Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has appointed Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, M.S. M.S.W. as the new Commissioner for the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.  Ms. Gonzalez-Sanchez was formally Deputy Commissioner for the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to which she was appointed in January 2003.

“Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez brings years of experience to this administration and I am confident that she will do a terrific job protecting the health and safety of our residents while helping me to control costs and provide Nassau County with the most efficient government possible,” County Executive Suozzi said.  “I heartily welcome her to Team Nassau as Commissioner.”

Ms. Gonzalez-Sanchez was also appointed as Co-Chair of the Minority Health Taskforce that was newly created by County Executive Suozzi to address and eliminate health care disparities among the minority population in Nassau County. 

Ms. Gonzalez-Sanchez has also served as Associate Commissioner for the New York City Department of Mental Health and in total has 18 years of professional experience in this field.  She has a Masters of Social Work degree in Administration/Community Organization from Hunter College School of Social Work, as well as a Masters of Science degree in Cell Biology from Fordham University.