On January 14, Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji was formally sworn in by Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger at the SUNY New Paltz Lecture Hall.
The ceremony followed a community-centered program emceed by Campaign Manager Evan Holland-Shepler and Administrative ADA (Assistant District Attorney) Sajaa S. Ahmed. The Bruderhof Choir provided a musical selection including renditions of “Blowin’ In The Wind” by Bob Dylan and “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie. Speakers included SUNY New Paltz Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs William McClure, Youth Activist June Amie, Deputy Chief ADA Paul Derohannesian, Rondout Valley High School Human Rights Club Member Destiny Amaraweera, Executive ADA Lauren Swan, Ulster County Democratic Committee Vice Chair of Voter Outreach Amy Fradon, Youth Soccer Coach Steve Busch, Campaign Field Team Lead Joe Mangan, and Village of New Paltz Deputy Mayor Alex Wojcik. Nneji was introduced by Chief ADA Elizabeth Culmone-Mills. All of the speakers acknowledged DA Nneji’s strong work ethic in the face of adversity and expressed their hopes for the future of the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney.
Nneji formally took office on January 1, 2024 and was administered the oath of office by Ulster County Clerk on December 28 following a small ceremony in the Ulster County Courthouse. He is the first Black, Nigerian-born, and naturalized County-wide elected official in Ulster County. He is a SUNY New Paltz alumnus, having immigrated from Nigeria to New Paltz in 1980.
“It has been the privilege of my life serving the people of Ulster county as a prosecutor, and as a volunteer youth soccer coach entrusted with the teaching and guidance of our County’s children for over 30 years,” he said. “My commitment to serving our community comes from the fabric of who I am. It has never been about money, power, ambition, or praise. It has always been about doing the right thing at every step of my life. At the start of the campaign, I ended my speech with ‘I love you, Ulster County.’ For better or worse, in good times and bad times, I love you, Ulster County. I am humbled by your confidence in me to serve as your Ulster County District Attorney.”