Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney

Cannabis Control Board Member

NYS Office of Cannabis Management

See Crystal speak on this panel

Attorney and longtime public servant, Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professional with experience in local government, higher education and healthcare industries. As Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, she leads ongoing efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and access within the cancer center and realm of health equity throughout the communities it serves.

A Buffalo native and proud resident, Crystal joined Roswell Park in June 2023 after serving as First Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff for the City of Buffalo. Prior to this position, she was Chief Diversity Officer and Chief of Staff at SUNY Buffalo State University from 2018 to 2022 under the leadership of Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner. Less than a year since she joined Roswell Park, Crystal has been recognized for her impact both regionally and nationally. She recently was presented in April 2024 with the Minority Bar Association of Western New York’s Excellence in Promoting Diversity Award, given to a senior executive who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and achievement in fostering DEI within the legal profession. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed to the American Cancer Society (ACS) Chief Diversity Officer Roundtable, a new national panel formed to address the unequal burden of cancer in diverse and multicultural communities.

Rodriguez-Dabney, who holds an Advanced certificate from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education, helped steer the City of Buffalo’s successful efforts to engage and support richly diverse communities and organizations and played a central role in the community’s response to the May 14, 2022, racially targeted mass shooting on Buffalo’s East Side, while serving as 1st Deputy Mayor. She developed the City’s Opportunity Pledge and spearheaded Mayor Brown’s Opportunity Agenda as the City’s first Chief Diversity Officer, and as one of the first Chief Diversity Officers in the nation serving a large municipality. At Buffalo State, she assisted the college in eliminating barriers by driving intentional, productive guidelines and policies, helping create a resource center to address the needs of historically underrepresented students, working with stakeholders to advance an anti-racist culture, helping to coach faculty, and establishing meaningful connections with diverse alumni.

Rodriguez-Dabney earned a BA in social sciences, with concentrations in History, Political Science and Sociology from California State University San Marcos (2003) and a JD (2006) and LLM (2007) from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. She proudly serves on various boards and councils including: the American Cancer Society’s Diversity Roundtable; The New York State Cannabis Control Board; The Park School; Canisus University; Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy; WNY Women’s Foundation; and, Read to Succeed Buffalo. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc & the Buffalo (NY) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.