Joanna Mendez

Joanna Mendez, MPA, currently serves as Chief Of Staff and previously held the role of Legislative Director at the New York State Senate since July 2018. Joanna participated in the Kriegel Fellowship for Public Service Leaders from October 2022 to March 2023, which focuses on leadership development for legislative staff in the NYC area. Previous experience includes positions as Organizing Team Lead for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress and Audience Development Associate at the Drug Policy Alliance. Joanna also has experience with the United Nations as a Youth Representative, advocating for the needs of impoverished communities, and has worked in various roles related to civic engagement and social services. Educational background includes a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from St. John's University, along with an Advanced Regents Diploma from the Bronx High School of Science.