CDF Leadership & Staff

Jennifer Marino Rojas
Deputy Director, CDF-NY

Jennifer Marino Rojas is the Deputy Director at the Children's Defense Fund-New York, where she is responsible for research, policy development, and legislative and administrative advocacy on issues related to the health, early childhood education, juvenile justice and well-being of children. She also oversees CDF-NY's program and organizing efforts related to health, tax credits and public benefits.

Prior to joining CDF-NY, Ms. Rojas spent nine years at the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Starting as a staff attorney in the Bronx Family Court, She spent several years in the Division of Legal Services at ACS focusing on legislative issues affecting children. After working for two years as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner, she was appointed as the Associate Commissioner for Child Care and Head Start. Following a high profile child death in January 2006, Ms. Rojas was asked to move into the Division of Child Protection as the Associate Commissioner for Administration, where she was charged with making changes and improvements to the system that would allow frontline staff to better protect children.

Ms. Rojas received her Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America and her B.A. from Marist College.