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Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman
Pat Swinney Kaufman serves as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME). Prior to her appointment in July 2023, Kaufman was First Deputy Commissioner at MOME, overseeing the agency’s work in developing programmatic strategies and support for film, television, theatre, music, advertising, publishing, and digital media.
Kaufman brings a wealth of experience in economic development and fostering the entertainment industry to grow jobs and bring revenue to New York State. She served for nineteen years as Executive Director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development and as Deputy Commissioner of Empire State Development. During her tenure, she helped craft and shepherd the legislation that created the New York State Film Production Tax Credit. She also worked to create the standalone Post-Production Tax Credit and the Commercial Production Incentive programs.
Kaufman was President of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) from 2003-2007, and sat on the board of the Hamptons International Film Festival and the New York Production Alliance. Her work has earned her numerous accolades including Variety's Women’s Impact List, AFCI's Arthur M. Loew Crystal Vision Award, the New York Women in Film and Television Muse Award and The Gotham 50, celebrating New Yorkers who revitalize Gotham’s showbiz legacy.
In addition to her work in entertainment, Kaufman has served as President of the New York Junior League, and sits on the board of the YWCA of Greater New York and Parents in Action/New York City.
Kaufman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Sweet Briar College, and a Masters Degree in Instructional History from the Teachers College at Columbia University.