We are pleased to welcome Nira Irby to our expanding team! As a Workforce Development Specialist, Nira will represent MACNY and Partners for Education and Business, Inc. (PEB) as an educational programs liaison to engage employers and community partners. She will work closely with key partners to bridge the gap between education and workforce needs. As part of career exploration for students, Nira will be working alongside the rest of the Talent Development team to coordinate youth and pre-apprenticeship activities in schools and alongside employers.

Most recently, Nira was the Associate Director of Community Engagement at Syracuse University where she worked to develop, implement, and manage multiple projects for the Office of Community Engagement in the Central New York Community. Before that, she led the Central New York and global diversity and inclusion education community initiatives at Microsoft for eight years and served as the Communications Director and Program Manager for Education, Diversity, and Inclusion. Nira holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from SUNY Buffalo State University as well as several academic and professional accolades. Most recently, she was awarded the 2021 OnPoint for College Alumna Star and she was the recipient of YWCA Spirit of American Emerging Professional Women award in 2019. Nira is also an active community member, who served on numerous boards and volunteering for many local causes, to include OnPoint for College, YWCA Girls Inc., and Geddes Westvale Knights.

MACNY’s Director of Partners for Education and Business, Inc. Taylor Hodge states, “Our team is thrilled to welcome Nira to MACNY and PEB’s growing workforce development team. Nira brings extensive experience as a program manager with a passion for creating unique opportunities for the advancement of underserviced and underrepresented groups. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!”

Nira is excited to get to know MACNY’s member companies and help them develop their future workforce. If you would like to connect with Nira, please email her directly at [email protected].