January 2009

Two Alumni Appointed by New York State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith

New York State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith announced that he will appoint Shelley Mayer '79 as Counsel to the Majority, and Lourdes Ventura '98 as Counsel for Latino and Immigrant Affairs, among other appointments.

"The transition is moving forward in an organized and timely manner," said Senator Smith. "New Yorkers can feel the utmost confidence in the quality of today's appointments. This is a diverse and highly qualified group of individuals, and in the coming days and weeks we will continue to appoint people of the highest caliber to fill positions throughout the Senate."

Shelley Mayer '79

Shelley Mayer served previously as Counsel to the Minority under Senator Smith, as well as Special Counsel to former Minority Leader Martin Connor. Prior to her work with the Senate she was an Assistant Attorney General for 12 years, under Attorneys General Robert Abrams and G. Oliver Koppell. Mayer was also the Vice President of Government and Community Affairs for one of New York's largest hospital systems, Continuum Health Partners. She received her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and Bachelor degree from California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Mayer and her husband live in Yonkers, where she was born and raised.

Lourdes Ventura '98

Lourdes Ventura was appointed to the position of Counsel for Latino and Immigrant Affairs. Ms. Ventura previously served in the Minority Counsel's office under Senator Smith. Before her work with the Senate she was a prosecutor at the Queens County District Attorney's Office and also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General's Office. Ventura was an associate at the Long Island-based law firm of Ahmuty, Demers, and McManus and a former president of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County. She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor degrees. Ventura resides in Queens with her husband and son.

University at Buffalo Law School, Office of Alumni Relations,
312 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260
(716) 645-2107 -- law-alumni@buffalo.edu