Leadership & Staff

The professionals at SIECUS are recognized leaders in the field of sexuality education. They have years of experiences with non-profit management, development, education, training, advocacy, and, of course, sexuality. Together they have trained hundreds of thousands of educators, worked with thousands of policymakers, appeared in the leading print and broadcast media outlets, and led effort to advance sexual and reproductive health on six continents.

	Joseph DiNorcia, Jr., MBA President and CEO Mr. DiNorcia joined SIECUS in May of 1991. In his 19 years at SIECUS, he has overseen tremendous organizational growth – including the development of SIECUS’ International Program, the establishment of the DC-based Public Policy Office, and the growth of an annual budget from $500,000 to over $2.5 million. Mr. DiNorcia frequently represents SIECUS at meetings and conferences of various colleague organizations and serves on various boards. Mr. DiNorcia received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from Rutgers University in New Jersey.
	Jason I. Osher Chief Operating Officer Mr. Osher joined SIECUS in November 2000 and has primary responsibility for strategically planning and raising the funds needed to support SIECUS’ programs, as well as oversees all finance, budgeting, and human resource functions for the organization. He has over 18 years of experience in fundraising and grants management and has been dedicated to the field of sexuality education, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health for his entire career. Prior to joining SIECUS, Mr. Osher was the Associate Director of Foundations and Corporations at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He also spent seven years working at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS organization. Mr. Osher attended Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and The Eugene Lang College of New School University. He is a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a former board member of the Greater New York Chapter of AFP, a board member of the Treatment Action Group, a board member of GLYNY Again, and has volunteered for several New York nonprofits.
	Monica Rodriguez Vice President for Education and Training In this role, Ms. Rodriguez works closely with SIECUS’ President and Board on issues related to overall organizational management, vision and programmatic direction, guaranteeing that SIECUS remains at the forefront of all issues regarding sexuality education and health. Over the course of her 13 years at SIECUS, Ms. Rodriguez has become a widely recognized and sought after expert on sexuality education issues, providing speeches, workshops, training, resource development, and technical assistance to education and health professionals, decision-makers, and parents both domestically and internationally. Ms. Rodriguez serves on the Board of Directors of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and on the executive and advisory committees of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). She received a Masters of Science degree in non-profit management from New School University in New York City and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Penn State University.
	Jennifer Heitel Yakush Director of Public Policy Ms. Heitel Yakush leads SIECUS’ public policy and advocacy efforts in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights at the international, federal, state, and local levels, concentrating her efforts at the federal level by conducting policy maker education in the United States Congress and the Executive Branch and overseeing a staff that does similar work internationally and in many states and communities. She sits on the board of directors of the Pro-Choice Public Education Project (PEP) and is a member of the National Advisory Council for Sexual Health convened by former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher. Ms. Heitel Yakush holds a B.A. in International Affairs and a concentration in International Women’s Studies from the George Washington University.
	JoAnn M. Smith Chair of the Board The SIECUS Board of Directors is pleased to announce that JoAnn M. Smith has accepted the position of Chair of the Board, serving a two-year term beginning June 1, 2009. Given her three decades of public policy experience and national reputation as a public health advocate, SIECUS is extremely fortunate to have JoAnn’s leadership at a time when we have the opportunity to institutionalize comprehensive sexuality education within public schools, as well as make policy and program strides for sexual and reproductive health. Ms. Smith is currently a senior advisor at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in their Albany, NY office where she advises businesses, corporations, local governments, and other public associations in New York State on the development and implementation of legislative strategy. Prior to joining Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, Ms. Smith served as president and chief executive officer of Family Planning Advocates of New York State (FPA). At FPA, she directed the statewide efforts of more than 125 civic, labor, religious, health, and human services agencies promoting access to reproductive services for women in New York. She served as chief negotiator for New York State’s Planned Parenthoods as well as 63 family planning providers. Her legislative victories include support for New York’s clinic access law and the Women’s Health and Wellness Act (2005 – 2007), as well as a family planning Medicaid waiver, which greatly expands care for New York’s women. During her tenure, she helped to quadruple state and federal funding for family planning services in New York. Prior to heading to FPA, Ms. Smith worked as deputy secretary for Human Services to then New York governor Mario Cuomo. Ms. Smith served as President of the Board of Directors of the National Planned Parenthood Action Fund (2003-2004), served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Empire Justice Center (2007), and was appointed to New York State’s Medical Malpractice Task Force (2007). In addition, Ms. Smith has received a national award for advocacy from the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (2004). Ms. Smith received her bachelor’s degree from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York.