Michelle Walker has been named Rockland County’s new Human Rights Commissioner, county officials announced.
Walker has long held various roles in Westchester County, including a former role as director of that county's Family Justice Center, which provides legal, housing, and social services for vulnerable residents.
Walker's appointment was announced Aug. 13 by Rockland County Executive Ed Day. The Rockland County Legislature, which must approve commissioner appointments, cleared the way for Walker at its Aug. 4 meeting.
The last human rights commissioner for Rockland, Spencer Chiimbwe, left the post in July 2025.
Rockland County Community Relations Director Myrnia Bass-Hargrove had been acting human rights commissioner; she now continues in her
community relations role. Bass-Hargrove has also served as acting human rights commissioner in 2016-2017.
The commissioner of human rights position pays $126,310 annually.
What does the human rights commission do?
The Rockland County Commission on Human Rights can investigate discriminatory practices related to housing, employment, race, creed, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender/sex, and/or disability.
An advisory board assists the commission.
The commission's mission, according to the Rockland County website, is to:
- Give priority to addressing human rights violations, both acute and chronic, particularly those that put life in imminent peril.
- Make every effort to foster mutual respect and understanding among ethnic, cultural, religious and nationality groups.
- Be committed to offering information that can reduce and/or eradicate tension and conflict among/between various groups in our community.
- Initiate and maintain strategic alliances with local groups to build relationships with allied agencies whose work complements and supports our mission.
Meet Michelle Walker
According to a statement by Day, Walker has 25 years of service in government, victim support, community coordination, and trauma-informed program administration.
“She has spent her career building systems that protect people and ensure accountability, and we are confident she will bring strong leadership, empathy, and professionalism to this vital role,” Day said.
Walker served as a program administrator for Westchester County.
Prior to that, Walker was director of Westchester's Family Justice Center, which offered support in legal, housing, and social services for vulnerable residents.
Walker had been an assistant/site director of victims assistance services at the Westchester Community Opportunity Program, known as WestCOP. Her work there included overseeing comprehensive, trauma-informed programs for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes.
“Protecting human rights requires more than good intentions — it requires leadership, vigilance and a willingness to stand up when people are treated unfairly,” said Rockland County Legislator Dr. Dana G. Stilley, who serves as a liaison to the Human Rights Commission.
“I welcome Michelle Walker as our new commissioner of human rights and look forward to working with her to strengthen the Commission’s role as a resource and advocate for every person who calls Rockland County home,” Stilley added.
Nancy Cutler covers People & Policy. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on X, Bluesky and Instagram at @nancyrockland.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland County names new human rights commissioner after year vacancy
