Cecile Noel was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) in October 2015. The Office was established by New York City Charter in 2001, and its responsibilities and authorities to address intimate partner violence and elder abuse were expanded by Executive Order 36 to include sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in September 2018. ENDGBV develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, and performs community outreach. The Office collaborates with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, as well as overseeing the NYC Family Justice Centers (FJCs) that operate in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, which see over 5,600 client visits, and serve over 2,300 clients per month.
In her prior position as the Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Human Resources Administration (HRA) Emergency Intervention Services, Commissioner Noel oversaw a $180 million budget, over 500 staff, and 30 contracts. Under her leadership, expansions were accomplished in both residential and non-residential services for domestic violence survivors across the network of 52 New York City-funded domestic violence shelters. She launched one of the first school-based domestic violence prevention programs in the country, the Teen Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP), which now operates in 94 New York City public schools.
In addition, Commissioner Noel had oversight of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and several other emergency utility assistance programs that help low-income New Yorkers with their utility needs. She also led the HRA Crisis and Disaster program and Adult Protective Services (APS) programs for more than a decade.
Commissioner Noel is a graduate of Vassar College and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work Administration from Columbia University.