Our Leadership

As the leader of the agency, Eileen serves as the ultimate advocate for the 60,000+ residents of the Bronx that receive services from BronxWorks as well as the nearly 1,000 employees across the organization. Eileen has been with BronxWorks since 1995, starting in administrative roles, serving as Admin Counsel and General Counsel, and interim Executive Director/COO in 2013. Eileen was appointed Executive Director in 2014. Her education and background as an attorney have been invaluable in guiding BronxWorks in the highest standards of nonprofit governance and as an implementing partner for many New York City government programs.

Eileen has built upon the history of the organization and expanded the scope, reach and impact of services to the Bronx community. Under her direction, BronxWorks has added multiple new sites, formed many new public and private partnerships, and received outside recognition for its effective work including the 2013 New York Nonprofit Excellence Award. In 2023, the Board of Directors named Eileen the Chief Executive Officer of BronxWorks.

A graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School, Eileen earned a B.S. from Pace University and a J.D. from the Northeastern University School of Law. She is on the board of United Neighborhood Houses (UNH); she is also on the board of the Human Services Council (HSC), the Council Of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), and Lyft’s New York Racial Justice Alliance.

Eileen is a Bronx native, having spent her formative years in northern Manhattan and the north central Bronx.

As Chief Legal & Operations Officer, Erica oversees legal and compliance matters as well as human resources, employee education and training, information technology, and quality assurance. Prior to joining BronxWorks, Erica was a Pro Bono Practice Attorney for Nonprofit and Community Development at Winston & Strawn LLP, where she exclusively represented nonprofits in corporate and transactional legal matters.

Previously, Erica practiced law in various private and nonprofit settings, including nearly five years as an associate in the business, financing, and restructuring group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, followed by two and a half years as the Director of Programs and Operations at Start Small Think Big, a Bronx-based nonprofit organization on a mission to further community economic development through pro bono legal services.

Erica graduated cum laude from St. John’s University School of Law in 2008.

Alexandra Francis joined BronxWorks in 2025 as Executive Vice President, Supportive Housing and Homeless Services. In this role, Alexandra will oversee the agency’s entire portfolio of programs and services that support our most vulnerable neighbors, including the adult homeless services department, family residences, supportive housing, and other related initiatives.

Alexandra is a New York-based licensed social worker, NYC-DOHMH scholar, and American Express Leadership Academy alum. She holds a Master’s degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at CUNY-Hunter as well as a Master’s degree from NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science.

Alexandra has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit mental health and social services fields. Prior to joining BronxWorks, she served as the Chief Program Officer at Lantern Community Services, overseeing both their Supportive Housing and Shelter divisions. Prior to that, Alexandra was a Deputy Chief Program Officer at the Center for Urban Community Services for several years where she co-chaired the agency’s equity work, among other responsibilities.

Alex is an active member of SHNNY’s RELISH initiative, where she has served as a mentor for three years.

Gordon joined BronxWorks as Chief Financial Officer in 2019. He provides executive leadership over our finances, including financial planning, drawing on his years of professional experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, Gordon served as Director of Finance at the Jewish Child Care Association, a child welfare and mental health services organization.

Gordon has a bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

John joined BronxWorks in 1990, became a Department Director in 1995, and has served as Assistant Executive Director for community programs since 2002. He oversees programs that serve immigrants, families, and senior citizens. John created our Early Childhood Learning Centers, our Avenue St. John walk-in office, several entitlements programs, and our Heights Community Farmers Market. Previously, John worked at the Latin America Women’s Network, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, and the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.

John graduated from the University of New Mexico and holds an L.M.S.W. from the Hunter College School of Social Work.