September 2019. Prior experience includes roles as Chief of Staff for State Senators Brian Kavanagh and Daniel Squadron in the New York State Senate, as well as positions in the NYC Mayor's Office of Operations and the New York City Council. Andrea also held the position of Deputy Regional Director for United States Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand covering the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. Earlier career experiences include serving as a Newsroom Editor at Business Wire and as a skilled Americorps Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity - New York City. Andrea Bender holds a Master of Public Administration from NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.