Candice M. Alfonso is the State’s Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) in the Department of the Treasury. As CDO, Candice monitors the State's public contracting process for participation by minority, women, veteran, disabled veteran, and LGBTQIA+ -owned business focusing on ways to execute strategies targeted toward greater utilization of XBE business enterprises. As CDO and Director of ODI, Candice also conducts outreach to XBE business enterprises and other entities regarding awareness of public contracting opportunities. Additionally, she is responsible for managing the final phase of the statewide disparity study to completion, reviewing the final report and collaborating with stakeholders to create a strategic plan to increase contracting opportunities based on the study's findings.
Prior to her role as CDO, Candice served as Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Agency, information technology systems, operations and facilities management, human capital management, marketing, budgeting and strategic planning along with other duties essential to the efficient administration of the Agency. Prior to her appointment as Chief of Staff, Candice staffed the Governor's Office of Economic Growth as a Senior Advisor for Economic Development where she helped business and industry navigate through the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, advising the Governor directly on a number of important policies that impacted industry and all New Jerseyans. She also played a significant role in the Administration's successful effort to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ to the New Jersey/New York region. Central to her duties was the consideration of equity and inclusion presented in the State's winning bid strategy. Candice has remained part of the Administration's World Cup team throughout her tenure with the NJHMFA and in her role as CDO in Treasury.
Candice has over 20 years of multi-disciplinary leadership experience and has served in all three branches of State government, including serving in the Judiciary as the AOC’s Deputy Compact Administrator and Chief of Interstate representing both adult and juvenile Interstate Compacts. Candice holds a BA degree in Sociology from St. Lawrence University, a Master of Public Administration from New York University, and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.