Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new administration nominations and appointments.
"We are building a top tier team to lead State agencies and deliver high quality services for New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "Dr. Cunningham and Reverend DeCohen are outstanding leaders who will lift these agencies to new heights. Kylah Hynes will be a vital liaison between the federal government and New York during our recovery.These are experienced, talented individuals, and I look forward to working with them."
Dr. Chinazo O. Cunningham will be nominated as Commissioner, Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Most recently, she served as the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Mental Hygiene at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She joined the agency from Montefiore Health System and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she is a Professor of Medicine, Family and Social Medicine, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Cunningham has more than 20 years' experience in research, care and program-development that focuses on people who use drugs. She has also partnered with community to develop pioneering programs to promote the health of this population. Dr. Cunningham led one of the first clinics in New York City to integrate buprenorphine into primary care, which subsequently expanded across seven clinics citywide. She also went on to train hundreds of doctors in the treatment of substance use disorders in primary care. Dr. Cunningham received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and completed her residency in primary care internal medicine at UCSF and New York University (NYU). She spent a year as chief of residency at NYU. She also holds a master's degree in clinical research methods that she completed during her time at Einstein. Dr. Cunningham will serve as Acting Commissioner until confirmation by the Senate.
Reverend Viviana DeCohen has been appointed Director of the New York State Division of Veterans' Services. Reverend DeCohen is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and most recently served the City of Mt. Vernon as its Commissioner of Veterans Services. Previously she served as Director of Military & Veteran Affairs and Adjunct Professor at Concordia College where she began an On-Campus Resource Program to ensure student veterans have access to food, shelter, clothing and more. Prior to her work at Concordia College, Reverend DeCohen was the Veterans Advisor at Mercy College where she began as a student. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Reverend DeCohen established the first Veteran's center to support academic achievement and markedly improve veterans' graduation rates. She designed programs, such as "Operation Buddy Up" and "Operation PUSH" that improved the overall grade point averages and pushed a record number of veterans to go on to graduate school. She is a member of the Women Marines Association, NY-6, American Legion Post 1038, New York Council Navy League, and Military Adviser to the Barbara Giordano Foundation as well as Clergy Committee Member with the Alzheimer's Association. Reverend DeCohen also serves as Associate Pastor, alongside her husband, Reverend Troy P. DeCohen, of the Mount Vernon Heights Congregational Church. Her military service allowed her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science, a Master of Science, in Health Service Management, both from Mercy College, and her current pursuit of a Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Gerontology, at Concordia University, Chicago.
Kylah Hynes has been appointed Director of Federal Affairs. Most recently she served as the Director of Federal Affairs for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) with more than 14 years of experience working in the transportation and infrastructure industry. Ms. Hynes has worked for the State of New York for more than ten years on state and federal transportation policy, with project specific experience in federal formula, discretionary and loan programs across all modes. Ms. Hynes has cultivated a diverse background in federal institutional policies and statutory authorities, including working across multiple adjacent policy portfolios in the environment, energy, civil works, and general infrastructure sectors. Prior to her state service, Ms. Hynes began her transit career with the American Public Transportation Association, working for four years with transit agency members on federal policy, grassroots advocacy, and industry-wide policy positions. Ms. Hynes received her B.A. in Political Science and Government from St. Catherine University and an MPP in Transportation Policy from George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Kathy has not found a spot for Nathalia yet.
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