Our Committee

Dr. Gennifer (Genn) Herley, PhD is the founder and Executive Director of TransNewYork, a non-profit organization serving the transgender non-conforming (TGNC) community. TransNewYork’s mission is to bring awareness to the issues facing the community and give guidance and support to individuals and their loved ones within an open and safe environment. Gennifer is a proud transgender woman who recently transitioned and earned her doctorate degree in 2014. Prior to founding TransNewYork she ran A Better Life Counseling for 7 years. Gennifer is currently finishing her memoir, which she hopes to complete by 2020.

Karen Cunningham is the Vice President on the Board of Directors of TransNewYork. She is also the founder of Femme Fever and has a degree in social work and cosmetology. For over 25 years, Femme Fever has offered full transformation services to individuals within the gender expression and crossdressing aspect of the transgender community, which involve full makeovers, photoshoots, shopping, and much more. Additionally, Karen runs support groups every month that help those who are closeted in our community, as well as a monthly social events and the yearly Gala Ball.

Cheryl Cush is a Senior Director at NYC Health and Hospitals in the Enterprise Information Technology Services group. She has over 25 years of experience in technology systems architecture, design and engineering in Healthcare and Financial Services fields. Cheryl is a transgender woman who is working with her Executive Leadership to develop strategies to provide guidance for transgender individuals on the best ways to transition in the workplace while maintaining professionalism and career growth. Cheryl is also working to start a program within HR departments to encourage recruitment and career development of pre-workforce transgender youth to aid in their full transition and realization of their talents and abilities.

Shannon Whittington, BSN, MSN, received her BSN at The University of Tennessee and her MSN from Walden University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.  She began her nursing career at the University of TN hospital with a focus in Cardiology and then at Emory Hospital in Atlanta on the Renal and Hepatic transplant unit.

After relocating to New York, Shannon joined The New York Presbyterian Hospital as a member of the  Cardiology department.  Shannon then started an auspicious career at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York as a staff nurse.  Shortly thereafter, Shannon was promoted in rapid succession to  Team manager, Regional Branch director, and her current post as Director of the Gender Affirmation Program (GAP). Shannon personally developed and expanded this program to become the preferred home care provider.  Shannon greatly enjoys educating and coaching clinicians in caring for the LGBTQ+ population and transgender patients who undergo gender affirmation surgery.

Shannon was recently greatly honored to receive the Quality and Innovation Award from the Home Care Association of New York for her work with the Gender Affirmation Program. Additionally, Shannon is a certified speaker with the John Maxwell team. She specializes in leadership, coaching, and training to individuals and corporations. Many of her speaking engagements are centered on servant-based leadership and adding value to others. 

To date, Shannon has presented  to various organizations at conferences across the U.S. delivering  extremely well-received  lectures on leadership, transgender health and cultural sensitivity.