Meet the Team

Maryanne Schretzman, DSW

Executive Director
Previously, as Family Services Coordinator for the City of New York, Maryanne was responsible for identifying and implementing cross-agency collaborations to enhance services provided by the City's HHS agencies to those in need. She has also served as Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning at the Department of Homeless Services and as Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Administration for Children's Services. Prior to joining city government, she was an adjunct professor at Hunter College of Social Work and held a variety of leadership positions at the non-profit organization Women In Need, Inc. Maryanne was also a consultant for 15 years specializing in the planning and evaluation of government and non-profit institutions in the United States and Europe. Maryanne holds a B.A. from the University of Montana, a Master of Social Work from Hunter College, and a Doctorate in Social Welfare from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Jessie Sell, MPH

Research Analyst
Jessie has served NYC for nearly all her career, first as middle school mathematics teacher with the NYC Department of Education, then as an infectious disease epidemiologist with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  Prior to joining CIDI, Jessie assisted in the COVID-19 pandemic response, conducting matches and analyses of testing, case, and immunization data, and providing interactive data visualizations to inform the response.  Throughout her time at the DOHMH, she analyzed data and assisted in the response to various infectious disease outbreaks, including legionella, measles and Zika.  She holds a BA in Mathematics from Hunter College, an MA in Mathematics Education from City College, and an MPH in Epidemiology from New York Medical College. 

Oliver Ponce, MSPP

Research Analyst
Oliver Ponce is a policy analyst with a sustained commitment to using data and policy analysis to improve social services, especially to low-income people and racial/ethnic minorities. Prior to joining CIDI, Oliver worked as a Research Associate at Action Research Partners, where he developed analysis plans to validate data and verify performance for monitors of federal child welfare class action litigation in Michigan, Oklahoma, and Texas. He previously partnered with the New York City’s Administration for Children Services (ACS) and the New York City Family Court to produce analyses concerning children with longstanding termination of parental rights petitions. Oliver is both a Posse Scholar and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Undergraduate Public Health Scholar (CUPS). He received his B.A. in Sociology from Colby College, and his M.S. in Public Policy from NYU Wagner.

Nebahat Noyan, MS, PHD

Director of Information Design and Strategy
Neba is a data visualization expert and a researcher. Her expertise crosses the divide between design and technology, data, and evidence. She creates data-driven visual representations (design-rich maps, reports, infographics) and translates complex problems into meaningful narratives that serve as means for action. She previously served as the Director of Innovation and Research Applications at a non-profit organization in DC. She developed analytical strategies to produce data-driven market analysis that supports local economic development decision-making for public and private sector clients in more than 15 cities across the U.S. Her work mainly focused on informal economy, highlighting market potential of underserved neighborhoods, untapped demand for groceries and financial services, and she led market analysis workshops and gave presentations nationwide. She holds a Master of Science and Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University. She was named as one of the ‘Best and Brightest’ young urban leaders working in the U.S. to improve cities at the 2010 Next American City Vanguard Conference. She also was a member of research faculty at the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, Portland State University.

Natalie Brown, MPP

Research Analyst
Natalie is policy analyst and data storyteller with experience visualizing trends to best communicate with policy leaders. Before joining CIDI, she started her career in NYC as a paralegal and coordinator for the New York District Attorney’s Office. She has also worked as a Policy Analyst for a federal healthcare contractor and as a Mayoral Fellow in the Chicago Office of the Mayor. During her time as Chicago Mayoral Fellow, she performed analyses on Medicaid enrollment and insurance status data to assess barriers to healthcare across neighborhoods. Natalie is passionate about finding ways to best support low-income and disadvantaged New Yorkers and uses her skills to empower minoritized residents. She holds a B.A. in Government from Cornell University, and received her Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Glenda Perez, MEd

Senior Research Scientist
Glenda is a policy and research specialist with a passion for amplifying youth voices and using data to address education problems. Prior to joining CIDI, Glenda served as a Senior Policy Analyst at NYC’s Children’s Cabinet, where she led collaboration between 14 city agencies, driving the development, planning, and implementation of initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of children and families living in shelters. At Harvard Graduate School of Education, she conducted youth participatory action research on gender-neutral bathrooms in partnership with LGBTQ youth leaders across Massachusetts and state education authorities She also served as a teaching fellow in a foundation course for master’s students on how to evaluate data and apply evidence to improve education systems. Glenda's diverse experience includes environmental education and running a marine science camp in Belize. She holds a B.A. in Education & Child Studies and Environmental Policy & Analysis from Smith College and a Master of Education in Education Policy and Analysis from Harvard University.