Adriana Espinoza serves as Deputy Commissioner for Equity and Justice at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As Deputy Commissioner, Espinoza oversees the agency’s climate justice portfolio, the Office of Environmental Justice, Office of Indian Nation Affairs, and leads internal efforts to encourage diversity, equity, inclusion among incoming and current staff and enhance DEC's outreach to disadvantaged communities across the state. Prior to joining DEC, Espinoza served as New York City's first Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice in the Mayor's Office of Climate & Sustainability, where she directed the development and implementation of the City's Environmental Justice program. Espinoza also previously served as New York City Program Director for the New York League of Conservation Voters. Espinoza is a first-generation immigrant and college graduate, earning her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin where her concentrations were policy and community administrative leadership.