Staff

Ann Cheng, Executive Director

Executive Director Ann Cheng most recently served as Director of Strategic Initiatives in the New York State Governor's Office, where she successfully led coordinated legislative and communications efforts to secure key policy wins in the 2026 state budget. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff for the CUNY Office of Budget and Finance and prior to that held multiple senior roles in New York City government. Cheng received a Hayes Innovation Award for co-founding the nation-leading New York City Asylum Application Help Center, led the Capital Process Reform Task Force to several legislative victories, and served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Staff Secretary to Mayor de Blasio during the COVID-19 crisis. Prior to entering government, Cheng taught high school and worked in higher education.