Maria Cristalli is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hillside, a leading provider of youth and family services with a long-standing history of supporting children and families across New York and beyond.

A dedicated and visionary leader, Ms. Cristalli has spent more than three decades at Hillside, beginning her career in 1991 and rising through the organization to lead it as CEO in 2018.

Over the course of her tenure, Ms. Cristalli has played a pivotal role in shaping Hillside into a comprehensive, community-centered organization that serves thousands of young people and families each year. Under her leadership, Hillside has expanded its reach and deepened its impact, offering a wide range of services, including mental and behavioral health care, education, residential treatment, and community-based support for youth who have experienced trauma.

Ms. Cristalli is known for her thoughtful, data-informed leadership and her unwavering commitment to strengthening the systems that serve vulnerable populations. She has led major initiatives to invest in Hillside’s workforce, improve access to care, and develop innovative programs that respond to the complex and evolving needs of children and families. Her work emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and meeting families where they are, ensuring that care is both accessible and effective.

Ms. Cristalli has also championed partnerships across sectors, working closely with schools, health care providers, and government agencies to create more coordinated and responsive systems of care. Through her leadership, Hillside continues to be a trusted and essential resource for communities, delivering services that are rooted in compassion, dignity, and respect.

Ms. Cristalli’s impact extends far beyond the walls of any one organization. It lives in the young people who feel seen, supported, and safe, in the families who find stability in moments of crisis, and in the communities that are stronger because of her leadership. Her work is a reflection of a deep belief that every child deserves care, opportunity, and hope, and she has dedicated her life to making that belief a reality.