Mayor Walsh Appoints Mayen to Immigrant & Refugee Affairs Coordinator

Published on July 24, 2023

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the appointment of Adol Mayen to Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Coordinator in the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD). Mayen will be responsible for strategic coordination with resettlement agencies and programs, building community partnerships and advocacy aimed at improving the quality of life for immigrant and refugee communities in Syracuse.

Prior to joining City government, Mayen worked for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, holding multiple positions including as an Intake Specialist, Pro-bono Coordinator and Paralegal. She worked on initiatives focused on LGBTQ+ rights, family law, COVID-19’s effect on Syracuse city residents’ access to the court system and workplace inclusion.

Mayen has also worked as an Educator for the United States Peace Corps in Limpopo, South Africa, where she taught English and facilitated community-based conversations and programming on early childhood development and literacy. Mayen is skilled in bringing together diverse stakeholders, faith-based leaders and community partners to better represent the people she serves.

Mayen’s passion for service and community engagement with the New American community stems from her South Sudanese upbringing and her Syracuse Northside roots, where she’s been a life-long resident.

Mayen received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, focusing on political science and post-conflict resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa from Seton Hall University. She is proficient in four languages including English, Arabic, Dinka and Sepedi (Northern-Sotho).