Mercy University adds two leaders to its Board of Trustees

Mercy University on July 22 named Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden and Dr. John A. Chabot to its Board of Trustees, adding senior expertise in child welfare, healthcare leadership and medical innovation. The appointments also deepen the Dobbs Ferry university’s ties to public service and clinical research as it advances its academic mission.

Why it matters: - Mercy University is adding two leaders whose careers span state government, family services, surgery and cancer research. - The board appointments bring experience that could shape the university’s strategy, student support and healthcare-focused programs. - Both appointees align with Mercy’s mission of academic excellence, innovation and service.

What happened: - Mercy University announced on July 22 the appointment of Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden and Dr. John A. Chabot to its Board of Trustees. - Harris-Madden is commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and a member of Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration. - Chabot is chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and the David V. Habif professor of Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. - Mercy described the appointments as adding expertise in public service, youth and family advocacy, healthcare leadership and medical innovation.

The details: - Harris-Madden leads a state agency with more than 3,500 employees and a budget of close to $8 billion. - OCFS is responsible for safety, permanency and well-being for children, families and communities across New York. - Harris-Madden is an alumna of Mercy University, where she earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master of Business Administration. - Mercy said Harris-Madden is advancing evidence-informed reforms across childcare, child welfare, juvenile justice and other human services. - Harris-Madden has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience across state government, local government, education and the nonprofit sector. - Before joining Hochul’s administration, Harris-Madden worked in the cabinets of the Westchester County Executive and four mayors in Mount Vernon, New York. - Harris-Madden also holds a B.A. in English and African American Studies, a doctorate of education in executive leadership, and an honorary doctorate in humane letters. - Chabot founded and directs the Pancreas Center at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian, which was established in 2006. - Mercy said the center is one of the world’s largest and most effective clinical cancer programs and also serves as a research hub for new pancreatic cancer therapies. - Chabot has performed more than 2,500 complex pancreatic procedures. - Chabot spent his entire career at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian, rising from intern in 1983 to chief of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and vice president of ColumbiaDoctors. - Chabot earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Tufts University and a Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School. - Chabot is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. - Mercy University serves more than 9,000 students each year across campuses in Westchester, the Bronx and Manhattan, as well as online. - Mercy is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in New York. - The university offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate programs across six schools.

Between the lines: - Mercy is signaling that it wants trustees with both public-sector and medical-system influence as higher education faces pressure on enrollment, workforce outcomes and public trust. - Harris-Madden’s alumni status adds a personal connection to the university, while Chabot strengthens Mercy’s healthcare credentials. - The mix of family services and surgical innovation suggests Mercy wants board members who can support both community impact and professional training.

What's next: - Harris-Madden and Chabot will join the governing body as Mercy continues to guide strategy and mission delivery. - Their experience is likely to inform decisions tied to student opportunity, service programs and healthcare-related academic priorities. - Mercy said the appointments support its ongoing focus on academic excellence, innovation and service. - More information is available on the university’s website: Mercy University.