Kathy Moser to lead New York State Parks

Albany — Kathy Moser has been appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to serve as acting commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Moser will serve in an acting role as she awaits confirmation by the New York State Senate next year.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks (several that allow hunting) historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more. Combined, these sites drew a record 88 million visits in 2024.

“Our vast system not only provides affordable relief for New Yorkers looking to take advantage of the outdoors or explore our historic treasures but is an economic driver by attracting tourists from across the country and world,” Moser said.

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Moser most recently served as Chief Conservation and Policy Officer at the Open Space Institute (OSI) where she directed OSI’s Parks, Stewardship and Government Relations programs. Before taking on the role in June 2020, she served as OSI’s Senior Vice President of Parks and Policy.

Prior to OSI, she was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in December 2011. She directed DEC’s portfolio in Lands and Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and Marine Resources.

Moser has also worked as Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives at World Wildlife Fund and held various senior positions at The Nature Conservancy in New York State (Acting State Director) and in their International Program (Regional Director for Central America) from 1992 to 2009.

She has also been a board member for the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy and New York League of Conservation Voters (Capital District).

Acting Commissioner Moser has her undergraduate degree in botany and master’s degree in forest productivity, both from Duke University. She served in the Peace Corps in Honduras and is fluent in Spanish.

Moser is married with three daughters and lives in Albany.