MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, recently welcomed Nira Irby as a workforce development specialist. She will represent MACNY and Partners for Education and Business, Inc. (PEB) as an educational programs liaison to engage employers and community partners. She will work closely with key partners to bridge the gap between education and workforce needs. As part of career exploration for students, Irby will work alongside the rest of the talent development team to coordinate youth and pre-apprenticeship activities in schools and alongside employers.
Most recently, Irby was the associate director of community engagement at Syracuse University, where she worked to develop, implement, and manage multiple projects for the office of community engagement in the Central New York community. Before that, she led the Central New York and global diversity and inclusion education community initiatives at Microsoft for eight years and served as the communications director and program manager for education, diversity and inclusion.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Buffalo State University as well as several academic and professional accolades. Most recently, she was awarded the 2021 OnPoint for College Alumna Star and she was the recipient of YWCA Spirit of American Emerging Professional Women award in 2019.
Irby is also an active community member, who served on numerous boards and volunteering for many local causes, to include OnPoint for College, YWCA Girls Inc., and Geddes Westvale Knights.
