Walter Stafford, Principal Investigator, Professor of Public Policy and Planning, teaches courses on public policy, economic development, human rights, and race and class. His research also focuses on race relations, race and planning, labor markets, gender issues, and economic development. Previously, Professor Stafford worked in the U.S. Senate, the National Urban League, and was a senior researcher with the Community Service Society of New York. Professor Stafford earned his Ph.D. in public and international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
phone: 212-998-7428                                                              email: walter.stafford@nyu.edu

Diana Salas, Associate Director, received a BA from Queens College and MPA from NYU Wagner (2003). Prior to coming to the Network, Diana was an organizer focusing on the needs of immigrants and voting rights. Originally from Ecuador, she continues to work on the issues facing immigrant communities, specifically focusing on the needs of immigrant women and currently serves on the boards of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) and Cidadão Global. She is also a steering committee member of the Latina Advocacy Network and the New York Local Organizing Committee. Diana has received numerous awards in recognition of her community efforts, including a New York City Council Citation.

 

phone: 212-998-7511                                                        email:diana.salas@nyu.edu

Melissa Mendez, Beyond the Window Program Coordinator, received a BA from Columbia University (1995) and MPA from NYU Wagner (2003). She was a graduate research assistant for the Network. Before coming to the Network she was the Chief of Administrative Services for Manhattan at NYC Parks and the Borough Coordinator for the Bronx Work Experience Program at Parks. 

phone: 212-998-7561                                              email: melissa.mendez@nyu.edu

Jyoti Venketraman, Assistant Research Scientist, holds an MPA in Health Policy and Management from NYU Wagner and degrees in Hospital Management and Microbiology from India. Prior to joining the Network full time, she worked as an intern at the Third Wave Foundation and at the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network on healthcare issues for women and immigrants. Her research interests are in the area of health, gender, race and poverty.         

phone: 212-998-7530                                                                email: jv612@nyu.edu

Ramona Ortega, Assistant Research Scientist, currently directs the Workforce Development program. A native of California, she was the director of the Human Rights Project of the Urban Justice Center in New York City. She has more than 10 years of working in the area of social justice and human rights, beginning at UCLA where she was a founding member of the Queer Latino Youth Conference. She began her work in the international  human rights arena in 2000 preparing a shadow report for the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and participated in the reviews of the United States in 2001 and 20008. She was a delegate to the World Conference Against Racism in Durbin, South Africa and successfully lobbied for language in the final outcome document.  She is a founding member and current board member of the U.S Human Rights Network and sits on the board of the New York City AIDS Housing Network. She has published in the Carnegie Council's Human Rights Dialogue and the Society for Anthropology of North America. Ms. Ortega has also worked as journalist for CBS and LAWEEKLY and as a researcher for MDRC.

phone: 212-998-7561                                                                email: rmo2@nyu.edu