Introducing Assistant Village Manager Ruby Tower

Ruby Tower joined the Scarsdale Village Manager's office as Assistant Village Manager in November, 2025, coming to Scarsdale from Rye. In order to get to know her, we posed some questions and here is what she shared:

Tell us about your education and background. What led you to a career in public administration?

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, both from Binghamton University. I have always been drawn to government and public service, but my coursework throughout the Public Administration program solidified my desire to pursue a career in local government. My academic and internship experiences while in the Public Administration program allowed me to learn firsthand the immense positive impacts that local government employees have within the community.

Professionally, I previously worked in the Town Administrator’s office at the Town of Rye. My role as Administrative Aide allowed me to assist with a wide variety of projects at the Town, from special event planning to the budget process and capital projects. Throughout my time with the Town of Rye, I gained valuable experience in a number of key areas, allowing me to expand my knowledge of municipal government and learn what it takes to provide essential services to residents in an efficient and effective manner.

What will be your responsibilities in Scarsdale?

As Assistant Village Manager, my role centers on supporting the Village Manager in facilitating the essential daily operations of the Village. These responsibilities include preparing the agenda and materials for Village Board of Trustees meetings, assisting with special events, and identifying grant programs that align with Village priorities.

From your first months on the job - what similarities are there between Scarsdale and Rye government? What do we do differently?

The scale of operations here at Scarsdale, including the number of employees and departments, is much larger than the Town of Rye. The coordination between departments is handled extremely efficiently, and department heads manage a significant number of employees. These talented staff at the Village allow for high quality services to be delivered effectively. I am excited to continue to learn about and experience our skilled departments in action!

What were some initiatives you worked on in Rye - and how might you use what you learned here?

Throughout my time in Rye, I assisted with a variety of functions, including grants management and budget preparation. In running point on grants administration for the Town, I gained valuable experience working with local, state, and federal granting agencies and Town staff to get important projects completed. Managing grant funding requires a robust understanding of required reporting and processes, strict attention to detail, and consistent communication. In assisting with the preparation of the annual Town budget, I worked with my team to carefully track key financial trends and priorities, and plan for the upcoming year. Both of these functions, along with various other key initiatives, taught me valuable public administration skills.

I am excited to bring the skills and experience I have developed to the Manager’s office here in Scarsdale and look forward to making a meaningful contribution to our operations.

What do you hope to learn and accomplish as part of the Scarsdale team?

As a new member of the Scarsdale team, I am very excited to connect with the vibrant community here. In my first weeks at the Village, I have already connected with multiple organizations, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our wonderful residents. I am also thrilled to be a member of such a hard-working team. Though it is still early in my time here, it is already apparent to me that our staff at the Village is committed to making a positive impact on our residents, and it is a team that I am excited and proud to be a part of.