The Center for Urban Community Services Announces New Chief Executive Officer Joseph DeGenova

November 17, 2020

Founder Tony Hannigan to Retire as Chief Executive Officer; Longtime CUCS Associate Executive Director DeGenova Takes the Reins

The Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) today announced it will have a new Chief Executive Officer in December. CUCS’s founder Tony Hannigan will step down from his role as President and CEO following 37 years with CUCS, succeeded by long-time CUCS veteran, Joseph DeGenova, who has been with the organization for 30 years. 

DeGenova is currently CUCS’s Associate Executive Director, overseeing the management of all of the agency services and training programs, as well as supporting the strategic positioning and ongoing development of the organization. DeGenova will be the second CEO CUCS has had since its creation in 1993, following its spin-off from Columbia University.  

Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, DeGenova served in a variety of leadership roles with CUCS, starting as the Assistant Program Director in 1989 of CUCS’s shelter for homeless women with psychiatric disabilities. This shelter set housing placement records and became a model for city-wide replication.  DeGenova subsequently served in senior leadership positions in the organization, helping to build CUCS’s impact in the field through innovative programming and partnerships. As Associate Executive Director, DeGenova supervised senior staff overseeing 33 different service programs, its medical affiliate, and the organization’s staff training institute which reaches upwards of 15,000 individuals annually across the nation.  

“For over three decades we have provided steadfast support to individuals and families as they navigate out of homelessness, always striving to make our services as good as if we or members of our family were using them,” said DeGenova. “I am thrilled to build upon CUCS’s signature emphasis on quality as a provider of affordable housing, healthcare, staff training, and supportive services. Tony has been a mentor to many, and as CEO I will continue on the path he forged at CUCS.”

Under Hannigan’s leadership, CUCS has become one of the largest service providers for New Yorkers through its housing, psychiatric, medical and social services programs.  Hannigan has spearheaded bold programs and has helped foster progressive policies to support New York City’s most marginalized individuals and families.

“As the founder of the Center for Urban Community Services, this work is deeply personal to me. The organization has transformed the lives of thousands of people,” said Hannigan. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve CUCS, and I am confident that Joe’s passion, leadership, and commitment will continue to improve the lives of New Yorkers and advance CUCS’s legacy.”

“On behalf of everyone at CUCS, I would like to express a heartfelt thanks to Tony for almost four decades of dedicated work on behalf of hundreds of thousands of homeless and impoverished New Yorkers” added Alex Rose, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CUCS. “While it is always a sad day for an organization to transition from a founder to the next generation of leadership, our organization could not be placed in better hands than Joe DeGenova’s, a longtime passionate leader at CUCS.”