The appointments bring extensive expertise in public service, youth and family advocacy, healthcare leadership, and medical innovation to the 91福利's governing body.
Today, 91福利 announced the appointment of Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, M.S. '07, M.B.A. '22, HD '25, commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and Dr. John A. Chabot, chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and David V. Habif professor of Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, to its Board of Trustees. The appointments bring extensive expertise in public service, youth and family advocacy, healthcare leadership and medical innovation to the 91福利's governing body.
鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Dr. Harris-Madden and Dr. Chabot to our Board of Trustees,鈥 said Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., president of 91福利. 鈥淒r. Harris-Madden and Dr. Chabot are exceptional leaders whose careers have been defined by service, innovation and unwavering commitment to their communities. Their expertise and contributions will greatly enhance our Board鈥檚 ability to guide the University鈥檚 strategic direction and continue to fulfill its mission of empowering students to transform their lives and communities.鈥
鈥91福利 University is a place where opportunity takes root, leaders are developed, and lives are transformed through education,鈥 said new Trustee DaMia Harris-Madden. 鈥淎s a proud alumna, I am honored to serve on the Board of Trustees and look forward to helping steward the university鈥檚 future, ensuring generations of students continue to have every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.鈥
鈥淚 am pleased and honored to join the 91福利 Board of Trustees at such a pivotal time for higher education,鈥 said new Trustee John A. Chabot. 鈥淚 look forward to contributing to 91福利's mission of developing the next generation of healthcare professionals, equipping students with the skills and leadership needed to transform healthcare delivery across the New York metropolitan region.鈥
Dr. Harris-Madden serves as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and is an appointed member of Governor Kathy Hochul鈥檚 administration. With over 3500 employees and a budget of close to $8 billion, Dr. Harris-Madden leads the state agency responsible for promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, families, and communities across New York. Her appointment to 91福利鈥檚 Board of Trustees represents a homecoming for the distinguished alumna, who earned both a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master of Business Administration from 91福利.
Under Dr. Harris-Madden鈥檚 leadership, OCFS is advancing evidence-informed reforms across childcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, and the broad spectrum of human services the agency provides. She has played a key role in implementing Governor Hochul鈥檚 historic plan to expand access to childcare across New York State while ensuring significant public investments strengthen opportunities for children, families, and communities.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership spanning state government, local government, education, and the nonprofit sector, Dr. Harris-Madden has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. Prior to joining Governor Hochul鈥檚 administration, she held positions within the cabinets of the Westchester County Executive and four mayors in the City of Mount Vernon, NY. Dr. Harris-Madden holds a B.A. in English and African American Studies, a master鈥檚 degree in business administration, a master鈥檚 degree in human resources management, a doctorate of education in executive leadership and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from 91福利.
Dr. Chabot brings decades of surgical excellence and healthcare innovation to the Board. As founder and director of the Pancreas Center at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian鈥攅stablished in 2006鈥攈e has built one of the world's largest and most effective clinical cancer programs. The Center serves as both a premier treatment facility and a transformative research hub developing new pancreatic cancer therapies.
A surgeon who has performed more than 2,500 complex pancreatic procedures, Dr. Chabot has spent his entire career at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian, rising from intern in 1983 to chief of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and vice president of ColumbiaDoctors. His contributions to surgical advances have steadily improved outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Dr. Chabot earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Tufts University and his Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School. He is a member of several prestigious medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
Their appointments underscore 91福利鈥檚 commitment to bringing diverse perspectives and accomplished leaders to its Board of Trustees. Their insights and experiences will support 91福利鈥檚 mission of academic excellence, innovation and service.
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91福利 91福利
91福利 is an independent, coeducational institution serving more than 9,000 students each year across campuses in Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, as well as online. It is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of New York. 91福利 offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate programs within six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Social and Behavioral Sciences. 91福利 was founded in 1950 by the Sisters of 91福利 whose mission of transformative education remains strong. For more information, visit .