Maria Ceraulo

Educator and Mental Health Advocate

Maria Ceraulo is a retired Special Education Biology teacher whose lifelong commitment to advocacy extends far beyond the classroom. She currently serves as Criminal Justice Chair for National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) of Queens/Nassau and facilitates support groups for the Prison Families Alliance. In addition, she volunteers with the Family and Children’s Association and serves as Women’s Issues Chair for the Women’s Group at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. A passionate and dedicated advocate, Maria has spent decades championing the rights of women, individuals living with disabilities and mental health challenges, and advancing meaningful criminal justice reform. is a distinguished professional whose career spans over fifty years in the fields of criminal justice, treatment services, and youth advocacy. Now retired, René leaves behind a legacy of transformative leadership, innovation, and service at the local, state, and national levels.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance, René went on to earn his Juris Doctor (JD) from Hofstra University and an advanced law degree (LLM) in Criminal Law from New York University. His academic background laid the foundation for a career committed to justice reform and community empowerment.

For twenty-three years, René served as Senior Associate Executive Director and Counsel at the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC). There, he spearheaded the development of groundbreaking programs including:

• TASC (Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime)

• STOPLIFT

• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

• MAP (Mediation Alternative Centers)

Following his impactful work at EAC, René joined the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as Chief and Director of Community Affairs under five successive District Attorneys. During his tenure, he established and chaired numerous community task forces and coalitions. These included:

• Mentoring programs in elementary and middle schools

• The Heroin Prevention Task Force

• The Long Island Youth Safety Coalition

René’s leadership has also been recognized statewide. He served as President of both the Statewide Youth Advocacy Agency of New York and the New York State Association of Pretrial Service Agencies. Nationally, he was a founding member and for 15 years served as Chief Counsel to the National Association of TASC Agencies.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication and community impact, News12 honored René as one of their “Twelve Making a Difference.”

René's legacy is one of commitment, innovation, and unwavering service to vulnerable populations. His work has shaped policies, empowered youth, and strengthened communities across New York and beyond.