1-30-26: New Chief Diversity Officer Alisa Cupid

TO: John Jay Community Members
FROM: Myrna Forney, Chief Legal Counsel
DATE: January 30, 2026
RE:  New Chief Diversity Officer Alisa Cupid

I am pleased to welcome Alisa Cupid to John Jay as chief diversity officer. An ordained minister, attorney and public policy advocate, Alisa brings a career‑long commitment to advancing justice, equity and the public good across higher education, government and community organizations.

Prior to joining John Jay, she served as program director at Allen Women’s Resource Center, an emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence, and spent more than a decade as assistant regional counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, advising on policy and litigating employment discrimination and compliance matters. Alisa was also a hospital chaplain in Ghana, South Africa, Haiti and Mozambique. Her background in law, ministry and public policy brings an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across the John Jay community.

Alisa earned a JD and MPA from the University of Akron and a master of divinity and certificate in theology, women and gender from Princeton Theological Seminary. She holds a BA in political science from Queens College. Alisa's office is located in room 623, Haaren Hall, and any reports, inquiries or questions can be directed to her at CDO@jjay.cuny.edu.