Bronx native Fatima Shama was appointed Wednesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to serve as the city’s new Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.

Shama speaks five languages and most recently served under Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott as a senior education policy adviser.

Before joining the Bloomberg Administration, Shama was the head of several non-profit groups fighting for immigrant rights.

“She has been at the forefront of our effort to reauthorize the law on mayoral control of our schools, which Governor Paterson just singed into law yesterday,” Bloomberg said. “Fatima has also been instrumental in our efforts to raise standards in the classroom and increase parental engagement, especially among immigrant parents.”

“For generations immigrants have come in search of a better life. Looking for work. Successfully integrating into our society. And making this city and country that much better,” Shama said. “The mayor has been a champion for immigrant voices that built this city, and I look forward to ensuring that every immigrant feels at home in our city.”

Shama replaces Guillermo Linares, who stepped down last month and is currently working on the Mayor’s re-election campaign.

Source: NY1