Leadership

Commissioner Jess Dannhauser

Jess Dannhauser is the Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services. He is the former President & CEO of Graham Windham, a mission-driven organization focused on building the foundation for success in life with NYC children and youth, in close partnership with their families and communities. Graham serves approximately 4,500 children and their families each year. In addition, Mr. Dannhauser was the President of the Board of Education for the Greenburgh Graham UFSD, which is affiliated with Graham Windham and serves 300 students K-12. Jess recently completed an intentional transition of leadership, planned and implemented over several years, to Kimberly "Kym" Watson who became Graham’s President & CEO on October 8th, 2021.

Before joining Graham Windham in 2009, Dannhauser served as Associate Commissioner for Performance Measurement, Monitoring and Improvement for NYC's Administration for Children's Services having already served as Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Agency Program Assistance and Chief of Staff to the ACS Commissioner. Prior to joining ACS, Dannhauser was Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services.

Mr. Dannhauser earned his MSW at University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare. As a graduate assistant, Dannhauser conducted research on the implementation of the Adoption and safe Families Act at Cal/Berkeley's Center for Social Services Research. His graduate internship was with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's Office. He earned his BA at Duke University. While at Duke, he worked during the summer at Boys and Girls Harbor where he helped run their summer camp. He is married to the Rev. Adrian Dannhauser, Priest-In-Charge of the Church of the Incarnation in NYC. Adrian and Jess are the proud parents of their lovely 13-year-old daughter.

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