Kate Breslin

President and CEO

With Kate’s leadership, Schuyler Center is building upon its 150-year legacy as a strong, independent voice and coalition-builder. Schuyler Center holds government accountable and helps to shape public debate around policies that affect New Yorkers, with a particular focus on people and communities experiencing poverty and inequity. Kate has spent her career analyzing and advocating in support of thoughtful policy solutions that improve the lives of people in the U.S. and abroad. 

With Kate at the helm, Schuyler Center led the initiative resulting in New York’s Child Poverty Reduction Act, signed into law in December 2021. Kate plays a leadership role in several statewide coalitions, including Medicaid Matters NY, and she is frequently invited to lead and participate in policy-focused initiatives and workgroups. Previously, Kate served as the Director of Policy for New York’s primary care association, CHCANYS, directing initiatives to improve health care access in underserved communities. While in California, she was Project Director for the California Budget Project, analyzing state budget and tax policies, and has also served in county government. Kate has led and worked in relief and development projects in several African nations, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone. Kate holds Masters Degrees in both Public Health and City and Regional Planning.

Dede Hill

Vice President of Policy

In this role, Dede coordinates the Schuyler Center’s policy team and conducts policy analysis and advocacy in the areas of child care and economic security as well as overseeing child welfare and health policy. Prior to joining the Schuyler Center, Dede was a Professor of Law at Albany Law School, where her teaching and scholarship focused on labor and employment law. While in academia, Dede was active in local and statewide efforts to aid working families by increasing the minimum wage and organizing for stricter enforcement of labor and immigration laws to prevent wage theft in low wage and immigrant worker sectors.

Dede earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she was a member of the Wisconsin Law Review, and a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College.

Kari Siddiqui

Associate Director of Policy

Issue Areas: Child Poverty

Kari Siddiqui is Associate Director of Policy for Schuyler Center, focused on leading the organization’s child poverty reduction work and linking it to other policy concerns. As part of this work, Kari coordinates the New York Can End Child Poverty coalition, a diverse group of organizations working to improve long-term outcomes for children and families experiencing economic hardship.

Kari earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, and a Bachelors degree in Romance Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Crystal Charles

Senior Policy Manager

Issue Areas: Child Welfare, Child Poverty

Crystal  conducts policy and data analysis, leads and participates in coalitions, and advocates on behalf of the Schuyler Center in the areas of child welfare, child poverty, and other related issues. During her time at Schuyler Center, Crystal has earned an Executive Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership from Baruch College, the result of her training in the Spring 2022 cohort of Leadership Fellows New York.

Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Crystal was a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the University at Albany. Her research focused on achieving social change, increased civic participation, and government transparency.

Crystal holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Justice from John Jay College.

Shoshana Hershkowitz

Campaign Manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care

Issue Areas: Child Care

Shoshana Hershkowitz is the Campaign Manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, housed at Schuyler Center. Working with a diverse coalition of child care providers, parents, and policy advocates, she advocates for the campaign’s vision of universal child care in New York State. Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Shoshana held positions at Citizen Action of New York and New Hour for Women and Children Long Island.

Shoshana holds degrees in music education and vocal performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She continues to serve as adjunct faculty at Stony Brook University in addition to her advocacy work.

Lara Kassel

Coordinator for Medicaid Matters New York

Issue Areas: Medicaid, Health

Lara Kassel is the Coordinator of Medicaid Matters New York, the statewide coalition of over 100 individuals and organizations representing the interests of New Yorkers served by the Medicaid program.  In her role as Coordinator, Lara organizes all the activities of this diverse coalition, which works to ensure that Medicaid consumer interests are included, understood, and met in any and all discussions on Medicaid in New York. She was a member of the original Medicaid Redesign Team, and she served on the DSRIP Project Approval and Oversight Panel. Lara has been recognized by peer organizations for her role as a consumer advocate, including the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association and Health Care for All New York. Prior to joining Medicaid Matters, she served as legislative staff to former Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried. 

Lara has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, where she majored in Sociology. 

Adanech Makey

Policy and Community Engagement Specialist

Issue Areas: Health, Child Care, Child Welfare

Adanech conducts policy and data analysis and advocacy with a focus on eliminating inequitable access barriers to benefits and services, and expanding access to high quality child care. Adanech also plays a leading role in engaging community leaders and representatives of directly impacted communities in all aspects of Schuyler Center’s policy work.  Adanech is an Annie E. Casey Rising Leader for Results Fellow in the inaugural 2023-2025 cohort. 

Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Adanech served as the Director of Civic Engagement and Advocacy at Jumpstart for Young Children. 

Adanech earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Howard University with a minor in Community Development. 

Kevin Peng

Senior Policy and Data Analyst

Issue Areas: Data Analysis

Kevin brings years of data analytics experience in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Kevin worked at Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities Inc. where he served as the Quality Assurance/Data Specialist.

Kevin earned a Master of Public Administration from The John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration.

Bridget Walsh

Senior Policy Manager

Issue Areas: Oral Health, Public Health

Bridget conducts policy analysis and advocacy for Schuyler Center in areas of maternal and child health, oral health, early childhood health, nutrition, and health care access. She represents the Schuyler Center on numerous boards both in and out of government that advance health policy and improve access to health services.

Bridget earned a Masters in Public Health from the University at Albany and a Bachelor of Arts from Ithaca College where she majored in politics.

Nicole Correia

Director of Communications

Nicole oversees strategic communications to advance Schuyler Center’s mission and policy goals. Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Nicole served as Communications Manager for the New York State Association of Counties. She has also held roles in local government program coordination, association management, writing/editing, and donor relations.

Nicole earned a Masters Degree in Political Communication from the University at Albany and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies/English and Sociology from Hobart & William Smith Colleges.

Hannah Berkel

Communications Associate

In this role, Hannah supports the strategic communications to advance the organization’s mission and policy goals. Prior to joining the Schuyler Center, she worked as a communications and public affairs fellow for a national public health organization and a marketing assistant for a chamber of commerce.

She received her Master’s Degree in Public Relations from Quinnipiac University, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in Communications and Media Studies, Psychology, and Film & Television.

Lea Montalto-Rook

Director of Administration

Lea oversees the organization’s administrative functions, including financial management, human resources, grants management, and information technology. As Director of Administration, Lea leads the administrative functions that support Schuyler Center’s staff to further its agenda.

Prior to joining SCAA, Lea served as Chief Executive Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR) from 2020-2024, leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the organization could continue its support for thousands of young people and their families across the Capital Region.

Lea holds an M.S. in International Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of South Florida.

James Farrell

Operations Manager

James handles office administration, scheduling, and IT support. Prior to joining Schuyler Center, James worked in banking as an Assistant Branch Manager.

James earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from The College of Saint Rose.

Rebekah Desjardins

Campaign Administrative Coordinator

Rebekah provides organizational and logistical support to the Empire State Campaign for Child Care and the New York Can End Child Poverty campaign. Prior to joining the Schuyler Center, Rebekah worked in advocacy, finance, and healthcare.