Press Release: 5/22/2025
MCAD Commissioner Monserrate Rodríguez Colón to Retire After Distinguished Career in Public Service and Civil Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/21/2025
MEDIA CONTACT
Justine LaVoye, Press Secretary, Director of Communications, & Legislative Liaison
Phone
Online
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) announces the retirement of Commissioner Monserrate “Monsi” Rodríguez Colón, whose decades-long career in public service and civil rights has shaped and strengthened the Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts to advance equity, dignity, and inclusion for all residents.
Appointed as an MCAD Commissioner by former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker in October 2017, Commissioner Rodríguez Colón has played a key role in enforcing Massachusetts' anti-discrimination laws and upholding the agency’s mission to ensure fair treatment in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Her legacy is deeply rooted in her unwavering dedication to social justice, deep knowledge of government systems, and passion for community engagement.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Massachusetts, especially as a Latina breaking barriers in both public safety and civil rights enforcement,” said Commissioner Rodríguez Colón. “From my early days in the classroom to my time as Commissioner, I have centered the importance of learning as a key tool for fostering empathy and broadening an understanding of others’ needs. As someone who immigrated to this country and whose parents had only a third-grade education, my appointment as a Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination stands as the capstone of a lifelong commitment to public service—and a profound source of pride for my family and for the Southside Framingham community that raised me. I leave this role with a heart full of gratitude and pride for what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years.”
She began her public service career as a public school educator in Framingham, MA, where she quickly emerged as a leader in advocating for fairness and inclusivity. Her commitment to equity continued as she transitioned into roles such as an employment and training social worker for the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and later as a probation officer with the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Worcester County Juvenile Probation system from the mid-1990s until 2000. She went on to hold high-impact leadership roles across state government with appointments under six governors, including serving as Special Assistant to former Governor Paul Cellucci and being named Chair of the Governor’s Latino Advisory Council. As Executive Director of the Commonwealth’s Affirmative Market Program, she championed the merger of the Affirmative Marketing Program (AMP) and the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA), a consolidation that led to the creation of what is now the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). Many of the policies and systems she implemented remain in place today, including expenditure tracking, networking events, and the use of certified small businesses in subcontracting and ancillary roles. She also chaired the Women in Construction Initiative during this time.
Later, Commissioner Rodríguez Colón served as Director of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at the Massachusetts Department of Correction, where she led the design and implementation of the department’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) model.
A first-generation college graduate, Commissioner Rodríguez Colón earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Human Services from UMass Amherst and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Worcester State University. She is a licensed social worker, certified mediator, HRCI-licensed Human Resources professional, and an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education program in public leadership and diversity. She is a former advisory board member for Worcester State University’s Criminal Justice Department and currently serves as co-chair of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Women into Leadership (UWiL) program, mentoring the next generation of women changemakers.
Monsi’s outstanding achievements have earned multiple prestigious awards, including recognition from the National Institute of Corrections for leading the country’s most transformative DEI correctional program where she helped create a roadmap for employer-based support for correctional officers affirming their gender identity. She also received national recognition during her tenure as AMP Executive Director for designing one of the most innovative procurement systems in the country. She was a 2024 ALX 100 honoree and named the 2024 UMass Alumni Randolph W. “Bill” Bromery Legacy Awardee.
“A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Commissioner Rodríguez Colón has devoted her life to public service and to dismantling inequities across systems,” said MCAD Executive Director Michael Memmolo. “Her deep integrity, drive for justice, and compassion have made an indelible mark on this agency and the Commonwealth. We are deeply grateful for her leadership over the past eight years and wish her all the best in her retirement.”
Speaking to the importance of representation, Commissioner Rodríguez Colón added, “Throughout my career, I’ve worked to advance fair treatment in the legal system and build economic opportunity for communities that have long been underrepresented in government. I leave this role with a heart full of gratitude and pride for what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years, knowing that our efforts have opened doors and created lasting impact for generations to come.”
In retirement, Monsi is excited to explore new hobbies that contribute positively to both her local community and the broader world. She plans to continue mentoring former colleagues and students as part of her ongoing journey as a compassionate servant leader and looks forward to spending more time in Puerto Rico with her husband, Edwin.
Commissioner Rodríguez Colón’s last day with the Commission will be June 20, 2025.