Two Organizations Honor New York State DOT Commissioner

ALBANY, NY (11/03/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald recently received the Service to Humanity Award from the March of Dimes New York Chapter. The award was presented Oct. 20 at the organization's 35th Annual Transportation and Construction Luncheon in New York City.

That was the second award in a month for Commissioner McDonald, whom Governor Andrew M. Cuomo nominated on January 14, 2011 to serve as NYSDOT's 11th commissioner. Women's Transportation Seminar of Greater New York, an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation, honored her as Woman of the Year on Thursday, Oct. 6 in New York City.

"Commissioner McDonald has a long and distinguished career in the transportation industry and she is highly regarded by her colleagues," said Shelly Siegel, executive director of the March of Dimes New York Division "We were pleased to honor the Commissioner for her work in the public sector and I commend the Transportation and Construction Committee for nominating her to receive the Service to Humanity Award."

Marcia Shapiro, WTS Greater New York Chapter president, said: "Commissioner McDonald is a long-time friend of WTS and a terrific role model for women working in the transportation industry. Her deep knowledge of transportation policy and issues was cited by New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson in his welcoming remarks. It was clear from the wonderful turnout that the Commissioner has many friends in the profession in the New York metropolitan area."

Commissioner McDonald is an expert on transportation, infrastructure, economic development, policy and planning. She was unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate on March 8, 2011, and serves as a key member of Governor Cuomo's cabinet.

Prior to her appointment, Commissioner McDonald served as the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development for the State of Connecticut and chair of Connecticut Innovations, an authority providing venture capital to high tech start-up companies. From 2003-2007, she was the senior vice president of transportation for the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Her private sector experience includes five years as the vice president in charge of New York and New Jersey at Jacobs Engineering.

Commissioner McDonald was deputy commissioner for Planning & Traffic Operations for the New York City Department of Transportation from 1995-1998 and served as the director of Capital and Long Range Planning for the MTA Metro-North Railroad for the three years prior to that. She served as special assistant to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1991-1992. She began her career in public service with the New York State Assembly serving in various capacities on the Ways and Means and House Operations Committees, including deputy budget director and assistant director of research.

Commissioner McDonald received her undergraduate degree in English at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. She has a master's degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.