Thalia Wright

Member At-Large

Country of Heritage: Panamá.

Thalia Wright is the current DHS Commissioner at Monroe County Department of Human Services. She and her team at Monroe County DHS provide vital assistance to residents of the area, with income support, medical assistance, and other comprehensive services designed to promote a higher quality of life for children, families, and disadvantaged or elderly adults, and help move lives forward with care and dignity.

Believing in meeting people where they are, Thalia has been committed to a systemic redesign of where and how DHS recipients receive support, making processes less complex and more person-centered. Her extensive experience has provided her with a unique perspective and insight uncommon to singular disciplines or practitioners.

Thalia regularly incorporates her values of social justice and advocacy while facilitating discussions with local districts and congregate care agencies throughout New York State to improve services and outcomes for children and families of color involved with the juvenile justice and child welfare system. She leads with compassion and exemplifies “servant leadership.”

Before her current role with Monroe County, Thalia served as Regional Director for the Westchester and Long Island Regional Offices of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Early in her career, Thalia worked as a Long-Term Care Social Worker, Homeless Outreach Worker, Monroe County Child Protective Services Investigator and Child Abuse Prevention Specialist.

Thalia holds a BS degree in Human Services from SUNY Brockport and an MS degree in Organizational Management and Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College.

Thalia is a 2025 Athena Award finalist, a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society.