Muksian Named Director of Administration for City of Providence
GoLocalProv News Team
Muksian Named Director of Administration for City of Providence
In the role, Muksian will oversee the City of Providence's administrative aspects and operations while serving as senior advisor to the Mayor.
“Robin has a long and accomplished history of public service throughout her career. She has been an asset with the Providence Public School District and I am excited for her to join our team as we continue to strengthen our neighborhoods and city," said Mayor Elorza.
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Muksian has served as the Executive Director of Operations for the Providence Public School District (PPSD) where she played a role in overseeing transportation, facilities, registration/enrollment, information technology, athletics, food service, and school security. She also coordinated with the Mayor’s Office and Council members on projects involving the PPSD. She was part of a team that is in the process of creating the Newcomer Academy, a program designed to help students from environments without any formal education acclimate to the Providence school system.
Muksian received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English as well as a Ph.D. in English with a specialty in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Rhode Island.
Prior to working for the PPSD, Muksian served as the Assistant Provost at the New England Institute of Technology.
Her previous government experience includes holding the positions of Director of Administrative Services for the Town of South Kingstown and Director of Administration for the City of Cranston where she oversaw all departments and worked directly with the City Council on many major initiatives along with the annual budget process. She has overseen emergency operations and was the on-ground coordinator for the 2010 floods where many areas of Cranston faced a crisis situation.
Director of Innovation
Mayor Elorza also announced that Emmanuel Echevarria will serve as the Director of the Department of Innovation.
Emanuel served as Deputy Director of Innovation for the city overseeing the offices day to day operations while concentrating on the city's efforts to improve internal processes and service delivery to residents and businesses.
Elorza's Staff Exodus
Clarence Cunha
Fire Chief - Left June, 2015
In January of 2015, Chief Clarence Cunha announced his leaving the Department. He had orginally been appointed by in February of 2014. He served less than 18-months as Chief.
Sheila Dormody
Policy Director - Left March, 2016
Sheila Dormody left Elorza to take on the role as the Nature Conservancy's first Providence Metro Program Manager.
Dormody had served as Elorza's Director of Policy for the City of Providence. Previously, she served as Rhode Island's Director and New England Co-Director of Clean Water Action for over a decade.
David Ortiz
Senior Adviser and Director of Strategic Communications - Left August, 2015
David Ortiz served as the number three position for Elorza after having served as in communication for Angel Taveras for nearly four-years.
Ortiz did not make it 9 months with Elorza and left for a communications position with Treasurer Seth Magaziner.
Photo: via Twitter
Scott Mello
Fire Chief - Left in July, 2016
Announced his retirement after serving just a year as Chief of the Fire Department. He joined the Department in 1984.
Tony Simon
Chief of Staff - Left in July, 2016
The former staffer with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse served a stressful 20 months. He had to oversee the ongoing legal battle and arbitration with the Firefighter's Union. He resigned to start a consulting business.
Brett Smiley
Chief Operating Officer - Left in August, 2016
The former candidate for Mayor of the City of Providence dropped out of the race and then endorsed Elorza for Mayor. He promised that the endorsement included no quid pro quo, but within three months he had signed on as the top operations man for the Capitol city. Now, he moves on to the Governor's staff.
