21 Oct New IMLA President Confirmed, Susana Alcala Wood
IMLA confirms Susana Alcala Wood as IMLA President from October 21, 2025 – September 27, 2026.
IMLA confirms Susana Alcala Wood as IMLA President from October 21, 2025 – September 27, 2026.
In a business meeting held on October 21, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana, IMLA confirmed the nomination of Susana Alcala Wood of Sacramento, California to be President of IMLA.
Susana Alcala Wood accepted the appointment by the City of San Jose to serve as their City Attorney in August of 2025 and will begin this position at the end of the year.
Susana was appointed by the Sacramento City Council to serve as City Attorney on March 19, 2018. An attorney specializing in Municipal law, Susana has worked for multiple cities throughout California. Just before her appointment, Susana was serving as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Stockton from November 2013 to March 2018 where her responsibilities included advising several Council Committees and Citizen advisory commissions. She was also the principal Legal Advisor to the Stockton Police Department. Prior to her work at the City of Stockton, Susana served as the City Attorney for Modesto for 8 years, where she was the primary legal advisor to the City Council and City Manager. While at Modesto, Susana guided the City Council and staff through their historic Charter amendment shift from an at large council election system to a by-district election system. Susana also oversaw and directed hundreds of investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, and related complaints involving city staff, department heads, and city management.
Susana actually worked for the City of Sacramento before as a Supervising Deputy City Attorney from April 2001 to June 2006 where she supervised the Code Enforcement and the Advisory Sections. As the Code Enforcement Supervisor, Susana directed a team of lawyers and support staff and spearheaded all code enforcement, criminal prosecutions, blight and nuisance abatement activities for the Office and advised and trained all city enforcement staff on strategies, code compliance and administrative abatement procedures. During her tenure, the City brought its first gang abatement civil suit. Susana also supervised the Advisory Section where she oversaw and directed the work of the advisory lawyers as they provided general governmental advice to all City Departments.
Susana worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the cities of Stockton and El Monte . As a deputy she was responsible for advising multiple departments on addressing blight, deteriorated and dangerous housing, nuisance conditions, drug, red-light, and gang activity. Susana began her career with the City of El Monte in 1988 while still in law school when she was hired as a law clerk. Upon passing the California Bar exam in 1991, she was appointed as a Deputy City Attorney.
Ms. Alcala Wood is now President, as well as on the Board of Directors of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, which enables her to learn from and work collaboratively with her counterparts across the Country, and as City Attorney to one of the 50 largest cities in the nation, she participates in the Top 50 group that meets regularly to discuss serving the legal needs of large metropolitan cities. She also serves on the Board of the CalCities City Attorney’s Department where her primary focus will be on advancing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts of the organization. Throughout her career she has worked on many committees serving to advance the profession of municipal lawyers and has provided various training and speaking capacities to organizations and public agencies throughout the state on the topics of Local Government Law.
Ms. Wood received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy-Ethics and Public Policy in 1987 from the University of California at Santa Barbara and received her Juris Doctorate from Whittier College, School of Law at Los Angeles in May 1991.
When asked about her presidency, Ms. Wood commented: “It is an honor of a lifetime to be elected to lead this amazing organization of lawyers. IMLA has enhanced my practice as a city attorney and provided me with many resources that I have utilized for the benefit of the City. The ability to work with colleagues across the country on current legal issues affecting public agencies is IMLA’s unique advantage. I am excited for the year ahead and tackling the work in front of us.”
In response to Ms. Alcala Wood’s new position, her colleagues had many well wishes and congratulatory thoughts:
Jeff Dana, IMLA’s outgoing President, wished Susana well stating, “I am honored to “pass the gavel” to Susanna as the incoming President of IMLA. Susana is a true public servant, a gifted leader, an experienced municipal attorney, and an exceptional person. Congratulations, Susana!”.
Amanda Karras, IMLA’s Executive Director and General Counsel had similar high praise regarding Ms. Alcala Wood’s appointment: “We are proud to welcome Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney for Sacramento, as IMLA’s incoming President. Susana’s unwavering support of IMLA and her deep commitment to public service embody the very best of our profession. I have no doubt that her leadership and dedication will further strengthen IMLA’s mission to serve local government lawyers and advance local government law at every level. We are grateful she is lending IMLA her invaluable expertise and look forward to the vision and direction she will bring to the organization’s future.”
Mai Vang, Councilmember Representing District 8 on the City of Sacramento City Council, noted: “Susana Alcala Wood has been a powerhouse in public service and an unwavering advocate for equity and justice throughout her distinguished legal career. As Sacramento’s City Attorney, her guidance consistently embodied clarity, strength, and deep compassion for our communities.
Her election as President of the International Municipal Lawyers Association is a proud moment not just for Sacramento, but for the many young Latinas across the country who now see themselves reflected in the highest levels of municipal law leadership. Susana has long been a trailblazer, and in this new role, she will continue to open doors, build bridges, and shape the future of municipal governance with integrity and bold vision. On behalf of myself and the residents of District 8, I extend my warmest congratulations—this honor is richly deserved.”
Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, added: “Susana Alcala Wood has served the City of Sacramento with dedication for nearly eight years as City Attorney,” said Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes. “Her innovative approach blends legal expertise with genuine compassion, focusing on pragmatic strategies that strengthen our neighborhoods. As the first woman of color to lead the City Attorney’s Office, she has paved the way for future generations to believe in the power of diversity, dedication, and heartfelt public service.”
Founded in 1935, the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization consisting of over 2,500 local government attorneys throughout the United States and Canada. IMLA provides a wide range of services and programs to its membership, including comprehensive educational programs, legal research, professional publications, and legal advocacy on behalf of its members in the United States Supreme Court, as well as federal and state appellate courts.
IMLA 2024-2025 President, Jeff Dana passing the gavel to new IMLA President, Susana Alcala Wood.