Board of Directors

Peter Eikenberry

Co-Founder and President

Peter Eikenberry, the Board President and Co-Founder of Friends of Marcy Houses, is a litigator in private practice specializing in complex commercial litigation in the New York state and federal courts.

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Dr. Bonnie Nuzum

Co-Founder and Vice President

Dr. Bonnie Nuzum studied political science during the turbulent time of the 1960s and took on a personal imperative to help make the world more equitable. 

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Erharuyi Idemudia

Executive Vice President

Erharuyi Idemudia is an Executive Vice President and board member of Friends of Marcy Houses, Inc., serving on the Hiring Committee.

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Justin Miller

Board Member

Justin Miller is a board member of Friends of Marcy Houses, serving as the Chair of the Law Committee and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.

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Michael Valentine

Board Member

Michael Valentine is a born-and-bred New Yorker.  Raised in Brooklyn by a non-English speaking mother, Michael strove to break out of the social patterns that surrounded him.

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Rhonda Barros

Board Member

Rhonda Barros is a board member of Friends of Marcy Houses. Rhonda was previously an Executive Assistant at Eikenberry Law. She is currently an ASA at Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP. Rhonda attended Temple University. 

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Debra Mighty

Board Member and Secretary

Debra Mighty is a highly experienced personal and legal assistant who serves as a board member for Friends of Marcy Houses.

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Ted McC. Newman

Treasurer

Ted McC. Newman joined the FOMH board in 2020 and serves currently as the board treasurer.

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Rev. Jerome Robinson

Board Member

The Rev. Jerome Robinson is an ordained preacher of the gospel who is a member of the board of Friends of Marcy Houses.

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Dr. Rosa Alicia Ramos

Board Member

Dr. Rosa Alicia Ramos is an associate professor of Spanish and a Language Program Coordinator at Hunter College.

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Tyrrell Winston

Board Member

Tyrrell Winston is a Brooklyn-based artist known for his assemblages of old basketballs and replaced basketball nets that he frequently arranges into grids and wall sculptures so they become studies of material, culture, and history.

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Rhonda Barros

Board Member

Rhonda Barros is a board member of Friends of Marcy Houses. Rhonda
was previously an Executive Assistant at Eikenberry Law. She is currently an ASA at Weil
Gotshal & Manges LLP. Rhonda attended Temple University. 

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Dominique Bravo

Board Member

Dominique Bravo was born in Los Angeles to parents from Peru. Dominique is an attorney and advocate for social and racial justice with three decades of counseling and representing community and arts organizations.

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David Siffert

Vice President

David Siffert is a Vice President and board member of Friends of Marcy Houses, serving on the Programs Committee and the Hiring Committee.

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Hon. L. Priscilla Hall

Board Member

The Honorable L. Priscilla Hall was appointed Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department by New York State Governor David Patterson in March 2009.

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Friends of Marcy Houses
148 Columbia Heights, Garden Apt.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

info@friendsofmarcy.org

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Peter Eikenberry

Peter Eikenberry, The Board President and Co-Founder of The Friends of Marcy Houses, is a litigator in private practice specializing in complex commercial litigation in the New York state and federal courts, including employment, art law, contracts, fraud, international, securities, and bankruptcy adversary disputes. Through his work on the New York City Bar Association Committee to Encourage Judicial Service, the diversity of the judiciary in New York has increased greatly. A volunteer civil rights lawyer in Mississippi in 1966 with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Eikenberry’s commitment to advancing civil rights has continued throughout his career and includes his leadership of a human rights mission to Northern Ireland, work as a volunteer counsel at a Federal Detention Center in Texas, service as general counsel of Bedford Stuyvesant D & S Corporation, and as convener and steering committee member of the New York Conference on Immigration Representation headed by Katzmann. His civic and public service activity has included longtime leadership at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and the Storefront Academy Harlem. A candidate for U.S. Congress in Brooklyn in 1970, he was an elected delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. In the professional arena, Eikenberry has served the Federal Bar Council in several capacities, including editorship of the Federal Bar Council Quarterly where he is now editor emeritus. He is a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation and is a member of the Second Circuit Court Committee on Civic Education. Eikenberry earned his undergraduate and law degrees from The Ohio State University, where he was note editor of the Law Journal and is a current member of its National Council.

Dr. Bonnie Nuzum

Dr. Bonnie Nuzum studied political science during the turbulent time of the 1960s and took on a personal imperative to help make the world more equitable. Following college, Bonnie worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, but quickly realized that to affect the course of society, her path was through education. While studying for her Master’s degree at NYU, she started an afterschool education program in South Brooklyn. She reluctantly left the program when she was accepted to study at Teachers College, Columbia University. Eventually, she realized that she preferred direct involvement in the community. The intersection between politics and education occurred when she was elected to the District 15 School Board and later became president of the school board. Dr. Nuzum holds a Masters/ Arts in Educational Psychology from New York University; a Masters/ Education in Learning Disabilities from Teachers College, Columbia University; and a Doctorate of Education in Information Processing/Learning Theory from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Erharuyi Idemudia

Erharuyi Idemudia, is an Executive Vice President and Board Member of Friends of Marcy Houses, Inc., serving on the Hiring Committee. Idemudia is also the Global General Counsel of Golden Palm Investments Corporation (“GPIC”) and Africa Health Holdings Limited (“AHH”). In addition to overseeing the companies’ legal strategy, compliance, risk analysis, government relations, business integrity and corporate governance functions, he serves on both companies’ Management Committees and as a director on AHH’s Board of Directors. Idemudia is an alumnus of the University of Texas at El Paso (‘05) and the Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (’08), where he served as an Articles Editor of the Law Review.

Justin Miller

Justin Miller is a board member of Friends of Marcy Houses, serving as the Chair of the Law Committee and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. Miller is a civil litigator practicing international trade and customs law in the federal courts. He previously served as an associate in the Law Office of Peter G. Eikenberry and as a law clerk for the Hon. Leo M. Gordon of the U.S. Court of International Trade. Miller earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the Ohio State University. 

Miller is the Attorney-In-Charge of the International Trade Field Office, U.S. Department of Justice, located in New York City. He handles international trade and customs matters before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Prior to joining the Justice Department, Mr. Miller served as a legal fellow for the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Trade, in the U.S. House of Representatives. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Miller served on detail to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where he represented the United States in the first enforcement action brought by the United States under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement.

Michael Valentine

Michael Valentine is a born-and-bred New Yorker.  Raised in Brooklyn by a non-English speaking mother, Michael strove to break out of the social patterns that surrounded him. Educated at Fordham University, Michael earned a Bachelor’s, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor.

Michael’s non-legal career began as an analyst for a major Wall Street bank.  From that position, Michael transitioned to project management of computer-based financial products before returning to graduate school.

As an attorney, Michael was first trained as a commercial litigator before becoming General Counsel in the construction industry.  Michael continues to work in construction and real property areas.  In addition to his legal practice, Michael also owns a construction management and general contracting company.  

Michael is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Southern District Federal Court, the Eastern District Federal Court, and the New York State Bar. He is also a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Puerto Rico Task Force working for a just resolution to Puerto Rico’s socio-economic dilemma.

Rhonda Barros

Rhonda Barros is the Secretary and Board Member of Friends of Marcy Houses. Rhonda was previously an Executive Assistant at Eikenberry Law. She is currently an ASA at Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP. Rhonda attended Temple University.

Debra Mighty

Debra Mighty is a highly experienced personal and legal assistant who serves as a board member for Friends of Marcy Houses. She is extensively skilled with office and project management. Mighty has worked with law offices as well as with religious organizations since 1993 and now works with Peter Eikenberry as legal assistant. She is also a Verbatim Hearing Reporter with Stratcomm where she facilitated legal hearings in the Bronx Social Security Adjudication Office in the Bronx; as well as the Treasurer of Mount of Blessing Seventh-Day Adventist Church.  In addition, she was a producer of the Faithnow TV Show, aired on several public access channels. Mighty received her B.A. in Business Communication from Lehman College in 2007.

Ted McC. Newman

Ted McC. Newman joined the FOMH board in 2020 and serves currently as the board treasurer. He received his BA in French literature and economics at Tufts University in 1967 and an MBA in international finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton school in 1969. Mr. Newman held various financial advisory and systems positions at the JP Morgan Chase bank retiring in 2003 as chief of staff to the director of the bank’s financial management systems. Mr. Newman is currently affiliated with Prudential Financial Planning Services as a registered investment adviser and representative of Pruco Securities. He represents Prudential and other insurers as an appointed agent.

 

From 2009 to 2019 Mr. Newman served as a board member and treasurer of the Counseling Service of the Eastern District New York (CSEDNY), a court-affiliated diversion, treatment, and counseling service. He is currently on the board of the Dodge YMCA of Brooklyn and is a member of the board’s Finance Committee.

 

Ted and his wile Ellen and their three adult children all live in Brooklyn.

Rev. Jerome Robinson

The Rev. Jerome Robinson is an ordained preacher of the gospel who is a member of the board of Friends of Marcy Houses. He also serves on the boards of the Westchester Community Organization Program Inc. (WestCOP), a multipurpose social services organization combating poverty in the Hudson Valley; and Aunt Bessie’s Open Door, a daycare program providing support for working families; as well as serving as President of Outer Limits, a transportation organization for children associated with WestCOP. Robinson has a background as a New York State Trooper, as well as experience working with children as a scout leader, sports coach, and substitute teacher. He received his Master of Arts in Religious Leadership and Administration from New York Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Science from SUNY.

Dr. Rosa Alicia Ramos

Dr. Rosa Alicia Ramos is an associate professor of Spanish and a Language Program Coordinator at Hunter College. She has spent many years teaching the Spanish language and culture and has contributed greatly to the field. Ramos has published numerous books, articles, and reviews and has collaborated on many more; and has traveled the world to conduct research, deliver talks, and develop learning resources. She currently serves on the CUNY Council on Foreign/World Language Study, of which she was President from 2009 to 2018 and which she currently serves as Secretary; the Chanin Language Center Steering Committee at Hunter College; and the Curriculum Committee for the Spanish Section at Hunter College. Ramos received her A.B. from Barnard College in 1975, graduating magna cum laude, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tyrrell Winston

Tyrrell Winston is a Brooklyn-based artist known for his assemblages of old basketballs and replaced basketball nets that he frequently arranges into grids and wall sculptures so they become studies of material, culture, and history. Self-taught, Winston began his art practice creating collages using paper scraps he found while roaming the streets of New York City, where he had moved to study arts administration at Staten Island’s Wagner College. His artworks all explore what the artist calls “embedded history”: the narratives perpetually lodged in other people’s discarded objects. He has had solo exhibitions in Detroit, Tokyo, Paris, Stockholm and Brussels.

Dominique Bravo

Dominique Bravo was born in Los Angeles to parents from Peru. Dominique is an attorney and advocate for social and racial justice with three decades of counseling and representing community and arts organizations.  

 

Dominique currently serves as the Associate Executive Director of the Center on Race, Law and Justice at Fordham Law School.  Dominique previously served as General Counsel of the Roosevelt Institute, a think tank and college campus network that seeks to carry forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.  She founded and directed Pathways to Apprenticeship, a non-profit workforce development agency that assists low-income people — and in particular, the formerly incarcerated — to access apprenticeship opportunities in the union construction industry. She previously served as General Counsel to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.  

 

In addition to her work with Marcy Houses, Dominique also currently serves as pro bono counsel for children seeking asylum with the Safe Passage Project, a non-profit legal clinic.  Dominique also serves as President of the board of American Oversight, a nonpartisan, nonprofit ethics watchdog law firm in Washington D.C., that focuses on litigation involving the Freedom of Information Act. She is also a member of the board of St Ann’s Warehouse, a performing arts institution in Brooklyn, New York.  Dominique is also President and General Counsel of Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, a dance and drumming studio and performance space she co-founded in Brooklyn.  

 

Dominique previously served on a number of other boards of directors for other social service and arts organizations throughout New York City and was a member of Community Board 6 in Brooklyn.  She received her J.D. from Northeastern School of Law and her B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.  Dominique has lived in Brooklyn for the past thirty years, and she and her husband, Eric Sloan, have raised three children in Brooklyn.

David Siffert

David Siffert is a Vice President and Board Member of Friends of Marcy Houses, serving on the Programs Committee and the Hiring Committee.  Siffert is also the Director of Research & Projects at the Center on Civil Justice at New York University School of Law.  Siffert was previously a civil litigator at Boies, Schiller & Flexner and a tax attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  Siffert clerked for Hon. Robert S. Smith, Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and Hon. Barbara S. Jones, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.  Siffert is an alumnus of New York University School of Law (’09) and the University of Chicago (AB ’06)

Honorable L. Priscilla Hall

The Honorable L. Priscilla Hall was appointed Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department by New York State Governor David Patterson in March 2009. Prior to this, Justice Hall served as the Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division of the Kings County Supreme Court. She was elected as to the New York  State Supreme Court in 1993 and  has also served as Judge of the New York State Court of Claims; a Judge of the Criminal Court of New York City, and as Inspector General of the New York City Human Resources Administration. Justice Hall believes that the courts must work to maintain the public confidence in our judicial system and has worked to achieve this objective. She has served as president of the New York State Association of Women Justices, vice-president of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, chair of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and president of the Association of Black Women Attorneys.

After graduating magna cum laude from Howard University with the distinction of being a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Justice Hall pursued a Master of Science degree from Columbia University School of Journalism, graduating in 1969. She received her Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law in 1973.