Bronx politician and activist Guillermo Linares was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, starting next month. Linares emerged on the political stage in 1991 when he was elected to the New York City Council and became the first Dominican American to hold public office in the United States. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the National Council of La Raza, and helped to establish academic programs such as the Dominican Studies Institute at CUNY. His predecessor, Sayu Bhojwani, resigned in May to move to London.

New York is losing Michael Schill, a nationally renowned housing law and policy scholar. Schill has been selected as dean of UCLA’s School of Law. He is leaving New York University, where he serves as director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. After earning his bachelor’s degree and law degree from Princeton University and Yale Law School respectively, Schill worked for several law firms and universities. He will start at UCLA on August 1.

The Department of Education has a new Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. Carmen Farina, a veteran in the education field, has worked as a school teacher, principal, and both district and regional superintendent. She was appointed Acting Deputy Chancellor in March this year, replacing Diana Lam, who was ousted for using her influence to arrange education jobs for her husband.

Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City appointed Bernell Grier as its Chief Operating Officer, effective August 2. Grier has worked about for 30 years in the banking industry. She has served as board chair or board member for a few nonprofit groups. She was an executive vice president for Fleet Bank prior to her new position.

Robert Moore, a long time water protection activist, has been selected as the new executive director for the Environmental Advocates of New York. Moore last served as executive director of Prairie River Network in Illinois, a statewide river conservation group. He was named one of the 30 Clean Water Heroes of the Past 30 Years by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean Water Network.

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