State Education Department Appoints Temitope Akinyemi As Chief Privacy Officer

State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia today announced the appointment of Temitope Akinyemi as Chief Privacy Officer. In her new role, Ms. Akinyemi will develop, implement and oversee the Department’s policies and procedures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of student, teacher and principal data. 

"The Chief Privacy Officer is an extremely important position that helps keep child, parent and educator information secure," Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa said. "It is of the utmost importance that parents know that their child's information is safe. With Ms. Akinyemi's appointment, the Department will be able to work with parents and teachers to further its efforts to identify and implement best practices for data security."

“It is imperative that confidential data shared by parents, educators and students is kept just that - confidential,” Commissioner Elia said.  “Ms. Akinyemi’s expertise in state privacy laws and regulations makes her an exemplary fit to serve as the department’s Chief Privacy Officer to enhance our policies and procedures to ensure all the data entrusted to us remains safe.”

In accordance with Education Law §2-d, as Chief Privacy Officer, Ms. Akinyemi’s duties will include to: lead investigations of security breaches and privacy-related emergencies and recommend required actions to NYSED executive management; provide technical assistance, including model policies, to educational agencies within the State on minimum standards and best practices associated with privacy and the security of student, teacher and principal data; establish a protocol for submitting complaints of possible breaches of student, teacher or principal data; and consult with the Commissioner to develop regulations establishing standards for educational agency data security and privacy.  With input from parents, education and expert stakeholders and the public, Ms. Akinyemi will also review and enhance the Department’s existing Parents Bill of Rights for data privacy and security.

Ms. Akinyemi has more than five years’ experience serving as the privacy officer and as an attorney at the NYS Office of Information Technology Services. In that role, she was responsible for ensuring compliance with state privacy laws and regulations and investigated public inquiries and complaints.

Previously, Ms. Akinyemi served as an attorney at Anderson Byrne where she provided counsel on contract, business and corporate laws.  She earned a master of laws degree from Boston University and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Ms. Akinyemi will start at SED on September 22.

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