NYU Wagner and the NYU Women's Leadership Forum present NYC Firsts

This Women’s History Month, join us on March 25 for a conversation with Laura Kavanagh and Keechant Sewell — the first women to lead New York City’s FDNY and NYPD — for a conversation around women's leadership. 

Laura Kavanagh served as the 34th New York City Fire Commissioner, overseeing the nation’s largest fire department—with 17,000 employees, a $2.3 billion budget, and 1.6 million annual 911 calls. She was the first woman to lead the historically male-dominated department and the youngest commissioner in more than a century. Laura has spent nearly two decades in public service, first as a public affairs consultant on local, congressional, mayoral, and presidential campaigns, then as a senior advisor in the Mayor’s Office, and for nearly a decade at the FDNY before becoming Commissioner. 

Keechant L. Sewell is a seasoned law enforcement and security executive with over 27 years of experience leading high-stakes operations, driving organizational reform, and delivering strategic public safety initiatives. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Services for the New York Mets. Previously, Sewell served as the 45th Police Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, directing the nation’s largest police force through a transformative period, implementing initiatives to improve crime reduction, internal efficiency, and technological innovation. 

Doors open at 8:45 am. This event is for the NYU community and the general public. Visitors must have a valid government ID to enter the building.