DWELL - Key Persons
Amy Hyman, MSW brings over two decades of experience and expertise working with families and young adults to her work at dWELL Recovery, specializing in developing programs and initiatives to address socio-emotional learning, mental health, life skills, and college and career counseling. In prior roles, she has served in leading capacities such as a Program Director, Social Work Supervisor, Director of Youth Services, and Family Support Specialist. She is certified by the Columbia University School of Social Work as a Field Instructor and is a published thought leader in mental healthcare.
Amy Hyman is passionate about creating safe, warm, and supportive environments for young adults. She has dedicated her career to serving this population and has consistently demonstrated a passion for implementing effective community and social-emotional learning programming that makes a lasting difference in clients' lives.
Andrew Jennings is passionate about bringing a warm, compassionate, and strengths-based approach to his work with clients and families at The Dorm. He has experience incorporating a range of modalities into clinical coaching, including Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He received his Master's Degree in Social Work from Fordham University, and completed a clinical internship at The Dorm where he excelled in working one-on-one with clients as well as co-facilitating group therapy.
Andrew found his passion for mental health while working with clients facing the rare disease Hydrocephalus. As a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, he found it especially rewarding to connect with clients on an interpersonal level and took a special interest in how to improve their coping skills and mental health during treatment. (One highlight from this experience includes organizing a benefit concert that united bands from Billy Joel's touring band Shotgun Wedding with musicians from Broadway and Hollywood. The benefit succeeded in raising over $30,000 for the hospital.)
On a personal note, Andrew is a born-and-raised New Yorker from the Upper West Side. He grew up running in his free time, and he still runs track competitively. He also enjoys video games, movies, traveling, and skydiving.
Bronx native David Smith joined the dWELL community with a passion for helping and guiding young adults towards self confidence and independence.
As a certified Peer Recovery Advocate (CRPA), he believes in using every interaction as a space for connection and growth. He approaches challenges with an optimistic attitude, and is always dedicated to upholding a safe, supportive, progressive space for community members.
David holds a degree in creative writing from The New School. He uses his love and knowledge of literature and music (and all other forms of art) as a mode to connecting with residents on a personal level.
Delaram has over two decades of professional marketing, business development and operational experience and is both the Chief Business Officer at The Dorm and Founding Partner at dWELL. She is committed to helping both The Dorm and dWELL continue to innovate and evolve to best meet the needs of clients, residents and families.
Delaram has an impressive array of expertise and has experience building teams in finance, HR, marketing, outreach and operations. Preceding her time at dWELL and The Dorm, Delaram was a successful entrepreneur and business development expert in the healthcare industry where she worked with some of the country's top consumer and professional product brands.
Delaram received her Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry, chemistry and business from The University of Colorado.
Dr. Amanda Fialk has committed her clinical career to supporting young adults on their path to recovery and independence and is not only one of dWELL's Founding Partners but the Partner and Chief of Clinical Services at The Dorm. She is incredibly proud of what dWELL brings that's new to the community: supported recovery housing that is truly gender-affirming and created for young adults with a range of mental health needs.
As an established thought leader in the field of young adult mental health, Dr. Fialk is a frequent speaker at national conferences across the country and has presented on several research posters at the American Psychoanalytic Association (APPA) including one on the preliminary findings of a Yale IRB Outcome Study assessing The Dorm's clinically-robust and holistic treatment model.
Dr. Fialk holds a masters and doctoral degree in social work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and has specialized training in DBT, CBT, addiction and co-occurring disorders, eating disorders, family therapy, EMDR, MBT and motivational interviewing. She is frequently quoted as an expert in prestigious media publications and outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, Huffington Post, Fast Company, ABC News and NBC News New York.
Heather is an experienced professional with over two decades of dedicated service in the human services sector, specializing in youth and family welfare. Throughout her career, she has assumed leadership positions within several non-profit organizations, consistently demonstrating a commitment to driving positive change. She holds a Master's Degree in Political Science.
Hailing from Alaska, Heather relocated to the East Coast in 1999, bringing with her a unique perspective as an Alaskan Native (Inupiat) woman. Surprisingly, her experience working in rural Alaskan communities has seamlessly translated into effective work in urban and suburban settings within the NY Metropolitan area.
Passionate about leveraging community power for healing and recovery, Heather's professional journey reflects her dedication to fostering impactful transformations in the lives of each of her residents. Outside of her professional pursuits, Heather loves to fish, spend time outdoors with her dogs, host friends for home-cooked meals, and indulge in theater.
Henry Cunniffe is an experienced mental health professional specializing in substance use disorders, "failure-to-launch syndrome," behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. His philosophy on recovery centers around the value of a community treatment model, with a focus on mindfulness and service to others.
In addition to his work in mental health, Henry advocates for environmental causes and is committed to promoting sustainability and advocating for resilient community building. He believes that small actions can have a big impact and he lives by the motto, "Think global, act local."
In his free time, Henry enjoys playing soccer and chess. He's always looking for opportunities to participate in local leagues and tournaments and to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations. He is committed to using his skills and experience to positively impact the world around him.
Jayne Cudia is passionate about the intersection between nutrition and mental health and specializes in leading cooking and meal preparation groups, providing meal support, and counseling individuals with a variety of nutritional needs. She holds a Master's Degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Jayne believes food is much more than the nutrients it contains and that it has the power to heal, transform, and bring people together. She knows that everyone has their own unique relationship with food, and compassion and connection are at the forefront of her work.
In her free time, Jayne likes rollerblading and biking around Manhattan, though she is always looking forward to her favorite season: snowboarding season.
Jenna Bottone is a passionate mental health and public health professional, specializing in substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Public Health from the University of Rochester. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Health with a Certification in Population Mental Health from Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.
Jenna helps residents at dWELL build resiliency, self-empowerment, and community within a recovery mindset. She is devoted to carrying out those principles in her work at Dwell with an empathetic and encouraging approach. Outside of work, Jenna loves running and staying active. She ran track and field throughout college and ran the NYC Marathon in 2022.
Latisha has dedicated her career to helping at-risk youth and is passionate about making a positive impact in their lives. With a background in psychology and social work, she has experience as a peer-to-peer mental health advocate. She is committed to meeting each individual she works with where they are and encouraging them not to give up on themselves.
Matty is passionate about mental health advocacy and equity in healthcare. He holds a BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University. In prior roles, he provided direct support to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He believes every person is worthy of dignified, individualized treatment and strives to live by "the golden rule."
Outside of work, Matty loves to read about psychology and healthcare.
Uchenna Ogechukwu is a highly dedicated and driven mental health professional with a