Adrienne Harris nominated as New York State’s top financial regulator | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Adrienne Harris nominated as New York State’s top financial regulator

August 31, 2021

Financial expert and Ford School Professor of Practice Adrienne Harris has been nominated to serve as the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

In her new role, Harris will oversee the activities of almost 1,800 insurance companies and 1,400 banking and other financial institutions “as New York works to rebuild its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the NYS press release.

Governor Hochul said: “As I've said from the moment I took office, I will be assembling the strongest possible team to help New York move towards a brighter future and with Adrienne Harris as our state's top financial regulator, New Yorkers can rest assured that this administration isn't simply focused on just protecting consumers, but on advancing an equitable economic recovery that seeks to lift up all citizens, not just the privileged. From her time working with President Obama to help the nation forge a path forward in the aftermath of 2007's Great Recession to her vast experience in the private sector helping ensure companies of all sizes act as good corporate citizens, there is no one better suited to help lead this state's economy forward and I, for one, cannot wait to get to work with Adrienne to deliver real results for the people of this great state."

Harris is the co-director of the Ford School’s Center on Finance, Law & Policy. She also serves as senior advisor at the Brunswick Group in Washington D.C. where she advises multinational corporations on mergers and acquisitions, stakeholder communications and management, future-proofing and policy intelligence. Harris is teaching a class titled “Fintech Entrepreneurship” this semester at the Ford School.

“I’m thrilled that Governor Hochul has nominated Ford School Professor Adrienne Harris to serve as Superintendent of Financial Services,” Ford School Dean Michael S. Barr said. “Adrienne is brilliant, effective, and brings deep expertise in financial services to this role. She’ll be an outstanding leader.”

Harris’s expertise lies in financial reform, financial technology, cybersecurity, consumer protection, and housing finance reform, all of which she will bring with her in this role. She previously served as the special assistant for economic policy to President Obama at the White House National Economic Council and the senior advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Treasury. Harris earned her JD from Columbia Law School, her MBA with specializations in economics and management from New York University, and her BA from Georgetown University.

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