Theresa Santoro
Theresa Santoro is currently the Senior Director of
Community and Government Relations for the New York Power Authority, the
largest state public power organization it the U.S., and is specifically
focused on the southeast New York service territory. She serves as a chief
liaison to elected officials, regional leaders, and community stakeholders on
Long Island and in the Mid-Hudson region. She works across the organization and
with external partners to advance NYPA’s mission of leading the transition to a
carbon-free, economically vibrant New York through customer partnerships,
innovative energy solutions, and the responsible supply of affordable, clean,
and reliable electricity.
Prior to NYPA, Theresa served in various roles in the private and public sectors. Theresa has spent over a decade in public service. Her passion for social justice and desire to help others drew her to government. Her most recent public sector position was in the New York State Governor’s Office as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Long Island. While with Governor, she worked on major projects such as LIRR Third Track and Expansion, Downtown Revitalization Initiatives, Shellfish Restoration, Offshore Wind, Belmont Park Redevelopment, Red Flag Law, Expanding Pay Equity, and increasing funds for clean water projects on Long Island. Additionally, during the COVID19 pandemic, Theresa assisted with the response and recovery on Long Island, leading efforts to create 2 mass testing and 5 mass vaccination sites that saw thousands of patients per day. In addition, she worked with diverse community leaders and healthcare systems to spearhead the opening 65 community pop-up vaccination locations.
One of the most important lessons learned throughout her career is that we must engage directly with communities and populations affected by public policies, especially those in underserved and underrepresented areas; Theresa prioritizes this practice in her work.
Theresa graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Students from Fordham University and with a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Stony Brook University. She is currently working towards her Master’s in Business Administration.
Last updated January 13, 2025
