Syracuse Mayor Sharon F. Owens announced the resignation of Board Member Ryan Benz and the appointment of Bethaida “Bea” González to the Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) Board of Commissioners.
“I am grateful for Ryan Benz’s exemplary service and steadfast leadership during a critical inflection point for the Housing Authority,” said Mayor Owens. “His experience, strategic insight, and innovative approaches were exactly what was needed through a period of significant transition, and his contributions will leave a lasting impact on the work and mission of the Housing Authority.
“Serving the Syracuse Housing Authority has been an honor and privilege, particularly during such an important period of transition for the organization,” said Ryan Benz. “I am proud of the work we have done to prepare the Authority for an expanded development agenda, and I have tremendous confidence in SHA's Leadership and Staff to deliver for all Syracuse families. With strong leadership in place and the organization moving forward, I believe this is the right time to pass the role to another dedicated community leader. I will remain deeply committed to expanding housing opportunities throughout our community."
“Following Benz’s resignation, Mayor Owens is appointing Bethaida “Bea” González to serve on the SHA Board. A distinguished civic leader, educator, and public servant, González brings more than four decades of experience in governance, higher education, and community engagement. González is widely regarded for her long career in public service leadership, legislative governance, and policy development, with a proven record of advancing initiatives that strengthen civic participation and equitable access to services. She brings extensive experience in intergovernmental collaboration, having guided partnerships among municipal agencies, state authorities, and community organizations to address housing, education, and neighborhood revitalization priorities.
“Bea has long been a trusted leader in our community, and her breadth of experience will be a tremendous asset to the Syracuse Housing Authority and the residents we serve,” said Mayor Owens. “I look forward to the continued strength of the Board with Bea’s appointment, and I remain optimistic in the promising future of the East Adams neighborhood and the Housing Authority.”
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join the Syracuse Housing Authority and contribute to an organization that plays such a vital role in the strength and stability of our community,” said Bea González. “It is an honor to support work that directly impacts the lives of residents, expands access to safe housing, and fosters the conditions in which families and neighborhoods can thrive. I look forward to collaborating with dedicated colleagues to advance this mission and deepen the Authority’s positive impact across our city.”
Bethaida “Bea” González Biography
Bethaida “Bea” González is a distinguished civic leader, educator, and public servant whose career spans more than four decades of service to Syracuse, Central New York, and New York State. Born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and raised in Syracuse, she is a first‑generation college graduate whose lived experience as the daughter of migrant farm workers shaped her lifelong commitment to equity, access, and community empowerment.
González earned her B.A. in Political Science and Latin American Studies from Binghamton University and her Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. She began her career in higher education as an academic advisor and went on to serve Syracuse University for 36 years in roles including Associate Dean, Interim Dean, and ultimately Dean of University College (now the College of Professional Studies). She later served as Vice President for Community Engagement, strengthening partnerships between the University and regional organizations, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
A trailblazer in public office, González became the first Latina elected to the Syracuse Board of Education (1991) and later the first Latina President of the Syracuse Common Council (2001–2005). Her public leadership includes service on the Mayor’s Latino Task Force, Minority Affairs Advisory Council, ANCLA, and the Spanish Action League, as well as co‑founding the Onondaga Latino Caucus to expand civic participation and representation.
González’s governance experience extends to state‑level service. She was appointed by the Governor to the New York State Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) Board, where she contributed to statewide housing and mortgage policy and as a trustee to the New York Power Authority and Canals Corporation. A NYPA Trustee provides strategic leadership, fiduciary oversight, and public‑interest governance for New York’s statewide clean‑energy and canal systems. She has served numerous boards and advisory bodies focused on education, neighborhood revitalization, public safety, and community development, including the Central New York Community Foundation and multiple city‑based commissions.
Her leadership has been recognized with major honors, including the National Harriet Tubman Freedom Award, the Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Service, the NAACP Community Service Award, and multiple distinctions for advancing diversity, equity, and civic engagement.
Across her career, González has been a champion for adult learners, a mentor to emerging leaders, and a trusted voice in strengthening governance, transparency, and community partnership. Her legacy reflects a deep and enduring commitment to expanding opportunity and ensuring that institutions—educational, governmental, and civic—serve the full breadth of the communities they represent.