Mary Haviland
Executive DirectorMary Haviland, executive director of the Alliance since 2011, is a lawyer and community activist with more than 30 years of experience in women’s issues, research, advocacy and philanthropy. Recognized as an advocate for women throughout her career, Mary has overseen the growth of the Alliance’s network and influence in shaping the terms of debate around sexual violence. Prior to joining the Alliance, Mary focused on bolstering support for women facing challenges. She served as a Commissioner of the New York State Crime Victims Board. From 2007 to 2009, Mary oversaw a $2.5 million grants program and two successful public policy campaigns resulting in substantive policy changes for breast cancer patients without health insurance as Director of the Grants and Public Policy Program at the New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen. In the earlier years of her career Mary worked in the field of domestic violence: she founded and was Co-Executive Director of CONNECT, a domestic violence organization dedicated to early intervention and prevention as methods to end domestic violence. Mary worked at CONNECT’s predecessor organization, the Family Violence Project of the Urban Justice Center, where she built model programs on preventing domestic violence, including a police precinct program replicated throughout New York City. An author of notable publications, research studies, and articles on domestic violence, crime, and women, Mary recently was named Co-Chair of the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims. She has chaired several domestic violence task forces, was an appointed member of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Domestic Violence Advisory Board, and served on other commissions and boards including New York Asian Women’s Center and Voices of Women. Mary received her law degree from NYU Law School as a Root, Tilden, Snow Scholar.
