CTG Director Theresa Pardo Appointed Policy Advisor of New York’s Open Data Initiative

One of three experts named by Governor Cuomo to help New York improve government transparency through technology and enhance citizen engagement.

Theresa Pardo, director of UAlbany's Center for Technology in Government. (Photo by Mark Schmidt)

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 28, 2013) — Governor Andrew Cuomo has named Theresa Pardo, director of UAlbany's Center for Technology in Government (CTG), to the three-person leadership team of Open NY, a six-month-old initative to improve government transparency and enhance citizen engagement through technology.

Open NY is a comprehensive state data transparency website that provides user-friendly, one-stop access to data from New York State agencies, localities, and the federal government. Since the launch of Open.ny.gov, the website has made millions of state, local and federal government records available to the public.

Pardo will serve as Open NY's policy advisor, joining Andrew Nicklin, who will serve as Open NY director, and James Hendler, who will be the state's open data advisor. Nicklin most recently served as director of research and development for the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and Hendler is chair of the computer science department at RPI.

"New York State has been on the forefront of using technology and innovation to open the doors of government, and Andrew Nicklin, Dr. James Hendler, and Dr. Theresa Pardo will play important roles in continuing our efforts to help better engage New Yorkers with their government," Governor Cuomo said. "I thank Andrew, Dr. Hendler and Dr. Pardo for taking on these positions in state government and their continued commitment to making New York a leader in data access and transparency."

In addition to directing CTG, which is a global leader in digital government research and practice, Pardo is a dual faculty member in UAlbany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy and College of Computing and Information. Under her leadership, CTG has worked with governments in the U.S. and around to world to develop open data strategies, programs and policies.

Pardo is a co-developer of the University’s Government Information Strategy and Management program, which is ranked 3rd in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and is president-elect of the Digital Government Society, a global, multi-disciplinary organization of scholars and practitioners interested in the development and impacts of digital government. She is also a past winner of the University's Excellence in Teaching Award.

“SUNY shares the Governor’s commitment to openness and transparency and Dr. Theresa Pardo is a strong addition to the Open NY team," said Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. "Dr. Pardo is a leader and innovator in her field, and under her guidance The Center for Technology in Government has become renowned for helping governments develop policies for sharing information in order to maximize value for the public. I commend Governor Cuomo on his selection.”

Robert J. Freeman, executive director of the Committee on Open Government, added, “As the director of the Center for Technology in Government, Theresa Pardo has demonstrated time and again that she has the vision and expertise to bring government technology innovations to fruition to the great benefit of governments and citizens worldwide.”

The full text of the Governor's Open NY announcement can be read here.

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