Kate Breslin
is the President & CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA). 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. 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.
Kate can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 125.
Crystal Charles
is a Senior Policy Analyst. She 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, home visiting, 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 Public Administration & Policy PhD student, Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the University at Albany. Her research focused on how collaboration between nonprofit organizations and government agencies, the internet, and social media can be employed as vehicles for social change, increased civic participation, and government transparency. Before coming to Albany, Crystal was a Tow Policy Advocacy Fellow at the Fortune Society.
Crystal holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Justice from John Jay College.
Crystal can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896 ext. 130.
Nicole Correia
is the Director of Communications for the Schuyler Center. In this role, Nicole oversees strategic communications to advance the organization’s mission and policy goals. Prior to joining the Schuyler Center, Nicole served as Communication Manager for the New York State Association of Counties, where her work focused on the association’s advocacy communications, member engagement, print and digital publications, and communications training for county officials. She has also held roles in local government program coordination, association management, 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. She can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896 x131.
James Farrell
is the Operations Manager for the Schuyler Center. He handles office administration, scheduling, and IT support. Prior to joining Schuyler Center, James worked in banking as an Assistant Branch Manager. He has also worked as a market manager for Ardith Mae Farmstead Goat Cheese.
James earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from The College of Saint Rose.
James can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 122.
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 began her career as a public school teacher on Long Island. She continues to serve as adjunct faculty at Stony Brook University in addition to her advocacy work.
Shoshana can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 139.
Dorothy (Dede) Hill
is the Director of Policy for the Schuyler Center. In this role, Dede coordinates the Schuyler Center’s policy team and conducts policy analysis and advocacy in the area of 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 previously practiced law as an Assistant Attorney General and Labor Counsel for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, an Assistant Solicitor General for the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and as an associate for a New York City labor law firm. 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.
Dede can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 138.
Lara Kassel
is the Coordinator of Medicaid Matters New York, a 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 for nearly seven years, working on a wide range of health issues.
Lara has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, where she majored in Sociology.
Lara can be reached at lkassel@medicaidmattersny.org or by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 124.
Kevin Peng
is a Senior Policy and Data Analyst for the Schuyler Center. He 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.
Kevin can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896 ext. 136.
Kari Siddiqui
is Project Director for the Schuyler Center, focused on the organization’s child poverty reduction work. Kari previously served as Senior Policy Associate for Prevent Child Abuse NY, where she focused on advocacy and analysis in policy areas related to child welfare and family- and community-supports. In that role, Kari also led the organization’s successful efforts to reform and reframe NY’s statewide training for mandated reporters.
Previously, Kari served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Schuyler Center, where her work focused on child welfare policy. She has also worked with several community-based organizations and is a founding board member of the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood.
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.
Helen W. Smith
serves as the Director of Finance & Operations for the Schuyler Center. She oversees all financial operations of the organization including accounting, budgeting, financial reporting activities, policies, and practices. Helen manages the administration of the organization, its grants and takes an active role in the communication and fund development efforts at Schuyler.
Before joining the Schuyler Center, Helen worked in various financial, development, and management capacities for non-profit environmental and health care organizations.
Helen holds a Master of Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Smith College.
Helen can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896 ext. 140.
Carole Tozzi
serves as Schuyler Center’s Administrative Associate. She is responsible for appointment scheduling, desktop publishing, Board of Trustees communications and word processing.
Prior to joining Schuyler Center, Carole worked as an administrative assistant at NYS Department of Taxation and Finance in the Litigation Department.
Carole can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 121.
Bridget Walsh
is a Senior Policy Analyst for Health and Public Health. She 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.
Prior to joining Schuyler, Bridget served as staff on health policy issues in the New York State Assembly, the Office of Governor Mario Cuomo, and for several non-profit organizations.
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.
Bridget can be reached by phone at (518) 463-1896, ext. 129.