Guillermo Linares, PhD has the historic distinction of being the first Dominican American elected to public office in the United States. He served from 1991 to 2001 in the New York City Council, where he advocated for quality education, vital health services and affordable housing.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Linares has remained committed to improving public education and championing immigrant issues. His advocacy started in Washington Heights, where he worked as a school teacher. Witnessing the need for active involvement, he ran for membership of the local school board and served there for three terms. In the 1980s, Dr. Linares and others were responsible for the building of desperately-needed public schools for the growing immigrant community in Washington Heights.

With other activists and leaders, Dr. Linares helped to establish the Community Association of Progressive Dominicans, the Puerto Rican/Latino Education Round Table and the Parents Coalition for Education in New York City. Dr. Linares was also instrumental in the founding of the Dominican Studies Institute at City College, the Audubon Partnership for Economic Development and the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Dr. Linares’ work has garnered him city-wide and national respect. In 1998, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus of the NYC Council elected then Council Member Linares as its Co-President. Dr. Linares was tapped in 1995 to serve in a national capacity as a member of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. President William Clinton appointed him in 1999 as chair of this Initiative.

Dr. Linares served for six years as a board member of the National Council of La Raza. He currently is the co-convener of Encuentro 2000 and Beyond, a national Latino leadership group.

As Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Dr. Linares works to strengthen bridges between city government and immigrant communities. He shares the experiences and aspirations of immigrant New Yorkers, having left his native Dominican Republic and arrived in the Bronx in 1966. Then, Commissioner Linares drove a taxi for long hours to support his family and at the same, pursued a higher education so that he could advance.

Dr. Linares received a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s of Science degree from City College and a professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham University. He recently achieved his doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Mr. Linares is married to a public school principal and has two children. His family has been critical to his accomplishments as a community activist, an elected official and academic.