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Staff

Administration

Josenia Dominguez (she/her/ella)

Deputy Chief of Staff

Josenia Dominguez has worked in City government for nearly a decade. She manages the Public Advocate's Office Administration department. Josenia's passions include advocating for human rights and children's educational needs.

Eynique Waterman

Administrative Services Coordinator

Fabienne Muntu

Office Manager

Renee Sterlin

Administration Assistant

Vanessa Luna (she/her/hers)

Administrative Assistant

Communications

William Gerlich

Senior Advisor for Communications

Kevin Fagan (he/him/his)

Director of Communications

Kevin has worked with the Public Advocate since 2017, beginning in the City Council. He believes service is doing all the good you can, where you are.

Mirielle Clifford (she/her/hers)

Deputy Digital Media Director

Mirielle Clifford believes in the power of digital communications for good. She is passionate about decarceration, labor rights, and disability justice.
Black woman with curly hair

Brittney Grimes (she/her/hers)

Press Officer

Brittney believes in standing up for what's right and helping others. She is passionate about justice and community service. She has received the National Organization for Women Award and the National Council of Negro Women Achievement Award for her writing. She is a graduate of Hofstra University.

Caroll Campos

Visual Media Associate

A brown woman with glasses looking directly at the camera.

Luiza Teixeira-Vesey

Digital Marketing Specialist

Community Affairs

Julissa Gonzalez (she/her/ella)

Chief Deputy Public Advocate, Community Affairs

A mother of two, Julissa has a passion for the arts, and all things that bring joy. She has dedicated the last 11 years to working in City government.
In front of red public art sculpture by artist Tony Rosenthal, titled "5 in 1."

Curtis Young

Community Affairs Coordinator

Headshot of Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, an indigenous woman, brown skin, with long dark hair, and red glasses. Mendieta-Cuapio looks directly at the camera in the warm sunlight.

Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio

Civic and Community Empowerment Coordinator

Gina Williams

Community Affairs Advocate

Headshot of Norris Johns. A black man with a low haircut and beard wearing a blue suit and tie stands in front of a red background, looking at the camera.

Norris Johns

Community Affairs Advocate

Headshot of Simon Sebag The Jewish Community Liaison for The Public Advocate. Arms crossed smiling directly at the camera.

Simon Sebag

Jewish Community Liaison

Rev. Dr. Sanayi Canton

Interfaith Liaison

Anthony Duran (he/him/his)

Community Affairs Advocate

Community Engagement

Elizabeth Kennedy (she/her/ella)

Deputy Public Advocate for Education & Opportunity

To ensure our collective work carries us forward with dignity and equity, we must be rooted in community, accountability, and love that constantly asks us all to give our best together and centers our wellbeing.
Gentleman with glasses smiling into the camera

Jeffrey Severe (he/him/his)

Deputy Public Advocate for Justice & Safety

Justice looks like an opportunity for healing, while safety is freedom from harm.

Kashif Hussain (he/him/his)

Deputy Public Advocate for Infrastructure & Environmental Justice

Kashif Hussain is an experienced infrastructure and environmental engineer who is passionate about equitable transportation and clean energy technology.
Headshot of David Kahn, a white male with short brown hair, a beard, black-framed glasses, and a red button-down shirt. David smiles directly at the camera.

David Kahn

Community Organizer, Infrastructure & Environmental Justice

Headshot of Kim Watson-Benjamin, A Black Caribbean woman with Blonde braided hair. Kim is smiling.

Kim Watson-Benjamin

LGBTQ & Health Coordinator

Headshot of Lupe Hernandez, an indigenous Venezuelan woman with long wavy brown hair and black glasses. Lupe is wearing a black dress and blazer while smiling directly at the camera.

Lupe Hernandez

Community Organizer, Education & Opportunity

Nathaniel Evans (he/him/his)

Community Organizer, Justice & Safety

Constituent Services

Beverly Gooding (she/her/hers)

Director of Constituent Services

Beverly Gooding is a proud, native New Yorker dedicated to making sure all of NYC's communities have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive.

Melissa Thifault (she/her/hers)

Deputy Director of Constituent Services

Melissa is a caring advocate and has a background in Social Work. She is devoted to serving constituents in NYC, addressing numerous issues they have.

General Counsel

Elizabeth Guzmán, Esq

General Counsel

Matthew Carlin

Deputy General Counsel

Matt is an attorney with over 20 years of experience. At the New York City Council, he worked on complex legislation like the Paid Safe & Sick Leave Law.

Policy and Legislation

Headshot of Veronica Aveis, a white woman with green eyes and shoulder length curly brown hair wearing a floral print top, black blazer, and teal tortoise shell glasses. Aveis smiles directly at the camera.

Veronica Aveis (she/her/hers)

Chief Deputy Public Advocate for Policy

Veronica Aveis is Chief Deputy Public Advocate for Policy. She previously worked as Chief of Staff to Senator Roxanne Persaud, and Political Director for Planned Parenthood in NY.
Headshot of Rosie Mendez, a light-skinned Latina with brown hair, eyes, and glasses. Mendez is smiling directly at the camera with her hands clasped together in front of her.

Rosie Mendez

Director of Legislation and Policy

Headshot of Cerimar Olivares, a light-skinned Dominican-American woman with dark brown hair, brown eyes and black glasses. Turned slightly to the side, Cerimar smiles at the camera.

Cerimar Olivares

Leg & Policy Associate

Headshot of Gwen Saffran, a young white woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a navy blue top and black blazer. She stands against a red background with her hands on her hips and is smiling at the camera.

Gwendolyn Saffran

Senior Leg & Policy Associate

Headshot of Raymond Sheares, a Black man with locks and beard. Ray stares glaringly into the camera.

Raymond Sheares

Correspondence Associate

Scheduling & Executive Operations

Isa Cortez (she/her/hers)

Director of Scheduling & Executive Operations

Isa Cortez is an experienced director with over a decade history of working in the government administration, legislative relations and non-profit industry.

Angela Martinez ((she/her/hers))

Deputy Director of Scheduling & Executive Operations

Experienced Special Assistant/Scheduler with over 15 years in city government, providing efficient and effective scheduling services to ensure the smooth running of city operations.
Headshot of Adam Ullian, a white male with short gray hair and a beard. Ullian glances at the camera.

Adam Ullian

Advance & Scheduling Associate

Asra Rashid

Scheduling Assistant

Headshot of Winston Brown, Jr. A Black man with a full beard, bald head. In a plaid red and blue shirt.

Winston Brown Jr.

Scheduler & Advance Associate

Jeff Senatus smiling with teeth outside with red background

Jeff Senatus

Special Assistant

Technology, Development, and Data

J.C. Brillant, Director of Technology, a Black man with a salt and pepper beard and dark-rimmed glasses, wearing a light blue three-piece suit, white buttoned shirt, and a blue polka dot pocket square. A pin representing Jumaane D. Williams, the New York City Public Advocate, is on his lapel.

JC Brillant

Director of Technology, Development & Data

With over 20 years of experience, J.C. serves as the Director of Technology, Development & Data at the New York City Public Advocate's Office. He is also the Executive Director for the Commission on Public Information & Communications (CoPIC). In these pivotal roles, J.C. empowers the Advocates to utilize technology in ways that significantly improve the respect and dignity of every New Yorker.

Ketan Sinha (he/him/his)

Deputy Director of Technology, Data & Development

Ketan is a passionate advocate for using technology in service of people. He believes it should be used responsibly, ethically, and equitably.
Our Office

David N. Dinkins Municipal Building
1 Centre Street 15th Floor North
New York, NY 10007

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