I’ve dedicated my entire career to ensuring that every person, no matter their circumstance or zip code, has the resources and tools to thrive. This is at the center of The Foundling’s mission, and I am humbled to have the opportunity to add to the rich history and deep impact of this changemaking organization.”
Melanie Hartzog was most recently New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, overseeing the city’s social service agencies. She previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw the largest municipal budget in the United States, responsible for funding all city programs and services for New Yorkers. Before joining the Office of Management and Budget, Hartzog served as Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund. Previously, she served as Family Services Coordinator for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Deputy Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services. She also led a social services unit in the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and was a Director for the Human Services Council of New York City, Inc. Hartzog holds a Master of Science degree from the New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy and Bachelor of Arts from Eckerd College.
As Senior Vice President for Mental Health Services at The New York Foundling, Dr. Kristy-Lee Jean-Pierre oversees the psychiatric and mental health services for youth in foster care, for those youth and families served in our Article 31 clinic, the Home for Integrated Behavioral Health, and for youth served in our School-Based Mental Health program. Her clinical work has focused on child / adolescent mental health and trauma-informed care, providing her with a wealth of knowledge and experience relevant to the communities served by The Foundling. Before joining The Foundling, Dr. Jean-Pierre was most recently the Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Department at Bellevue Hospital where she coordinated, organized, and supervised clinical service programs for children, adolescents, and young adults. Prior to this, Dr. Jean-Pierre served as a Clinical Consultant with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS)/Bellevue Mental Health Team, where she conducted evaluations and risk assessments for children and young adults arriving at the ACS Children’s Center, as well as those seen in the Child – CPEP. She is additionally a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Jean-Pierre received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Howard University, a M.A degree in Psychology in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a PhD degree in Clinical Psychology from Saint John’s University in Queens.
I am excited to be a part of the New York Foundling as it continues to respond to new and evolving needs of children and their families. They have been faithful to their mission for 150 years, touching countless lives with compassion.
Sister Donna Dodge is president of the Sisters of Charity of New York. She served in the ministry of education on the elementary level before co-directing the Sisters of Charity Planning and Research Office. She went on to serve in administrative positions at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and Sacred Heart University, then as Community Outreach Director for Catholic Charities in Bridgeport, Conn. After a term as Assistant to the President of the Sisters of Charity, Sister Donna became Executive Director and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation. Sister Donna holds a master’s degree in religious studies and a doctoral degree in higher education administration. She was elected president in March 2019.
Karen N. Alexander, The New York Foundling’s Chief Human Resources Officer, brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources management and development and organizational design – most of which have been in human services. She utilizes her knowledge, experience, and innovation to The Foundling’s human resources strategy and operations; talent management, including recruitment and leadership development, compensation and benefits, and organizational design. Karen’s track record with expertise in human resource management and development is instrumental to enabling the continued long-term success of our business and culture.
Prior to The Foundling, she served as Chief of Human Resources at the New York City Department for the Aging. Additionally, Karen has held human resources leadership positions at the Administration for Children’s Services, the Department of Youth and Community Development and the Community Action Human Services Department in Florida.
She holds a Master’s degree of Public Administration from Baruch College, a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, and served as a Fullbright Fellow in Public Health in Saint Lucia.
As Chief Financial Officer, Ellen Levine directs the financial, accounting, and strategic operations of The Foundling and is responsible for the overall fiscal function and performance of the organization.
Ellen comes to The Foundling with over 25 years of experience in fiscal management and leadership at the City of New York. She most recently served as the Chief Program Performance and Financial Management Officer at the New York City Department of Social Services where she was a member of the Executive Team in NYC’s largest social services agency. She managed over $15 billion in annual expense and capital funding, was responsible for data analytics, performance management, and research and evaluation. Prior to that role, Ellen served as the Assistant Director of the Social Services Task Force at the New York City Office of Management and Budget where she oversaw the budgets of five NYC social service agencies and supported the development of new policy initiatives in areas including child welfare, early childhood education, juvenile justice, aging, and homelessness.
Adrian Witzke is an IT professional with over 25 years of experience in systems engineering, management, and tech advisory.
After over a decade in the finance industry as the IT Manager of the private equity firm Fenway Partners, he transitioned to advising businesses in a variety of sectors including publishing, legal, tech, manufacturing, healthcare and non-profit. He specialized in collaboration systems, cloud architecture and strategic design. Adrian also co-founded the non-profit FC GIVE, a grassroots collective that fundraises for soccer matches, sporting events and charity engagement.
As The Foundling’s Chief Information Officer, Adrian fuses his love for all things tech with his desire to make a community impact. In his spare time, he attempts to surf the Rockaways. He holds a BS from Syracuse University.
