Willow Baer serves as Commissioner at OPWDD where she leads the second largest state agency with more than 19,000 state employees and oversees services delivered by over 400 not-for-profit service agency partners.
Willow has held several executive-level human service posts in New York state government, including serving twice as Assistant Counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul, overseeing legal priorities and legislation across the fields of Human Services and Mental Hygiene. Additionally, she previously served as General Counsel to OPWDD, General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Children & Family Services, and as Counsel to the NYS Justice Center.
Willow was named one of PoliticsNY and amNY’s Metro 2024 Power Players in Health Care and was presented with the 2025 Distinguished Public Service Award by the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation.
Willow has spent her entire career working to protect and advocate for underrepresented populations. She will continue the agency’s work to ensure that New York is a state that is inclusive, supportive, and one that those with developmental disabilities live with meaningful choice and are proud to call home.
