Fernando Ferrer

Recommended by: Governor Date Appointed: June 15, 2011 Term Expires: June 30, 2016 Board Committees: Member: Capital Program Oversight, Diversity, MTA Bus Operations, Transit

Fernando Ferrer is co-chairman and a partner at Mercury, a high-stakes public strategy firm. He also he serves as a director of Sterling Bancorp, Sterling National Bank, and the Regional Plan Association.

Ferrer served in the New York City Council from 1982 to 1987 before being elected Bronx Borough President from 1987 through 2001. During his 14-year tenure he created housing for about 66,000 families. The borough saw a significant drop in crime, particularly in the South Bronx, and a steady rise in business and real estate investment.

In 2005, Ferrer became the first Latino to the win the Democratic Party nomination for New York City Mayor. He served as president of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit, progressive think tank dedicated to economic and social justice; on the board of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity; and chaired the board of the Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association.

He earned his BA degree from the University Heights College of Arts and Sciences of New York University, and his MPA degree from Baruch College of the City University of New York. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Manhattan, Mercy, Herbert H. Lehman and Metropolitan Colleges, the Eugene J. Keogh Public Service Awards from the Alumni Association of New York University, as well as hundreds of awards from schools, community groups, institutions and faith communities.