Executive Leadership

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Christy Respress has more than 20 years of experience working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness and living with complex behavioral health challenges. She has worked with Pathways to Housing for 17 years, and has been in the role of Executive Director of Pathways to Housing DC since January 2011. She has extensive knowledge of Housing First and has provided technical assistance to agencies and communities around the world to implement this innovative model. She is also the President of the Board of Directors of the DC Behavioral Health Association. Christy received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and her Masters in Social Work from Howard University.

Christy Respress, MSW

CEO & President

Raymond Sallay comes to Pathways to Housing DC bringing more than 20 years of experience working in various leadership roles in Finance and Accounting. He most recently served as Director of Finance and Administration at Center for Research Libraries in Chicago. While there, he automated the accounting functions, developed rigorous internal controls, and built a healthy reserve due to his calculated budget, cash, and investment management.

Raymond, a native Washingtonian, joined Pathways to Housing DC in 2021 and serves as the Director of Finance. While growing up in Washington, D.C., he participated in the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment program where his first job was working at Pierce Shelter cleaning the facility. His exposure to people experiencing homelessness and the desire to serve the community where he was raised peaked his interest in working with Pathways DC. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Lincoln University, PA and has served on several non-profit boards including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, The Twenty Pearls of BETA Foundation, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the Dominican Republic Sports and Education Academy.

Raymond Sallay

Director of Finance

Kimberly Covington is the Director of Human Resources

Kimberly Covington, MBA, MS, PHR, SHRM-CP

Director of Human Resources

Monica Harrington is the Director of Institutional Advancement

Monica Harrington

Director of Institutional Advancement

Dr. Ceymone Dyce is devoted to helping clients attain strategies that promote actionable and high levels of self-determination. Her clinical background includes work in pediatrics, federally qualified clinics, and community behavioral health centers. Her service emphasizes the use of interdisciplinary, cognitive-behavioral, and narrative approaches for marginalized and underrepresented communities. Her research focus is on the role of access and availability in community healthcare. Ceymone received her doctorate in counseling and counselor supervision from the University of Florida.

Dr. Ceymone Dyce, PHD, LGPC, NCC

Vice President, Homeless Operations

Staff Leadership

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Sara Brown currently serves as the program manager for the Veteran’s Housing First Team at Pathways to Housing DC. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and received her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Having begun her career in her first social work internship placement at a transitional housing center for homeless women and families, Sara has always been passionate about helping people find permanent housing. Sara is also extremely passionate about veteran’s issues and has been working with homeless veterans at Pathways since 2012. She is proud to be a part of the collaborative effort to end veteran homelessness throughout the country, and especially here in Washington DC.

Sara Brown, LCSW-C

Director of Veterans Services, Veterans Housing First

Tyesha Campbell has been with Pathways to Housing DC for 5 years and transitioned to the role of Clinical Director in September 2022. Over her time with Pathways, Tyesha has served as the Clinical Supervisor of an Assertive Community Treatment Team and Community Support Program, as well as the Clinical Supervisor of the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. Tyesha is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and received her Master of Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University. Tyesha, a Licensed Professional Counselor has many years of experience providing direct and indirect services to people both in housing and on the streets in the District

Tyesha Campbell, LPC

Clinical Director, Mental Health Rehabilitative Services

Dr Joel Cohen

Dr. Joel Cohen

Medical Director

Will Doyle joined Pathways as an MSW intern in August 2006 and has been a part of Pathways ever since then. He is a founding member of the DowntownDC BID Outreach Team. He has been the Program Manager of the Permanent Supportive Housing Program since October 2008 and transitioned to his current role as Director of Housing Operations in July 2017. He has also supervised the Community Support Team and Golden Triangle BID Outreach Team. Prior to joining Pathways, Will worked in accounting and was a Conventual Franciscan Friar. He earned his Bachelors in Accounting from Boston College in 2000 and a Masters in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in 2008. Will has his LICSW in DC.

Will Doyle, LICSW

Director of Housing Operations

Adam Maier, a native Washingtonian, joined Pathways to Housing DC in 2011 and serves as the Director of Housing Partnerships. Adam and his team have successfully created relationships with over 150 Washington landlords who rent to our tenants. Adam brought over 27 years of experience with the City Council of the District of Columbia and 5 years’ experience at the United States Senate. At the Council, he oversaw the operations of thirteen human service and public works agencies. Among many responsibilities, he served as Staff Director of the Committee on Human Services and as Staff Director for the Committee on the Environment and Public Works. He was also the Executive Director of Independent Living for the Handicapped that provided housing in Washington, DC for adults with severe physical disabilities, and has been an owner of commercial real estate for over 40 years. For eighteen years Adam has been a member of National Community Church where he is an active member of their international mission teams, homeless and youth ministry. Adam is a Joslin Diabetic Center 50 year Medalist, a Mayoral appointee to the District of Columbia Human Rights Commission, and is a former Board member of The Arc of DC. Adam received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Public Administration and Philosophy from the University of Maryland.

Adam Maier

Director of Housing Partnerships

Gwendolyn A. Harter attended undergrad at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maryland-University College. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in the combined Concentration studying both Clinical Social Work and Social Change. She is currently attending West Chester University for her Doctorate in Public Administration focusing on Mental Health Policy. Gwendolyn has worked in the behavioral health field for 12 years beginning her career as a treatment foster care Social Worker for adolescents in Washington DC. She became a Clinical Supervisor and then Program Director of a Treatment Foster Care program in Maryland. She has worked in local hospitals as a Psychiatric Crisis Clinician and a Crisis Therapist, and also as a Clinical Program Director for an inpatient psychiatric facility. As a private practice therapist, she works with trauma survivors as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II. She is also a member of WPATH with over 10 years of experience providing competent and up-to-date mental health services to the LGBTQIA+ community. Gwendolyn has spent her career being an active advocate to vulnerable populations participating on boards and advisory committees including the Wanda Alston Foundation and the Rainbow Youth Alliance and served the Mayor’s Anti-Bullying Taskforce. She has testified before legislators on matters of equality and social justice causes. Gwendolyn speaks locally and nationally on improving service outcomes, anti-bullying, and good allyship.

Gwendolyn A. Harter, LICSW, LCSW-C, DPA Candidate

Director of Montgomery County Programs

Sarafina Cooper is the Director of Population and Integrated Health. Before Pathways to Housing DC, Sarafina led a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded pilot project to support multi-state physicians in implementing health equitable care coordination for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Her previous experience also includes creating award-winning grant proposals and continuing medical education at the American College of Preventive Medicine and producing trauma-informed injury and violence prevention projects and strategic planning at the Maryland Department for Health. Sarafina is a Certified Health Education Specialist and earned a Master of Public Health from Liberty University’s School of Health Sciences.

Sarafina Cooper, MPH, CHES

Director of Population Health

Board of Directors

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Stephen Dempsey is the Director of Administration for Sidley Austin’s DC Office, overseeing a staff that supports 300 attorneys. He has been in Legal Administration for over 20 years, but started his career as an accountant. He holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a Texas CPS, and an MBA from George Washington University. Stephen moved to Washington DC in 2000 and immediately became engaged in supporting efforts to battle the homeless epidemic in the area. He has worked with Miriam’s Kitchen for the past 15 years to help the homeless community and joined Pathways to Housing DC board in 2016.

Stephen Dempsey

Board Chair

Prior to joining the Pathways to Housing DC Board in 2009, Ed Rich provided pro-bono legal assistance to Pathways while practicing at Arent Fox LLP. A native Washingtonian and graduate of D.C. Public Schools, Ed has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Georgetown University. Ed has practiced law for over 25 years in the Washington area, both in District government and in private practice. Ed has assisted numerous clients on matters concerning transactional real estate, land use and zoning, government contracts and local government affairs. While in the District Government, Ed has served as a Special Assistant to the Mayor, General Counsel of United Medical Center and Deputy General Counsel of the DC Department of Health. Ed is also a member of the Steering Committee of the DC Affairs Section of the DC Bar, Co-President of the Greater Farmland Civic Association and a member of the White Flint Implementation Committee. Ed lives in Rockville, MD with his wife Laura.

Ed Rich

Vice Chair

Nan Roman, longtime advocate and former President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance is a public education, advocacy and capacity-building organization with over 10,000 nonprofit and public sector agencies and corporate partners around the country. To implement this plan, Ms. Roman worked closely with members of Congress and the Administration, as well as with cities and states across the nation. She collaborated with Alliance partners to educate the public about the nature of homelessness and successful solutions. She has researched and written on the issue, is frequently interviewed by the press, and regularly speaks at events around the country. Her unique perspective on homelessness and its solutions comes from over thirty years of local and national experience in the areas of poverty and community-based organization. Ms. Roman received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois.

Nan Roman

Board Secretary

Natalie Nickens Gunn
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Capital Impact Partners

Natalie Nickens Gunn is responsible for formulating and executing Capital Impact Partners’ financial strategy, capital and investment base expansion, and investor relations. She also manages the overall direction for accounting, tax, audit, treasury and financial planning and analysis and oversees the Corporate Services, Information Technology and Human Resources departments.

Natalie has more than 25 years of corporate financing and accounting experience across the public and private sectors, including serving as Capital Impact Partners’ Controller before stepping into the Chief Financial Officer position. Prior to joining Capital Impact, she held senior positions at the Government National Mortgage Association, National Cooperative Bank, Capital Automotive REIT, Host Hotels and Resorts and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Natalie is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hampton University with a degree in Accounting.

Natalie Nickens Gunn

Board Treasurer

Michael Allen is a partner in the civil rights law firm of Relman, Dane & Colfax, PLLC where his practice focuses on litigation under the Fair Housing Act and related civil rights laws. He joined the firm in June 2006, after 11 years of litigation and other advocacy on behalf of poor people and people with disabilities at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and a decade at Legal Services of Northern Virginia. Michael has litigated and lobbied at the federal and state levels, and appeared in national print and electronic media. He is a 1979 graduate of Georgetown University, and received his law degree in 1985 from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia. Michael has written, lectured and consulted widely on civil rights and NIMBYism.

Michael Allen, Esq.

Board Member

Stephanie is a partner in Sidley’s Healthcare and Government Strategies groups. Based on Sidley’s DC office, she focuses her practice on healthcare regulatory, compliance, and legislative matters, including strategic counseling and advocacy in connection with public policy proposals and implementation issues. Stephanie has deep and broad experience in healthcare coverage and reimbursement issues, including policies under Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurance market. She received her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and her J.D. and Master of Biomedical Ethics degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Stephanie regularly engages and speaks on issues and developments relating to health policy and healthcare coverage, access, and payment issues. She is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and in Illinois, and she joined the Board of Directors in 2016.

Stephanie Hales

Board Member

Rebecca Bond
Chief of the Disability Rights, Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department

Rebecca B. Bond currently serves as the Chief of the Disability Rights Section in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department. In that capacity, Ms. Bond supervises all aspects of the office’s work, including investigations and litigation, the provision of technical assistance, and the development of regulations under the Americans with Disabilities. Ms. Bond previously served as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and was responsible for oversight of the Division’s disability rights enforcement, educational civil rights enforcement, and Title VI inter-agency coordination. Ms. Bond also has experience supervising and litigating Fair Housing Act cases, involving sexual harassment, race discrimination, and disability discrimination. Ms. Bond was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Georgetown Institute for Tech Law and Policy’s project on algorithmic fairness and disability rights. Ms. Bond clerked and practiced in Puerto Rico and California. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Yale University. Ms. Bond lives with her husband and two sons in Bethesda, Maryland.

Rebecca Bond

Board Member

Margaret Jenny
President, MJenny Stratigies, LLC

Ms. Jenny is a recognized industry leader in developing innovative operational, technical, policy and institutional solutions to challenges facing the global aviation and transportation industry. Until her recent retirement, she led a non-profit association, which, during her tenure, doubled in size and grew into the premier venue for delivering industry-wide, consensus policy advice to the government on vital issues in global air transportation. As RTCA President, she facilitated dozens of advisory committees, producing hundreds of technical performance standards that serve as the basis for FAA regulations and certifications. Her accomplishments have been recognized by numerous national awards. She holds an MS in Computer Science and an AB in Sociology. She has served on boards of numerous organizations in aviation and those working to end homelessness. Her passion for addressing the needs of less fortunate led her to a position on the Pathways DC Board of Directors. She currently serves a mentor to numerous professional women.

Margaret Jenny

Board Member

Bernard Fulton is the Vice President of Government Relations at Housing Policy Council.

Bernard has over twenty years’ experience in and around the United States Congress as a policy advisor, legislative analyst, lobbyist, strategist, and political organizer. His positions and appointments have included serving as legislative director for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, legislative representative for City of New York under Michael Bloomberg, head of Congressional relations for HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Julián Castro, and legislative consultant for organizations in the private, government and non-profit sectors.

Bernard’s legislative experience encompasses a broad spectrum of policy areas, including financial services, housing and community development, appropriations, taxes, telecommunications, public safety, and social services.

Bernard is a successful advocate adept at engaging with policy-makers, community groups and political organizers at all levels and also has extensive experience writing, monitoring, and negotiating legislative proposals and reform bills.

Bernard is a 1991 graduate of Harvard College and received his J.D. from U.C.L.A. School of Law in 1994. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Erika Thomas, an attorney with BakerHostetler and a former Federal prosecutor, and children. He serves as a Board Member with Pathways to Housing DC.

Bernard B. Fulton III

Board Member

How Pathways Helped Restore David's Eyesight and Hope

David was homeless in and around Bethesda for almost 30 years, living in the woods for most of that time. Constantly on the move, David survived by panhandling, dumpster diving, and selling scrap metal. David’s untreated cataracts finally caught up with him and he completely lost his eyesight. David felt his way, mostly by memory, to the panhandling and dumpster-diving spots that he knew before going blind. A homeless outreach worker connected David to a Pathways case worker, who took him to a doctor who offered to operate to restore David’s sight, for free! David was able to see again for the first time in years. In October, David moved into his own apartment. Having his sight back and a home of his own has made all the difference in David’s life.

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