Laurel W. Eisner

Executive Director
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 238
leisner@sffny.org

As Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families since June 2002, Laurel Eisner has strengthened the agency’s management, financial, and fundraising departments; diversified its funding portfolio; added several major new client service and outreach programs; and bolstered interdisciplinary collaboration among the shelter, legal, and counseling programs. In 2005, she and the Board of Directors led the creation and adoption of a revised mission statement and a 3-5 year Strategic Plan. In 2006, she initiated a two-year project to improve the agency’s human resources and program evaluation systems. Previously, Ms. Eisner served as General Counsel to NYC Public Advocate Mark Green and as an Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Attorney General’s Office. A Root-Tilden-Snow Scholar at New York University Law School, Ms. Eisner holds Masters degrees in Social Work as well as in Public Law & Government, both from Columbia University.

Jill Fernandez

Director of Human Resources
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 339
jfernandez@sffny.org

Jill Fernandez came to Sanctuary in 2007 with over 30 years of experience in employee relations, recruitment, hiring, training and professional development, compensation, and benefits, as well as human resources policy development and implementation. At Sanctuary, she oversees all of these areas, and has focused on major projects including the development and introduction to all Sanctuary staff of a new performance management system. Ms. Fernandez has previously served as the Director of Human Resources at the Harlem School of the Arts and the Riverside Church, and worked for the American Red Cross for 23 years supervising an array of human resources, volunteer administration, and organizational development functions.

Tatyana Kopyt, CNAP

Director of Finance
(212) 349 - 6009 ext. 239
tkopyt@sffny.org

Tatyana Kopyt joined Sanctuary’s staff in 1997, as an Accountant in the Finance Department and Human Resources Manager.  In the latter role, she enhanced and administered employee benefits and handled personnel matters until 2006.  In 2004 she was named Controller, ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of day-to-day financial operations and bearing overall responsibility for the fiscal books and records. In 2009 she was named Director of Finance. She provides direction and oversight of financial planning, accounting, budgeting, reporting, ensures the effectiveness of internal control procedures.  Ms. Kopyt previously worked as Fiscal Manager at Citizens Advice Bureau.  She holds a BS in Accounting from Brooklyn College, a BA in Mathematics from Polytechnic University in Russia, and a Professional Certification in Non-Profit Accounting.

Dorchen A. Leidholdt, Esq.

Director, Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 252
dleidholdt@sffny.org

Dorchen Leidholdt has served as Director of Sanctuary’s Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services since 1994. Under her leadership, the Center has grown from two to 23 lawyers, has greatly strengthened its advocacy on behalf of underserved populations, and has spearheaded major state and federal litigation on orders of protection and child welfare policy. Ms. Leidholdt is on the Board of Directors of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), which she helped found in 1988. An adjunct professor at the Columbia University School of Law, Ms. Leidholdt lectures internationally on issues of violence against women. She holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Virginia, and a law degree from the New York University School of Law where she was a Root-Tilden-Snow Scholar.

Linda Lopez, Esq.

Deputy Director, Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 247
llopez@sffny.org

Linda Lopez started as a staff attorney at Sanctuary’s Legal Center in 1994. In 2006, she was named Deputy Director of the Center, where she works with the Director to advocate on behalf of underserved populations. Ms. Lopez is founder of the Uncontested Divorce Workshop, through which she has trained over 600 students in five New York City law schools to help indigent battered women obtain uncontested divorces. She is an associate adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, where she teaches Fundamental Lawyering Skills. A seasoned practitioner of family and matrimonial law with Spanish fluency, she earned her law degree from the City University of New York Law School, where she participated in the Battered Women’s Clinic.

Ted McCourtney

Sarah Burke House Program Director
(718) 588 - 6494 ext. 234 tmccourtney@sffny.org

Ted McCourtney was appointed Family Services Director at the Sarah Burke House Transitional Shelter in December 2006, and assumed management of all 40 shelter staff in July 2008. He oversees clinical counseling, case management, housing, daycare, educational services, and security for New York State's largest domestic violence transitional shelter, which houses approximately 400 women and children each year. He was previously employed for five years at HELP Haven and HELP Harbor domestic violence shelters, most recently as Director of Social Services. Mr. McCourtney earned a BA in Sociology and Economics from the University of Notre Dame, and an MSW from Columbia University.

Lisa Mueller

Director of Development & Communications
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 274
lmueller@sffny.org

Lisa Mueller has served as Sanctuary’s Director of Development since September 2005, and assumed responsibility for agency communications in 2007. Prior to joining Sanctuary’s staff in January 2004, Ms. Mueller was involved for nearly ten years as a volunteer, pro bono attorney, and member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council. Ms. Mueller previously worked as a corporate associate in the New York, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong offices of the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. Ms. Mueller holds a BA from Yale University and a JD from Northwestern University School of Law. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Frankfurt, Germany in 1993.

Shelly B. Rose, LMSW

Director of Operations
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 292
srose@sffny.org

Shelly Rose arrived at Sanctuary in 2001 with 20 years of experience in non-profit management, program development, operations, and human resources. As Director of Sanctuary's Sarah Burke House (SBH) Transitional Shelter, Ms. Rose managed a staff of 40 social workers, case managers, childcare specialists, and security and facilities professionals. Since 2007, her role has been expanded to encompass agency-wide oversight of administration including information technology, shelter and office facilities, data management, and program evaluation. Reflecting these increased responsibilities, she was named Director of Operations in July 2008. Ms. Rose previously was a Division Director in Volunteers of America's Greater New York office. She holds an MSW in social work from Yeshiva University and a certificate in management from the Case Western Reserve University's Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations.

Allison R. Ross, LMSW

Beth Silverman-Yam, DSW, LCSW

Clinical Director
(212) 349 – 6009 ext. 232
bsilvermanyam@sffny.org

As Sanctuary’s Director of Clinical Programs since 1994, Beth Silverman-Yam oversees all clinical programs for clients at the agency’s Manhattan and Bronx offices. Under her leadership, Sanctuary has greatly expanded women’s and children’s counseling and case management and, most recently, added a program of counseling and case management services for French-speaking African women. A social work clinician, program developer, and administrator for more than 35 years, Ms. Silverman-Yam has worked with the New York State Psychiatric Institute; the British Government Department of Social Services; and as a founding member of the Union and Employee Assistance Committee on Domestic Violence in New York City. An adjunct associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work for over 20 years, she holds an MA from Columbia University and a PhD from the City University of New York, both in social work.