Governor Hochul Appoints Director of the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the appointment of Calliana S. Thomas as the Director of the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention. As part of the Governor's actions to prevent and reduce gun violence throughout New York State, the OGVP will identify and bring together key partners in the community and law enforcement to identify steps that can be taken to curb gun violence in New York State. Located within the Department of Health's Center for Community Health, the OGVP will collaborate with the Division of Criminal Justice Services and other State agencies to coordinate efforts and direct resources to existing and emerging gun violence hot spots. Ms. Thomas joins the team with extensive experience in gun-violence prevention, project management, leadership, and youth development services.

"Taking strong action against gun violence requires a multi-faceted approach," Governor Hochul said. "Calliana S. Thomas is a dedicated public servant who will be a critical asset to our efforts to fight this public health crisis, combat gun violence, and keep New Yorkers safe."

A lifelong Harlem resident, Ms. Thomas has deep roots in New York City's vibrant communities; she knows that elevating community voice is the best and only way to make holistic, impactful and positive changes. Before joining this administration, Ms. Thomas was the Assistant Director of Technical Assistance with the William Julius Wilson Institute for Harlem Children's Zone, where she spearheaded efforts to expand cradle-to-career programming nationally. During her seven years working with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Violence Prevention Program, Ms. Thomas coordinated with government agencies to collaborate with community members, leaders, and neighborhood-based organizations to support gun violence prevention across the five boroughs. She began her career at Harlem's Minisink Townhouse, managing their youth development and restorative justice programming.

Ms. Thomas attended the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Pre-Medical Science at Columbia University in the City of New York, and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Georgia State University in 2008.