Scholars, researchers and subject matter experts at the NYU McSilver Institute are available for media interviews. Please contact us 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.
Rosemonde Pierre-Louis
Executive Director
Rose Pierre-Louis is the McSilver Institute’s Executive Director. 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. 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
A Conversation with the Chair of the Haitian Roundtable – Spectrum News/NY1
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
Deputy Executive Director
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
Minerva Tantoco
Chief AI Officer
Minerva Tantoco is an innovator, investor and startup founder board member. As NYU McSilver’s inaugural Chief AI Officer in March 2022, she leads The AI Hub at McSilver. Previously, Tantoco served as New York City’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Based on her efforts, New York City was named “2016 Best Smart City” and she helped launch initiatives such as LinkNYC, CSforAll, and Internet of Things Guidelines, as well as promoted an inclusive, equitable tech ecosystem. She also has a background in fintech and holds four US patents on intelligent workflow. Full Bio
artificial intelligence ethical AI machine learning technology regulation IoT fintech cybersecurity
Press
NYU McSilver’s First AI Chief on Using Innovation for Nonprofits – New York Nonprofit Media
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
The Mental Effects of Racism on the Latinx Community – Verywell Mind
13 Tips for Getting the Absolute Most Out of Therapy – Self
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.com
COVID-19 Has Intensified the Need for Trauma-Informed Care – Prism/Daily Kos
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
Damali M. Wilson, PhD, APRN
Project Director
Dr. Wilson is a social scientist with an extensive background in research and programming focused on child and family health and well-being. Her research foci include parenting, maternal health and mental health, as well as early childhood development. Damali has a particular interest in service to vulnerable, marginalized populations, and community-informed approaches. Damali has worked at the Child Health Advocacy Institute at Children’s National Hospital, and she is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner of over 10 years. Full Bio
children and families maternal health and mental health parenting early childhood development