CUNY Law Foundation Welcomes Alumna Clarissa M. Rodriguez ’07 to the Board of Directors
The CUNY School of Law Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Clarissa M. Rodriguez, Esq. ’07 to its Board of Directors. A nationally recognized advocate for workers’ rights, equity in government, and legal system reform, Rodriguez brings decades of experience in public service, movement-aligned legal work, and agency leadership to this role—along with a steadfast commitment to the mission that shaped her own legal education.
Rodriguez currently serves as Chair and Commissioner of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, overseeing one of the largest administrative adjudication agencies in the state, with authority over a close to $9 billion worker benefits program and the implementation of New York’s landmark Paid Family Leave law. First appointed to the Board by the New York State Governor in 2016, she was confirmed by the Senate – and elevated to Chair the following year. In 2023, Rodriguez was reappointed by Governor Kathy Hochul – to serve through 2029. As a member of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, she has spearheaded numerous legislative reforms to improve the state’s workers’ compensation system while advancing policies that expand access to paid leave, protect injured workers, and drive savings to New York’s businesses.
Before rising to state leadership, Rodriguez practiced as a litigator with the Legal Aid Society of New York, representing tenants and later homeowners targeted by predatory lending practices in foreclosure proceedings. Her early legal career reflects a lifelong commitment to justice: she served with the Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General’s Office, the CUNY Office of General Counsel, the Municipal Employees Legal Services at District Council 37, and the Urban Justice Center’s Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Project. She has remained deeply engaged with legal service organizations and advocacy groups throughout her career.
Rodriguez’s work and leadership have earned her statewide and national recognition, including the 2024 Eleanor Clark Diversity Leadership Award from Advance Grow Accelerate and the Outstanding Latina Award from El Diario La Prensa. She is featured in Dominicanas de Voluntad en la Diáspora—a book spotlighting Dominican women of impact—and has been recognized in City & State NY’s “Law Power 100,” “Labor Power 100,” and “Trailblazers in Law” lists. She currently chairs the New York Self-Insured Association Board of Managers and serves on the Advisory Council of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), Inc., as well as the Governor’s Latina Mentoring Initiative and Statewide Interagency Workforce Group.
Clarissa M. Rodriguez and her daughter Gabriella on Commencement Day 2007
Rodriguez credits CUNY Law for equipping her with the legal foundation and clarity to lead with purpose. “CUNY Law trains lawyers not just to practice law with an eye toward advancing equity and access to justice, but to think critically about the systems that may enable and perpetuate said injustice,” she shared. “I am proud to bring that ethos into every space I lead—and honored to serve the law school and help shape the next generation of public interest attorneys.”
Board Chair Jorge F. Gómez ’17 welcomed the appointment, saying: “Clarissa Rodriguez exemplifies what it means to practice law in the service of human needs. Her leadership in government, her tireless efforts for working families, and her deep commitment to equity reflect the values CUNY Law was built upon. We are thrilled to have her voice and vision on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.”
A proud Dominican American, Rodriguez holds a B.A. in Political Science and Women’s Studies from SUNY Purchase and earned her J.D. at CUNY School of Law. She lives in Orange County, New York, with her husband, their two daughters, and their labradoodle, Lucy.