Scholars, researchers and subject matter experts at the NYU McSilver Institute are available for media interviews. Please contact Sheryl Huggins Salomon at mcsilver@nyu.edu with any media inquiries for the staff members listed below, and view our Recent Media Coverage page to see how their insights are being covered.
Michael A. Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH
Executive Director
Dr. Michael A. Lindsey is a noted scholar in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, as well as a leader in the search for knowledge and solutions to generational poverty and inequality. He is the Executive Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University (NYU), the Martin Silver Professor of Poverty Studies at NYU Silver School of Social Work, and an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow. Dr. Lindsey led the working group of experts supporting the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, which created the report Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America. Also, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Social Work and a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. He was appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin serving on the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) in 2022. Full Bio
child and adolescent mental health suicide depression anxiety social work Black mental health school mental health social determinants of health racial health disparities
Press
Deaths of Despair Have Surged Among People of Color – New York Magazine
We Need to Talk About Black Youth Suicide Right Now, Says Dr. Michael Lindsey – People
Black Youth Suicide Attempt Rate Increasing at Alarming Rate – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
‘We’re Losing Our Kids’: Black Youth Suicide Rate Rising Far Faster Than for Whites; Coronavirus, Police Violence Deepen Trauma – USA Today
Sports Couldn’t Save Bryce Gowdy, and His Suicide Shines a Sad Spotlight on an Ignored Crisis – Washington Post
Proposed Legislation Attempts to Address Rising Suicide Rates Among Black Children – CBS News
Research
Trends of Suicidal Behaviors among High School Students in the United States: 1991–2017. – Pediatrics
The Influence of Treatment Engagement on Positive Outcomes in the Context of a School-Based Intervention for Students with Externalizing Behavior Problems. – Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Rosemonde Pierre-Louis
Chief Operating Officer
Rose Pierre-Louis is the McSilver Institute’s Chief Operating Officer. From 2014-2016 she served in the administration of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and was the Senior Adviser to the NYC Commission on Gender Equity. Previously, she served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. From 2006-2013 Rose served as Manhattan Deputy Borough President during the administration of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. She has been a leading advocate and voice for Black girls and boys, men and women, those who are impacted by poverty, as well as the Haitian community. Full Bio
voter education ranked-choice voting domestic violence/intimate partner violence women’s rights city government and policy
Press
Op-Ed | NYC on Ranked Voting – AM New York
Opinion: Don’t Delay Ranked Choice Voting – Educate Voters Instead – City Limits New York
Black Men’s Emotions on Display at the Staples Center and Beyond – The Crisis Magazine (Op-Ed)
Domestic Violence Survivors, You Are Not Alone – The New York Amsterdam News (Op-Ed)
Andrew F. Cleek, PsyD
Chief Program Officer
Dr. Andrew F. Cleek is an expert on the scalable implementation of systems change initiatives, particularly related to healthcare reform, value based payments, Medicaid managed care, and trauma-informed services. He is the Chief Program Officer at McSilver Institute, where he oversees a portfolio of technical assistance offering training and support to all behavioral health, child welfare and intellectual and development disabilities-serving agencies in New York State. He additionally directs a number of initiatives involving trauma-informed prison education, early childhood mental health and the implementation of healthcare reform. Full Bio
child mental health mental health trauma-informed care trauma-informed systems management healthcare reform implementation COVID-19 systems response
Press
Addressing Leadership, Workforce Management and Team‐Building – Mental Health Weekly [registration required]
Driving System Success During Times of Change – Behavioral Health News
Gary S. Belkin, MD, PhD, MPH
McSilver Fellow-in-Residence (2020-2021)
Gary Belkin was formerly Deputy Health Commissioner for New York City, and most recently founded and leads the Billion Minds Institute. The Institute aims to bring policy and practical attention and change for taking on the “social climate” crisis of the climate crisis. He has implemented and advanced innovative approaches to mental health, especially those that integrate with and amplify other social and community capabilities, policies, and goals at scale. That included holding senior management positions in government and in large health and human service providers, advisory roles to US urban settings as well as national and local government partnerships globally, and work as a teacher and researcher. Full Bio
mental health social determinants of health climate policy social consequences of and responses to climate change COVID-19 mental health impacts climate change and mental health system
Press
Psychiatry’s Climate Reckoning: Time Is Now – Psychiatric News
Facing the Challenges of Climate Change at the Bedside – Boston Globe
The Climate Crisis Needs a Ground Game – Medium
How NYC is Tackling the Mental Health Crisis PIX11-TV
Henry L. Greenidge, Esq.
McSilver Fellow-in-Residence (2020-2021)
Henry L. Greenidge, Esq. is a 2020-2021 Fellow-in-Residence for the NYU McSilver Institute. His areas of expertise include sustainability, energy, infrastructure, broadband, and autonomous transportation. Previously, he led state and local government affairs, as well as public engagement for Cruise, a GM subsidiary focused on autonomous vehicles. He has been a Program Examiner in the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Obama Administration, a Policy Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and has held positions within the New York City Office of the Mayor and the NYC Department of Transportation, among other roles. Full Bio
transportation equity sustainability energy infrastructure broadband autonomous transportation
Press
It’s Not Too Early for Cities to Craft AV Regulation – Government Technology
Transportation Equity with Henry Greenidge (Ep. 237) – WashingTECH Policy Podcast
Meaghan Baier, LMSW
Assistant Director of Strategic Operations
As the Assistant Director of Strategic Operations at McSilver Institute, Baier is an integral part of the team that manages the ongoing work of the Managed Care Technical Assistance Center (MCTAC), as well as a variety of other projects. Meg helps to oversee the daily operations of MCTAC, as well as numerous on-going partnerships and the development of trainings, tools, and resources to support ongoing healthcare transformation work. Full Bio
trauma-informed organizations COVID-19 responses in New York State trauma-informed prison education
Research
Peer Support Groups for Child Welfare–Involved Families – Journal of Family Social Work
Kara Dean-Assael, DSW, LMSW
Director, Clinical Education and Innovation; Clinical Leader for CTAC
Kara Dean-Assael is Director of the McSilver Institute’s Clinical Education and Innovation Department and the Clinical Leader for CTAC. She was the co-director of an NIMH-funded project that is now known as the 4 Rs and 2 Ss for Strengthening Families Program and has spent years training clinicians and supervisors on how to utilize the model in their settings. She also co-founded the 501c3 Fareground, Inc. in 2012, a project that focuses on food justice in Dutchess County, NY. Full Bio
family mental health evidence-based clinical practice food insecurity
Research
Multiple Family Groups for Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Child Outcomes at 6-Month Follow-Up – Journal of Child and Family Studies
Press
Women With PTSD and Depression Face Increased Early Mortality Risk – VeryWell Mind
Insecurity, Banks, and Waste—How Food Plays a Role in Our Everyday Lives – VeryWell Fit
Jayson K. Jones, LMSW
Assistant Director, Clinical Education and Innovation
Jayson Jones is the Assistant Director of the McSilver Institute’s Clinical Education and Innovation Department. He develops and disseminates clinical initiatives and trainings throughout the State of New York, and serves as the Manager of the CTAC-MCTAC Self-Learning Center. Within this role, he oversees the development of all self-paced learning initiatives offered by the Community Technical Assistance Center of New York. He also served as the creator and inaugural host of the Black Boys and Men: Changing the Narrative Podcast Series and as a coordinator and school-lead for the Step Up program. Full Bio
racism racial inequality and disparities microaggressions racial trauma
Press
#TheNewNext: ‘Black Boys & Men’ Podcast Tackles Myths – Philadelphia Tribune
James Rodriguez, PhD, LCSW
Director of Trauma-Informed Services
Dr. James Rodriguez is Director of Trauma-Informed Services at the McSilver Institute. He is a New York State-licensed clinical social worker and psychologist with over 25 years of providing mental health services to children, youth and families. His work at McSilver Institute includes the development and dissemination of training materials to promote trauma-informed care. In addition, Dr. Rodriguez has a private practice that focuses on trauma treatment. As well, he is an adjunct faculty member and teaches cultural competence at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. Full Bio
trauma trauma-informed care resilience coping with stress mental health for children, teens and adults social determinants of health mental health for marginalized populations mental health for BIPOC populations
Press
Insecurity, Banks, and Waste—How Food Plays a Role in Our Everyday Lives – VeryWell Fit
When a Child Sees Their Parent Abused, the Trauma Can Last a Lifetime – Fatherly
What Really Happens to Your Body When You Hold Back Tears – Livestrong
COVID-19 Has Intensified the Need for Trauma-Informed Care – Prism/Daily Kos
10 Ways to Reduce Stress That Actually Backfire – The Healthy
Anthony Salerno, PhD
Innovation and Implementation Officer
Dr. Anthony Salerno is a New York State-licensed psychologist with over 30 years of public mental health experience in adult inpatient and outpatient settings. He is the McSilver Institute’s Innovation and Implementation Officer. In that role, he assists organizations serving impoverished communities to systematically adopt and sustain practice innovations with an emphasis on implementing trauma-informed and resiliency-supporting practices in a variety of educational, primary care, forensic and behavioral health programs serving children and adults. Full Bio
behavioral health service delivery systems best and evidence-based practice health self-management family psycho-education
Press
Addressing Leadership, Workforce Management and Team‐Building – Mental Health Weekly [registration required]
Boris Vilgorin, MPA
Health Care Strategy Officer
Boris Vilgorin currently works at the McSilver Institute as the Health Care Strategy Officer. He provides technical assistance to all publicly-funded mental health, substance abuse, foster care and intellectually and development disability agencies in New York State that are transitioning to Managed Care and Value-Based Services. Vilgorin also is an Adjunct Lecturer at New York University Silver School of Social Work and Columbia University School of Social Work. Full Bio
behavioral health operations and business best practices behavioral health Medicaid management value-based payment Medicaid managed care
Press
Driving System Success During Times of Change – Behavioral Health News