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NY’s St.John’s University to honor Sunita Manjrekar
Currently serving Deputy Commissioner for Public Assistance and Employment Services at the Nassau County Department of Social Services, Manjrekar pursued her masters at St.John’s University in Rehabilitation counseling
Sunita Manjrekar, Deputy Commissioner for Public Assistance and Employment Services at the Nassau County Department of Social Services, / stjohns.edu
St. John's University's School of Education will honor alumna Sunita Manjrekar at the 13th Annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner (LEAD). The event is set to be held on April 11 at the university’s D’Angelo Center.
Currently, the Nassau County Department of Social Services Deputy Commissioner for Public Assistance and Employment Services, Manjrekar, upon being recognised, said, “I am completely overwhelmed and honored to be even considered for this award.”
“Without the school’s master’s degree in education with a specialization in rehabilitation counseling, I would not be where I am in my career. The school gave me a strong foundation in counseling and taught me much about working with individuals with disabilities. It prepared me to enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities to be successful,” she further added.
In her current capacity, Manjrekar has developed innovative and creative programs to help the public assistance population achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. Her office provides support through work opportunities, interview preparation, and ongoing rehabilitation services. Additionally, they extend aid to low-income Long Islanders facing challenges with heating and daycare expenses, bolster the county’s foster care program, and oversee the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.
“Nobody comes to the Department of Social Services willingly. They come here when they are at the end of their rope—when they don’t have money in the bank to feed themselves or their families, or they can’t afford a roof over their head, “ she said in an interview with the university press.
Collaborating with New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services, Manjrekar's office successfully advocated for adjustments in income eligibility criteria, resulting in thousands more families becoming eligible for daycare subsidies. She also plays a pivotal role as a partner in the Long Island-based nonprofit Children’s Hope India, facilitating a partnership with the Hicksville School District.
Beyond her professional role, Manjrekar serves as a member of the Hicksville Public Schools Board of Education in Hicksville, NY, a member of Hofstra University’s Professional Advisory Board and as an adjunct professor at Hunter College (CUNY) and Hofstra University.
Manjrekar, originally from Mumbai, India, relocated to the United States over two decades ago. Upon her arrival, she pursued a second master’s degree, at St. John’s University.
In a message to the future graduates, Mnajrekar said, “Do not ever doubt yourself! I was an immigrant who came to this country. Even though I had a master’s degree from India, I chose to go back to school at St. John’s University for my second master’s at the age of 27. With hard work, dedication, and commitment, I was able to reach my goal—and so can you!
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