Onondaga County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro today named Lisa Dunn Alford as Onondaga County’s Commissioner of Aging and Youth pending County Legislature approval. Alford would begin her new post on April 30, 2007 and replaces Marilyn Pinsky who retired last year.

Alford currently serves as Child and Youth Services Director for P.E.A.C.E., Inc. of Syracuse where she has supervised the Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program since 1996. Her responsibilities included management of a $12 million early childhood education program, which involved coordination between public and private entities for service and resource coordination. Alford received her undergraduate degree from Hampton University and Masters in Audiology from Ohio State University in 1987. She also received a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 2001.

Alford is a member of numerous community organizations including Syracuse Association for the Education of Young Children, Junior League of Syracuse, League of Women Voters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She and her husband, Dr. Keith Alford, reside in Manlius. They have one son.

Pirro said, “Onondaga County is fortunate that we have the talent and experience of someone like Lisa Alford to lead the department and continue the dedication to quality service to our youth and seniors alike. This community is well served with the appointment of Lisa Alford and I am confident that she will bring her enthusiasm, creativity and leadership to every program and project.”

Pirro has requested Legislative confirmation on her appointment and it is anticipated that the Legislature will discuss her appointment as part of the March Social Services Committee in March.

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