Janine Zweig, PhD, has nearly 30 years of experience conducting research, evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance across a number of justice related topics with a particular focus on crime survivors. Her last two roles were leadership positions, most recently as Executive Science Advisor at the National Institute of Justice – the research and evaluation agency in the US Department of Justice – and before that she was Associate Vice President of the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Prior to playing an operational and leadership role at the Urban Institute, she led a portfolio of research, evaluation, and technical assistance work for two decades. She received her PhD from Penn State University in Human Development and Family Studies.

Lawrence oversees all agency financial transactions, as well as human resources, and has been with WRI since 2012. He prepares monthly internal financial reporting as well as financial reporting to stakeholders and the Board of Directors. He has provided fiscal expertise to several non-profits in the area for over 30 years. Lawrence holds a bachelor of science in accounting, summa cum laude from The Sage Colleges of Albany.

Elizabeth (she/her) implements and oversees application programs, involving an award of financial assistance to those in need. Over the years, she has also played a large role in the management of award payment processes as well as other related fiscal responsibilities for these programs. Elizabeth has worked at education and not-for-profit organizations over the past 30 years where she has gained extensive experience in management and accounting.

Lisa is responsible for the design and production of print and digital deliverables on WRI projects. These deliverables include publications, logos, posters, promotions for events, and web development. As Event Manager, she oversees each phase of virtual and in-person events. Lisa has a bachelor's of fine arts in graphic design from Buffalo State College and a bachelors degree in fine art with a minor in business administration from the University of San Diego.

Michele provides administrative support to the managerial and fiscal staff and office management, as well as serving as project manager for various endeavors. Prior to joining WRI, Michele worked for the State of New York for 37 years at the University at Albany. Her last position held at SUNY Albany, before retiring, was as Dean's Secretary in the School of Criminal Justice.

Jean is a member of the WRI event team and organizes in-person and online conferences and training events for several clients, as well as providing support on other projects. Having worked for many years for non-profits, she has extensive experience in planning and implementing events, including fundraising galas, sports tournaments, community events, and strategic planning retreats. Jean holds a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Massachusetts.

Amanda is an experienced researcher and evaluator with expertise in domestic violence, violence prevention, restorative justice, specialized court responses, and justice system reform. She spent more than 23 years at the Center for Justice Innovation, where she most recently served as Director of National Research. Throughout her career, she has led mixed-methods research initiatives and collaborated closely with practitioners to develop theories of change, implement evidence-based practices, establish and monitor performance measures, and assess fidelity to program models. She holds an MA in Sociology from New York University.

Kerri (she/her) leads a team of youth with lived experience in foster care in gathering information from recipients of awards through the Chafee Funds Program of New York State.  She has more than a decade of experience advocating for affordable housing and social justice. Kerri holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Boise State University and a master's degree in social work with an emphasis in mental health from Northwest Nazarene University. Kerri is also a certified professional mediator.

Marissa (she/her) manages multiple evaluation and consulting projects in the mental health and foster care communities. She provides trauma-informed direct support to both adults and children, specializing in working with individuals facing mental health symptoms, intellectual/ developmental disabilities, and additional adversities such as physical health issues, homelessness, substance use, and lived foster care experience. Dedicated to cross-systems collaboration, Marissa ensures that services are equitable, coordinated, and comprehensive to best meet the needs of persons served. Marissa holds a master of social work and a master of arts in Criminal Justice, both from the University at Albany.

Leanne (she/her) is a Program Analyst currently working with the Human Resources and Events departments. Leanne has diverse policy and public service experience serving at the city, county, state and federal levels. Before joining the WRI team, she worked as Legislative Director for the NYS Senate. Leanne earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Government from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY and a Master’s of Public Administration in Women & Policy from Rockefeller College of Public Administration & Policy in Albany, NY.

Evelyn works on the NYS Education and Training Voucher program. She assists the Program Manager with the various aspects of the application process. Evelyn's work experience has been in the federal, banking and education sectors. She has earned an associate of arts in business administration.

Felicia (she/her) is a Program Specialist focusing on administrative and task management services for the Citizen's Review Panel, Child Care Share Pilot Program, events, and other WRI projects. She has worked and volunteered in the non-profit sector for over 10 years and holds the vice president position for her local elementary school parent teachers organization. She focused her school and work efforts in social media, marketing, and development, and has also facilitated many events throughout her career.

Max Comerchero brings a background in confidential data management. He has over a decade of experience in data management at financial institutions, ensuring compliance with various privacy regulations to avoid penalties and maintain customer trust. He joined WRI in 2024, with a primary focus of auditing child care COVID-19 Stabilization Funds received by local providers from OCFS. Max holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, with a concentration on early American history.

With a strong background in nonprofit administration and a passion for social impact, Alexa specializes in virtual training coordination, data management, and event planning for CASA of New York State. She collaborates closely with directors across branches to assess training needs. Prior to joining WRI, she served as an educator for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, designing personalized learning experiences and coordinating holistic care plans. Her compassionate, person-centered approach continues to shape her work with vulnerable populations. Alexa holds a bachelor of science in management from Siena College, with a concentration in leadership and a minor in educational studies.

Rumi (she/her) is a Program Associate at WRI Solutions, where she supports the AHRC project in efforts to establish a NYS Community of Practice(CoP) on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Developmental Disabilities. She has several years of experience in the mental health field including having supported youth in foster care, the juvenile justice system, and in crisis counseling on NYS emotional support helpline. Rumi holds a masters of social work from the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Chloe (she/her) supports the Education and Training Voucher Program. Prior to joining WRI, she served in school leadership roles as secretary and president for her local elementary school parent teacher organization and has facilitated many events throughout her career. Chloe has supported classroom teachers and activities, helped school children reach developmental milestones, and built strong relationships with local businesses. Chloe also has experience in education, childcare, administration, and customer service.

Sierra assists in the planning and implementation of various online events and in the analyzing and reporting of award data for the Chafee Funds Program of NYS. She also does data tracking, analysis and reporting. Sierra has worked in the non-profit sector for several years, focusing on grant oversight, data tracking and reporting, and event coordination. She holds a bachelor of science in public health from University at Albany and an associate's degree in business administration.

Kaylana (she/her) supports program processing for NYS Chafee Funds Program and the New York State Education and Training Voucher program. She has a diverse professional background primarily in administrative, financial, and customer service fields.

As a Program Associate, Smita supports the NYS Education and Training Voucher Program. Data analysis is her primary role and assists with programming routine tasks to achieve more efficient and accurate outcomes. She has completed graduate studies in electrical engineering from Syracuse University.