Our Team

• Joseph DeGenova

  President and CEO

  Joseph DeGenova, LCSW, has over 30 years of nonprofit management experience. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, Joe served in a variety of leadership roles with CUCS…

  Joseph DeGenova

  President and CEO

  Joseph DeGenova, LCSW, has over 30 years of nonprofit management experience. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, Joe 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.  

  

• Jeffrey Halfpenny

  Chief Financial Officer

  Jeffrey Halfpenny, CPA, brings 28 years of experience in financial management to CUCS. Jeff oversees a staff of 13 financial professionals as well as the long-term…

  Jeffrey Halfpenny

  Chief Financial Officer

  Jeffrey Halfpenny, CPA, brings 28 years of experience in financial management to CUCS. Jeff oversees a staff of 13 financial professionals as well as the long-term and annual budget planning, audits, and cost-management.  Before assuming his position at CUCS in 2013, Jeff was an Audit Senior Manager in the Non-Profit Department at EisnerAmper LLP and Chief Financial Officer at Upper Manhattan Health Center, Inc.

  

• Julie Lorenzo

  Chief Program Officer

  Julie Lorenzo, LCSW, provides direct oversight for our programs. Julie began her career with CUCS as a student intern in 1986…

  Julie Lorenzo

  Chief Program Officer

  Julie Lorenzo, LCSW, provides direct oversight for our programs. Julie began her career with CUCS as a student intern in 1986. During her career, she has worked in all phases of services for homeless persons with severe mental illness and other special needs.  Julie spent 15 years at CUCS’ 350 TLC where she worked as a housing team leader, assistant director and finally, director. She subsequently worked as the agency’s Director of Quality assurance.

  

• Rise Roth

  Chief Development and Communications Officer

  Rise Roth, Chief Development and Communications Officer, brings 30 years of experience in fundraising to CUCS…

  Rise Roth

  Chief Development and Communications Officer

  Rise brings 30 years of professional resource development and a deep commitment to mission-driven human service organizations to her role as Chief Development and Communications Officer at CUCS. Her career has been highlighted with excellence in driving revenue growth, developing strong partnerships, and building strong, positive cultures. Her focus at CUCS will be to diversify and strengthen revenue sources and broaden the communications goals to support the agency’s mission and values and its life-saving work.

  

• Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  Van Yu, M.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry to our medical and psychiatric services program Janian Medical Care…

  Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  Van Yu, M.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry to our medical and psychiatric services program Janian Medical Care, P.C. Van joined CUCS in 2007, and he earned his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, completing a residency in psychiatry in 1999.  He was an Attending Psychiatrist in the Bellevue Hospital Center Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for two years before becoming Assistant Director in 2001.  Van is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the New York University School of Medicine and at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center.  

  

• Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Administrative Officer

  Abbey Nyamekye has over 20 years of experience with CUCS both in direct service and program oversight roles…

  Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Administrative Officer

  Abbey Nyamekye has over 20 years of experience with CUCS both in direct service and program oversight roles.  She has 15 years of experience supervising our healthcare programming, most recently in the role of Deputy Chief Program Officer for Janian Medical Care, P.C.  As Chief Administrative Officer Abbey provides oversight to the CUCS Institute and Information Technologies (IT) Department.  She is also the agency lead on community and constituent relations. 

  

• Hadaryah T. Morgan, Esq.

  Chief Operating Officer

  Hadaryah T. Morgan is an executive with a passion for affordable housing and housing justice issues…

  Hadaryah T. Morgan, Esq.

  Chief Operating Officer

  Hadaryah T. Morgan is an executive with a passion for affordable housing and housing justice issues.  With over 15 years of legal experience, Ms. Morgan currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for the Center of Urban Community Services where the focus of her work is supportive housing development and the development of purpose-built shelters, commercial, real estate, and labor and employment law.  Before serving as CUCS’ COO, she served as its General and Deputy General Counsel. Prior to her work at CUCS,  she served as the Deputy General Counsel of Operations and Legal Services for the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), an agency with a then $1.1 billion-dollar budget, 2,200 employees and over 700 facilities (both shelter and supportive housing).  In addition to her work, she currently serves as Chair of the Consistory of the Collegiate Churches of New York.