Cindy Kanusher, Esq.

Cindy Kanusher is the Executive Director of the Pace Women's Justice Center (PWJC), a not for profit legal services provider for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, as well as training and education center in Westchester and Putnam Counties. She has been with PWJC for 22 years. Kanusher has extensive non-profit experience overseeing the administration, operations, programs and strategic plans of this highly respected, multi-faceted legal services and training center that serves over 3,000 victims and survivors of interpersonal violence each year. In 2015, after becoming PWJC’s Executive Director, Cindy identified a need for a more flexible service model and developed the idea of a walk-in clinic that provides free, bilingual legal services to victims of DV, sexual assault, and elder abuse, in a safe and non-threatening location. Over the next 3 years, Kanusher spearheaded the fundraising efforts totaling more than 3 million dollars to build a brand new clinic and office space for PWJC. Since it's opening in June, 2018, the clinic has been serving 70-80 victims of abuse per month, increasing services by 20%.

Prior to becoming the Executive Director,  Kanusher was responsible for oversight of PWJC's Westchester Division, which staffs a helpline and a panel of moderate means lawyers, as well as managing the Elder Justice Unit, which provides legal services to victims of elder abuse. She has also been in charge of PWJC's rural sexual assault and domestic violence training programs and has created curriculum and materials in these areas. She has presented throughout New York State, training hundreds of lawyers, judges, advocates and law enforcement agents. Additionally, Kanusher took on the role of developing and organizing instruction for the Westchester County Family Justice Center, and was the project coordinator of an Abuse in Later Life grant which created enhanced services and a collaborative community response to elder abuse. She has also participated in Westchester County's Multi-Disciplinary Team for Elder Abuse.

Prior to working at PWJC, Kanusher was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's office for 10 years. There, she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases and specialized in the prosecution of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence cases. 

Kanusher graduated from Brandeis University and received her Law Degree from Brooklyn Law School. She serves on the Board of the Westchester Women's Agenda and is a member of the Westchester County Domestic Violence Council and the Westchester County Anti-trafficking Task Force. In 2018, she was appointed to serve on Westchester County’s Women’s Advisory Board, and was also selected to join the Westchester County Families Task Force. Kanusher received the 2018 Pace University President's Award for Excellence. Kanusher lives in Westchester with her husband and two children.