Contact Cynthia Esparza

Cynthia Esparza joined the City of Reno in 2015 and was appointed as Reno’s Chief Equity and Community Relations Officer in August 2022.

Cynthia leads the development and implementation of proactive policies, practices, and planning related to short-term and long-term equity work to build capacity and drive organizational and community belonging. A key piece is working with public and private stakeholders to address mutual community challenges, seek collaborative partnerships, and maximize resources for efficient and inclusive service delivery and opportunities. She has served in various capacities at the City of Reno and has dedicated her career to public service. Her work experience includes fundraising, non-profit program management, administrative faculty, and leadership development practitioner.

Cynthia is a University of Nevada, Reno graduate. She received a dual Bachelors in Political Science and Women's Studies, and a minor in Italian Studies, followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership. In July 2023, she was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.