06 May Compliance Conference Session 2
REINTRODUCING THE JUSTICE CENTER: A PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION WITH JUSTICE CENTER LEADERSHIP
This informative session marks a new chapter for the Justice Center. With a renewed focus on abuse and neglect prevention, process improvement, and engagement, the Justice Center is evolving its approach to better support those providing and receiving care. During this presentation, audience members will hear from the agency’s new leadership team and learn about the Justice Center’s current initiatives and plan for the future. Finally, this session will provide an opportunity for participants to actively engage in a conversation about how we can collaborate moving forward to improve experiences with the Justice Center.
Click HERE for the presentation.
Presenters
Maria Lisi-Murray, Acting Executive Director, NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Maria Lisi-Murray was appointed as Acting Executive Director of the Justice Center in March of 2024. In this role, she oversees the agency’s nearly 500 employees across New York State. Maria joined the Justice Center in 2023 as the Deputy Director for the Office of Audit, Control, and Quality Management. In that role, she oversaw internal audit, internal controls, and quality management.
Prior to joining the Justice Center, Maria served as Chief Risk Officer at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles where she supervised Internal Audit, Internal Controls, the Office of Risk Management, and the Office of Compliance Counsel.
Maria is an admitted attorney with more than 20 years of private and public litigation experience in both state and federal courts, most recently as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the New York Attorney General. She is also a former police officer/SIU investigator with the City of Binghamton Police Department.
Maria holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from the Syracuse University College of Law and a bachelor’s in Economics from S.U.N.Y Binghamton.
Erika Beardsley, Executive Deputy Director, NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Erika Beardsley brings more than 20 years of public sector experience, with a career rooted in collaboration, transformation, and a commitment to continuous learning. Known for her thoughtful leadership and growth mindset, Erika has helped shape high-performing teams and drive strategic change across several state agencies.
Most recently, she served as the Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer at the NYS Thruway Authority, where she led the development of the Authority’s strategic plan and introduced a formal progress reporting structure. Working closely with departments across the organization, she helped define meaningful metrics to track success and established a project management framework to improve oversight of cross-functional initiatives.
Prior to her time at the Thruway Authority, Erika held several leadership roles, including Acting Director of the Business Services Center at the Office of General Services, Acting Executive Deputy CIO at the Office of Information Technology Services, and Deployment Manager for Finance and Accountability at OGS.
Christa Book, General Counsel, NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
General Counsel Christa Book has been working to protect vulnerable populations for her entire career. In her current role, Christa oversees several units involved in the agency’s legal functions. Prior to becoming General Counsel, Christa was the Deputy Director of Incident Management and Investigations. Additionally, she had an integral role in forming the Justice Center Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART).
Before joining the Justice Center, Christa held positions at the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) as well as the District Attorney’s office in Rensselaer County where she served as an Assistant District Attorney and Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Unit.
Christa received her Juris Doctor and graduated magna cum laude, from Albany Law School and her bachelor’s degree from Towson University.
Dee Levy, Assistant Deputy Director, Office of Outreach, Prevention & Support, NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Dee Levy serves as the Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Outreach, Prevention, and Support at the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and has been with the agency since 2013. In this capacity, Dee helps oversee a statewide team of staff that focus on prevention, advocacy, and supporting the Agency’s stakeholders.
Dee was previously employed by the NYS Assembly’s Program and Counsel as a Senior Analyst with the Codes Committee where her work focused on criminal justice policy and legislation.
She also served as a residential counselor with the Equinox Inc. Domestic Violence Program where she worked with survivors of domestic violence.
Dee has a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Stony Brook University, a Graduate Certificate in Trauma Studies from Oswego University, and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Marist College. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Educational Policy and Leadership at the University at Albany.
Nikki O’Meara, Director of Quality and Process, NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Nikki O’Meara is an accomplished leader at the intersection of social welfare and operational excellence, currently serving as the Director of Quality and Process for the New York State Justice Center. A dynamic member of the agency’s leadership team, Nikki offers the clinical insight of a Master Social Worker (MSW) and the strategic rigor of a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). In her current executive role, she oversees the agency’s quality management strategy, directing the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) program to drive data-informed decision-making and continuous process improvement.
Nikki is a recognized expert in Lean methodologies, holding an Empire Belt certification. She has successfully led cross-functional teams through major transitions, from implementing new case management systems to navigating organizational changes. Her background also includes direct care and clinical supervision at Wildwood Programs, Whitney M. Young Health Center, St. Peter’s Hospital and Good Samaritan Village, providing her with a grounded perspective on the human impact of administrative policy.
Nikki holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Social Work from the University at Albany, where she was a graduate of the Internships in Aging Project. She is based in Delmar, NY.