Department: Policy

John Richter has been the Director of Public Policy at MHANYS since January 2008. Mr. Richter joined MHANYS after spending over twenty years serving and advocating for the elderly and people with disabilities.

He spent 13 years in long term care policy with the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) specializing in adult home, assisted living and home care issues. While at MHANYS, John was instrumental in the passage of legislation requiring that New York schools begin teaching about mental health, beginning in 2018, as part of the school health curriculum.

John received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook. He received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at SUNY Albany.

John lives in Albany with his wife Susan, a practicing Psychiatrist.

John came to MHANYS in February 2023, after serving for two decades as Deputy Commissioner and Counsel at the State Office of Mental Health, where he provided advice and counsel to the Commissioner of OMH, agency staff, and the Executive Chamber. He was appointed as the Acting Commissioner of OMH by two different Governors during this period. After his career at OMH, John worked for eight years at Brown & Weinraub, a private law and consulting firm in Albany, where he represented several health and mental hygiene providers. John resides in Rensselaer, NY, with his wife Nola.

Glenn Liebman has been the CEO of MHANYS since 2004.

During his tenure, multiple initiatives have been implemented including mandating mental health instruction in schools (New York was the first State in the nation), and many other public policy reforms. For the past five years, he has been named by City and State as one of the 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders. He has also recently been named one of New York State’s Most Influential Health Care Leaders by Politico. He serves as the Chair of the New York State Behavioral Health Advisory Council and as a member of the New York State Justice Center Advisory Council.

He is a big sports fan, especially of the New York Mets. He lives with his wife and son in Guilderland New York.