Team

Staff

Homelessness Prevention Program

Tyquazia Gause

Tenant Advocate

Bio

Tyquazia is the Tenant Advocate at UTA. In this role, she assists tenants with financial assistance, landlord mediation, provides guidance, and general support. Some hobbies she enjoys are reading books, coloring, taking care of her family, and making a positive impact in the lives of others in her community. Tyquazia believes you should always pray to have eyes that see the best in people.

Narayah Lalgee

Intake Coordinator

Bio
Narayah is the Intake Coordinator at UTA, a position which puts her in touch with hundreds of people each year. She loves helping people. It is her passion and it fills her heart. Life has shown her that roles can be reversed at any given moment, and any moment she could be the person on the other side of the front desk. So she does her best inside and outside of work to help people get back on their feet. Narayah enjoys being the first point of contact when people walk into UTA, since she and her team have so much compassion for this work. She says working at UTA has felt like being in a family.

Narayah enjoys being the first point of contact when people walk into UTA, since she and her team have so much compassion for this work. She says working at UTA has felt like being in a family.

Sheida Robinson

Community & Social Services Advocate

Bio
In Sheida’s role as the Community & Social Service Advocate, she empowers tenants by ensuring they know their rights, understand their value, and have access to the support they deserve. Through education, resources, and direct assistance, she’s able to help tenants navigate housing challenges, prevent homelessness, and advocate for fair treatment. Sheida also supports tenants in filing paperwork for assistance programs, making the process as smooth as possible. Sheida believes through this work we can build a strong, informed, and supportive community.
Ariel Kenny

Housing Counselor

Bio
Ariel joined UTA in August 2024 as Housing Counselor. In this role, she helps prevent homelessness and empowers tenants. Ariel is local to the capital region and graduated from SUNY Potsdam, where she studied Communications and Human Services. She comes with a background in advocating for people with disabilities and mental illnesses. Like many of her coworkers, Ariel has a rescue cat named Miss Cleo.

Outside of her professional life Ariel is known for her photography and textile art.

Fair Housing Office

Emma Hollins

Fair Housing Investigative Coordinator

Bio
Prior to joining UTA, Emma spent many years in college fighting for progressive policies within the capital region. As a founding member and the first Secretary for the UAlbany chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, Emma used her role to advocate for progressive politics both on and off campus through progressive political education on campus and through the support of several progressive campaigns, including the Bernie 2020 campaign and the 2022 campaign for Troy City Council Member Kiani Conley-Wilson. Emma is a firm believer that positive, progressive change is not only possible but is extremely necessary for the betterment of society. Emma graduated from the University at Albany with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Political Science. She enjoys entertaining and thought provoking movies and television, playing video games, and spending time with her lovely orange cat, Cheddar Bay Biscuit.
Dorothea Ross

Fair Housing Enforcement Manager

Bio

Dorothea is a passionate community advocate and a steadfast defender of human rights. She began her journey with UTA in 2021 as a Housing Counselor, where she provided vital support to individuals and families facing housing instability. Her dedication and leadership quickly elevated her to Homeless Prevention Program Coordinator, and in 2025, she was appointed Fair Housing Enforcement Manager, overseeing the fight against housing discrimination.

In addition to her work at UTA, Dorothea is the CEO and founder of Under the Bridge — a community-driven initiative committed to uplifting and empowering the homeless population throughout the Capital Region.

Dorothea holds a degree in Business Management, which she leverages to build sustainable programs and advocate effectively for systemic change. Her life’s mission has been devoted to challenging injustice and combating discrimination wherever it appears. Through every role, Dorothea continues to be a fearless voice for equity, fairness, and dignity for all.

Hilary Rasch

Fair Housing Investigative Coordinator

Bio
 In her role, Hilary assists in the coordination of investigations into housing discrimination by working with Fair Housing Testers. She trains Testers, designs Tests to gather evidence of housing providers’ behaviors, and preserves evidence documenting those behaviors to assist with potential enforcement actions when there is discrimination.

Previously, Hilary has worked in the Housing Justice and Labor movements. She worked as the Training Coordinator at the labor union IATSE Local 161, where she coordinated labor skills and craft skill training for members across the Eastern Seaboard. Before that, she pursued a PhD at Brown University where her research brought a Disability Justice lens to a study of photography and poetry by contemporary activist-artists. During that time, she also worked as an Organizer for the American Federation of Teachers and on her own unionization campaign for graduate student workers. At the same time, she did communications work for the Housing Justice non-profit City Life/Vida Urbana in Boston where she also volunteered as a tenant organizer and protest safety planner. She additionally taught undergraduate students at Brown University for five years. Hilary has a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Hilary lives with her husband Dan, child Rafa, and cat Eve. She loves to bake, watch movies, and think about revolution

Felicia Thornton

Fair Housing Intake & Outreach Specialist

Bio
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Court Advocacy

Crista Edroi

Court Advocate

Bio
Crista joined the United Tenants of Albany as a Court Advocate in May of 2023. Prior to this, Crista was an intern for the organization for a year, meeting tenants on the hotline. This allowed her to get thorough insight on the limited rights and protections tenants hold, the poor housing conditions faced by many in Albany, as well as the pressing need for affordable housing. As the court advocate for the United Tenants of Albany, Crista is dedicated to empowering tenants in standing up for themselves when facing eviction through informing them of the rights they hold as renters, along with the responsibilities held by both landlords and tenants in a landlord-tenant relationship. She works to empower tenants in reaching a resolution they feel comfortable with. Crista immigrated from Romania in 2013, and graduated from SUNY at Albany with a bachelor’s in social work in 2023 and strives to make a difference for those facing housing challenges. Beyond advocacy, Crista enjoys taking long walks, reading old literature, and cooking food from her culture.
Tim Sarver

Albany County & Troy Civil Court Advocate

Bio
Tim is a Court Advocate with United Tenants of Albany. Prior experience at Unity House and Joseph’s House in Troy shaped Tim’s understanding that housing is a basic human right. In his role as Court Advocate Tim shows up to offer tenants support when they are facing difficult situations such as eviction, harassment from landlords, or rent-related financial distress. Aside from offering  guidance on the rights and responsibilities of tenants and outlining how to fight to protect tenant rights when landlords overstep, Tim enjoys biking, making music, and getting outside as long as it’s not too cold.

Tenant & Community Organizing

Bebhinn Francis

Tenant Organizer

Bio
Bebhinn Francis is a Tenant Organizer with United Tenants of Albany and an organizer with the National Union of the Homeless. Based in Albany, she supports both housed and unhoused tenants in building collective power to demand safe, dignified living conditions through grassroots action and tenant-led bargaining. Bebhinn’s work is deeply informed by her own lived experience with homelessness, poverty, and unsafe housing. This background gives her a powerful ability to connect with the communities she organizes and fuels her commitment to justice and systemic change. Before joining UTA, Bebhinn volunteered with several community organizations and later became a Statewide Canvasser with Citizen Action of New York. There, she honed her skills in deep canvassing and political education, while also becoming active in labor organizing. She served as a bargaining representative and eventually as a union steward for her fellow canvassers. Bebhinn believes deeply in organizing across lines of class, race, religion, and all forms of division, and works daily to build solidarity among those most impacted by housing injustice.

Executive Team

Jennifer Krstovich

Finance & Operations Officer

Bio
Jennifer is the Finance & Operations Officer at United Tenants of Albany. Jennifer is responsible for preparing vouchers and invoices and helping UTA run smoothly from an administrative standpoint. She comes to UTA with several years of experience in an office setting and is excited to be a part of the organization, sharing the vision and philosophy of United Tenants.
In her spare time, Jennifer leads an active lifestyle and enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her 2 daughters.
Shatiqua Pannell-Hyndman

Deputy Director

Bio
Shatiqua is the Deputy Director. Her position at United Tenants of Albany allows her to assist individuals and families with emergency rental assistance in the county of Albany. Her work experience and lived experience allows her to provide nurture and care for the population of clients she serves.
Shatiqua relocated to the Capital Region in 2004. She graduated from SUNY SCCC with an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and Applied Science. Shatiqua has worked with at-risk youth, individuals with traumatic brain injuries and disabilities, individuals and families with HIV/AIDS and has sat on the board of directors and committees in Albany County. Shatiqua enjoys listening to music of all genres and spending time with her family when she is not working.
“United Tenants is the umbrella that people search for when there is a storm; whether it is rental assistance, court advocacy or just to know their rights as a tenant. I want to be an umbrella to protect tenants and their rights.”
In her spare time, Jennifer leads an active lifestyle and enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her 2 daughters.
Canyon Ryan

Executive Director

Bio
Before Canyon became Executive Director in April 2022, they worked at UTA in the capacities of Housing Counselor, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Coordinator, and Interim Program Director. Canyon grew up in Syracuse, NY and is very familiar with the housing injustice that pervades the Upstate cities across New York State. They received their Associate degree from Onondaga Community College as well as both a B.A and M.I.A. from University at Albany, SUNY. Canyon has been active in community organizing and government for many years. They participated in two scholarship programs with the NYS Assembly, were a National Committee member and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator of the Socialist Party USA, and have organized with many local community-based groups. In 2021, they were the lead coordinator of the Capital District May Day, which played a role in the NYS Nurses Association winning a fair contract with Albany Medical Center. Canyon previously volunteered in Puerto Rico to participate in housing restoration, and also studied abroad in Cuba. It was in Cuba that they first saw what it meant for housing to be considered a human right. Canyon enjoys reading, writing, and building community. They have written for Albany Proper, the Hampton Institute, The Socialist, and Popular Resistance. Canyon is also a Board member of Tenants PAC and Albany Landlord Report Card. They endeavor to build tenant consciousness across the Capital Region and to make housing as a human right.

Board

Gabriel Silva – President
Gabriel’s family moved to Texas from Brazil when he was a child. After working for the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2020, he relocated to Albany to work for Citizen Action and partnered with UTA to win Good Cause Eviction in 2021. He now works at the Sierra Club as a Regional Organizer. Gabriel has been on UTA’s board since 2022, and President since 2025. In 2025, he graduated from SUNY Albany to get his B.A. in Political Science.

Debbie Collura – Vice President
Debbie joined UTA’s Board of Directors in 2020 and served as President between 2022-2024. She used to work at a public library, before going back to school to get her J.D. She worked at Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY as a housing attorney, and volunteered with the Albany County Bar Association in the Attorney for the Day program, both of which put her in touch with UTA organizationally. She now works as a Senior Attorney at the NYS Department of Labor. Debbie volunteers with MLK Saratoga, an anti-racist community-based organization dedicated to honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

Anita Thayer – Secretary
Anita received her J.D. from Albany Law School in the 1970s. She was a partner in the progressive Albany law firm “Walter, Thayer, and Mishler, P.C.” between 1981 and 2009, and then worked as an Alternate Public Defender for Albany County until 2014. She was a Steering Committee member of the Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism from 1981-1991. She was also a member-leader of Albany Friends of the Farmworkers, a Ceaser Chavez / United Farmworkers support group. Anita was the Chair and co-Chair of the Capital District Citizen Action Board from 2001-2020. She has long been a friend of UTA and successfully represented Roger Markovics (co-founder of UTA) against a slumlord’s libel lawsuit in the 1970s. She joined the board of UTA in 2024.

Ian Butler – Treasurer
Ian joined the board in 2024. His community involvement began as a volunteer firefighter before he joined the U.S. Air force as an Officer. After his service, Ian has worked in technology where he is currently Chief Technology Officer at Vistrada LLC. Ian became involved with UTA after participating in a local campaign supporting Inclusionary Zoning in 2023. He is an ardent supporter of housing rights and currently serves as the board’s treasurer.

Eileen Cregg
Eileen has been a Board member of UTA, on-and-off, since the 1970s. Her most recent stint began in 2022. During UTA’s formation, Eileen coordinated space at the cathedral she worked at so organizers and tenants could meet. She was also participative in securing the warranty of habitability with UTA in 1973. Between 1979 and 2010, Eileen was the Executive Director of Mohawk Opportunities, serving adults with mental illness and HIV/AIDS. She was also active in the Mansion District Neighborhood Association, until she moved in 2024. She now volunteers at the Fisher House, assisting veterans.

Laurie Buitrago
Laurie works at Homelessness and Travelers Aid Society as a Permanent Supportive Housing Navigator, assisting homeless tenants in identifying and sustaining new housing. UTA met Laurie in 2021, when helping to develop the Bleecker Terrace Tenants Association, the first tenant union built in the Capital District in decades. Laurie was at the first meeting and would go on to be the elected-Secretary and de facto President. In addition to advocating for her neighbors and neighborhood, Laurie became one of the most prominent voices in the statewide struggle for Good Cause Eviction, which materialized in 2024 with NYS passing Good Cause Eviction protections.

Anthony Judd
Anthony joined UTA’s Board in 2020, after working with #518KnowYourRights. For nearly 8 years, he has been Vice President of Grand Street Community Arts in the City of Albany, where he also volunteers with their breakfast distributions. He was also a radio host on WCAA-LP 107.3FM, where he held conversations with local elected- and government officials. Anthony is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Schenectady Civilian Police Review Board.

Matt Drescher
As a college student, Matt used UTA’s service to sue his landlord after his security deposit was illegally withheld. Matt is active in the Capital District Socialist Party, an entity that he works through to sponsor a variety of community services, such as the Albany Free Store, a group that Matt regularly supports. Matt has led fundraisers for the Social Justice Center in Albany, UTA (he joined the Board shortly thereafter), and political prisoners’ commissary funds. He worked at the Center for Disabilities for 5 years before transitioning to NYS, where he now works doing adult education. He and his wife also have 7 cats which they’ve rescued and continue to foster others, in addition to hosting a betta fish rescue tank.

Partners/Supporters

Additional: The Review foundation, John D. Picotte Family Foundation, Three Generations of the Matthews’ Family, The Winnie Fund