Senate Unanimously Confirms Sarita Nair as NMDWS Cabinet Secretary

Monday, February 13, 2023

Senate Unanimously Confirms Sarita Nair as NMDWS Cabinet Secretary

The New Mexico State Senate unanimously confirmed Sarita Nair as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions with a vote of 30-0 on Friday, February 10, 2023. Members of the Senate commented on her strong leadership, solid footing, and values, and commended the new Cabinet Secretary on her plan to broaden the scope of workforce services to all communities and to collaborate with Tribal nations.

“Sarita Nair is a proven leader who will take an innovative approach to continuing to build up the Workforce Solutions Department and improve how they serve the people of New Mexico,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

“The Department of Workforce Solutions is about bringing dignity to the many ways that work touches our lives. In my almost six months on the job, I’ve cut ribbons and I’ve seen mass layoffs. We handle the good, the bad, and the ugly of the work world. What the team at Workforce Solutions does every day is meaningful, it impacts hundreds of thousands of people, and it can make people’s lives better. My goal for the department is to not do all sorts of new stuff, I just want us to be the best at what we already do,” said Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “I love public service, I love fixing problems, and I love being on the front line of helping people. This August it will be 25 years since I moved to New Mexico, and I love this place. I feel very blessed that this job connects me to all those loves. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish.”

Secretary Nair previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque. Priory to her work with the city, she was the Chief Governmental Accountability Office and General Counsel of the Office of the State Auditor. She holds a law degree and Masters of Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico.