Scarsadale's Dani Lever Named Press Secretary for Governor Andrew Cuomo

Scarsdale native Dani Lever has been promoted from spokesperson to press secretary for NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo. She is the first woman to serve in that role under Cuomo.

Lever, 29, is replacing John Kelly, who left the administration Friday for the private sector.

Lever started in Cuomo's office in 2014 after serving as press secretary for former city Comptroller Bill Thompson's failed mayoral campaign.

Lever, who grew up in Quaker Ridge, graduated from Solomon Schechter and the University of Wisconsin-Madison also worked for state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, President Obama's 2012 campaign, and Clinton Foundation. She is the daughter of Joel and Debbie Lever of Bradford Road.

"Over the last three years, Dani has proven to be an invaluable member of our team and an effective messenger for the governor and his work to move New York forward," said Cuomo Chief of Staff Melissa DeRosa. "She's tough. She's smart. And — as any reporter in New York knows — she's tenacious. "

Her predecessor John Kelly left the administration after nearly two years for a position at software company CA Technologies.