International Affairs Team

Fernanda Perez Villarreal serves as the Special Assistant and Strategic Liaison to the Commissioner, where she acts as a key advisor and plays a central role in advancing relationships with local, diplomatic, and international communities. She leads the coordination of high-level meetings and events and oversees logistics while supporting the Commissioner’s executive operations and strategic priorities.

In addition, Fernanda supports policy for the office, working with New York City agencies to learn from global best practices and explore how they might be applied locally. She connects with international partners, including the United Nations, consulates, and foreign governments, to share ideas and highlight New York City’s own innovations.

As the Special Assistant and Strategic Liaison, Fernanda helps enhance New York City's global presence by coordinating and participating in high-level engagements with the diplomatic corps, promoting the city’s interests on the international stage.

Before joining the International Affairs team, Fernanda served as a Youth Violence Prevention Organizer at a prominent nonprofit, where she played a pivotal role in educating and mentoring young people on social justice issues and fostering healthy relationships. She also built a strong journalism portfolio, working with multiple organizations to produce impactful stories that resonated deeply within the community.

Fernanda earned a graduate degree in diplomacy from the University of Oxford, where she distinguished herself as her cohort's Student Representative and the Women’s Officer of her college. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia.

Originally from Mexico, Fernanda now resides in Brooklyn, where she enjoys exploring the vibrant diversity of New York City’s five boroughs in her free time.