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 public-service, health-care, and medical expertise to the governing body. The appointments also deepen the university’s ties to alumni and New York institutions as it looks to support its strategic direction and mission.

Why it matters: - Mercy University is adding leaders with experience in state government, child and family services, and advanced surgical care. - The appointments are aimed at strengthening the board’s ability to guide the university’s strategy and support its mission. - The move also reinforces Mercy’s connection to alumni, health care, and public service across New York.

What happened: - Mercy University announced the appointment of Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden and Dr. John A. Chabot to its Board of Trustees on July 22, 2026. - Dr. Harris-Madden is commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and a member of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration. - Dr. Chabot is chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and the David V. Habif professor of Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. - Mercy President Susan L. Parish said the two leaders will strengthen the board’s ability to guide the university’s strategic direction.

The details: - Dr. Harris-Madden leads an agency with more than 3,500 employees and a budget of nearly $8 billion. - OCFS is responsible for safety, permanency and well-being for children, families and communities across New York. - Harris-Madden is a Mercy alumna who earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master of Business Administration from the university. - Her career spans more than 20 years 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. - Her background also includes degrees in English and African American Studies, business administration, human resources management and executive leadership. - Dr. Chabot founded and directs the Pancreas Center at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian, established in 2006. - The Pancreas Center is described as one of the world’s largest and most effective clinical cancer programs and as a research hub for new pancreatic cancer therapies. - Chabot has performed more than 2,500 complex pancreatic procedures. - He has 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’s degree in engineering science from Tufts University and an M.D. from Dartmouth Medical School. - He is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. - Mercy said the appointments reflect a commitment to diverse perspectives and accomplished leaders on the board. - Mercy serves more than 9,000 students a year across campuses in Westchester, the Bronx and Manhattan, as well as online. - The university is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in New York. - Mercy offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs across six schools. - Mercy was founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy. - More information is available at Mercy University.

Between the lines: - Harris-Madden’s appointment brings a strong public-policy and child-welfare lens to the board at a time when education institutions are under pressure to demonstrate community impact. - Chabot adds clinical and research credibility in a field tied to major health-system partnerships and workforce development. - The pair broadens Mercy’s board profile beyond academia alone, which can help with strategy, partnerships and mission delivery.

What's next: - Harris-Madden and Chabot will join the board as Mercy continues to focus on academic excellence, innovation and service. - Their experience is likely to inform board discussions tied to student opportunity, health-care training and community engagement. - Mercy’s leadership said the trustees will help steward the university’s future and support its next phase of growth.