GOSO is proud to announce the appointment of three new board members who will strengthen our efforts in violence prevention, education, workforce development, and mental health services for at-risk and justice-involved young people. They join a dedicated board which has expanded GOSO’s services in recent years to help more young New Yorkers build brighter futures.
The new members are three distinguished leaders: Judge John Gleeson, Litigation Partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, former Federal District Judge, Prosecutor, and founder of the Holloway Project, a pro bono initiative advocating against unjust mandatory sentences; Robert Wallace, Harlem-based community activist and Director of Business Development at BI Worldwide, where he drives global growth; and Sarah Atkinson, Chief of Staff to the CEO of BNY and head of its Community Banking Division, where she oversees strategic priorities and operational alignment. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to empowering communities.
Board Chair Robert Harwood-Matthews: “Our board provides essential support to ensure that GOSO can continue to improve the lives of our city’s young people. These three new members collectively bring to the board many years of expertise in their fields, and I look forward to the energy and commitment they will contribute to move forward GOSO’s important mission in 2025 and beyond.”
“I am thrilled to welcome three new members to GOSO’s board whose experience in the legal and business sectors will lend support to our comprehensive services to court-involved and at-risk individuals,” said GOSO’s President & CEO Michelle Pryce-Screen. “Over the past three years, we have expanded our services to meet the increased needs of our participants and are fortunate that these three individuals are committed to sustaining the crucial role GOSO plays in the lives of NYC’s youth.”
Judge John Gleeson
Litigation Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Judge John Gleeson was a federal district judge in the Eastern District of New York for 22 years before joining Debevoise & Plimpton in 2016 as a litigation partner in the White Collar & Regulatory Defense and Commercial Litigation Groups. Judge Gleeson is additionally a Commissioner on the United States Sentencing Commission. Before his appointment to the bench in 1994, Judge Gleeson was a federal prosecutor, also in the Eastern District of New York for 10 years, serving as the Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of Appeals, Chief of Special Prosecutions, and Chief of Organized Crime. Judge Gleeson received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his role as lead prosecutor in United States v. John Gotti. Judge Gleeson has taught law for 35 years, currently at New York University School of Law and previously Harvard Law School and at Yale Law School. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the American Law Institute, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Defenders of New York.
“GOSO’s commitment to social justice and a proven track record of helping young people succeed by connecting them with skills, assistance and education is laudable. I look forward to working with this esteemed board to lowering barriers to success for young New Yorkers who have been court-involved.”
Robert Wallace
Director of Business Development, BI WORLDWIDE
With over 20 years of marketing and sales experience, Robert Wallace has established himself as a dynamic leader in employee, channel and consumer engagement across industries, including Fortune 500 companies at BI Worldwide. Prior to BI Worldwide, Wallace held business development and sales positions at GSK New York and Philips New York. Robert has a background as a fitness instructor and personal trainer and has 30 years of martial arts training, including 20 years as a black belt and has won multiple world championships. With his unique blend of sales expertise, athletic achievements, and leadership experience, Robert continues to inspire others and drive success in his professional endeavors.
“I am honored to join the board of an organization with a deep commitment to equity through their hands-on work to combat gun violence and assist individuals involved in the court system reach their potential. I look forward to bringing my expertise and leadership abilities to the board and to helping GOSO participants thrive.”
Sarah Atkinson
Sarah is the Chief of Staff to the President & CEO of BNY and is focused on enabling the firm’s key leaders and driving strategic initiatives across the enterprise. She also oversees the Community Banking business aimed at helping BNY leverage its global platform to power community-based financial institutions. Sarah started her career in management consulting at Kepler Cannon, where she served the world’s top financial institutions and insurance firms on a variety of strategic projects, especially in the digital transformation space. She then joined Unqork, a no-code fintech startup, where she took on clients’ core business challenges and drove revenue for the firm.
“The work GOSO does to lower obstacles to success for young New Yorkers is essential. I am delighted to be working with this phenomenal board to ensure that GOSO can continue to make our city a better and more equitable place to live.”
Learn more about our board members here.