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<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe have such a rich New York City history when it comes to Stonewall in particular,\u201d she told\u00a0The Advocate, referencing the Trump administration\u2019s attempt to erase transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument last year. <\/p>\n She also said she is excited about the role because she\u2019s looking for \u201ca Mamdani experience,\u201d which will be filled with appointees with backgrounds in public service and grassroots organizing. <\/p>\n Insights for the LGBTQ+ community On her personal website<\/a>, Smith-Cruz emphasizes her queerness, writing that it \u201cpermeates.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWhen is the work not queer?\u201d she asks. <\/p>\n In a statement<\/a> following her appointment, Smith-Cruz called it \u201can absolute honor\u201d to take on a role in the Mamdani administration, \u201cwhich feels to be a moment in NYC political history of great importance and collective endeavor.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cProviding access to government records, documents and data is our municipal responsibility,\u201d she continued. \u201cEmbracing and preserving a comprehensive imprint of NYC histories, as representative of our many communities, is the mission of DORIS that I aim to uphold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter 20 years working across academic libraries, public libraries, library schools and with institutional and community-based chives, as Commissioner I intend to ensure an informed citizenry\u2026 together, we can continue to work toward robust and complete information dissemination, while also honoring the multiple histories of all New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n Among many other experiences, Smith-Cruz spent almost 20 years as coordinator for the Lesbian Herstory Archives and also served as the Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Engagement at NYU Division of Libraries. She was most recently dean of the Barnard College Library. <\/p>\n \u201cDuring her time at Barnard, Shawn Smith-Cruz helped advance transparent, equitable access to information,\u201d \u00a0said Laura Ann Rosenbury, President of Barnard College, in a statement, \u201cand we are excited to see her continue this important work on behalf of New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n Mamdani has made LGBTQ+ representation a priority in his administration. In March, he unveiled<\/a> a new Mayor\u2019s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, headed by Taylor Brown, the first openly transgender person to lead a city agency. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gettyimages-1496168502-e1752254185284-400x237.jpg\"\/)
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