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WRI Solutions Brings National Expertise to Leadership Role
ALBANY, NY – WRI Solutions (WRI) announces the hiring of a new Executive Director, Janine Zweig, Ph.D. Janine brings to the agency nearly 30 years of experience conducting research, evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance across a number of justice related topics with a particular focus on crime survivors.
WRI Solutions, incorporated as Welfare Research, Inc. in 1967, is a quasi-governmental agency providing consulting, evaluation, administrative services, publications services, and event management to a broad array of New York State-based government agencies and non-profits. Janine’s previous roles were leadership positions, most recently as Executive Science Advisor at the National Institute of Justice – the research and evaluation agency in the US Department of Justice – and before that she was Associate Vice President of the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Prior to playing an operational and leadership role at the Urban Institute, she led a portfolio of research, evaluation, and technical assistance work for two decades. She received her Ph.D. from Penn State University in Human Development and Family Studies.
“I am so pleased to be joining WRI! It is a thriving organization doing meaningful work to improve the lives of people and communities. I have big shoes to fill left behind by my predecessor, and I am excited for that challenge and to be joining this dynamic team.”
Janine succeeds Darlene Ward, who had served as the organization’s director since 2017. Darlene retired from WRI in November of 2025 after a decades-long career supporting the well-being of the state’s children and families, including at the Unified Court System, the state Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) network, and the Mental Health Association in NYS. At WRI, Darlene worked to grow and diversify the agency’s funding and position the agency to use its expertise across systems, including child welfare, the courts, crime victims, and the network serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“I could not have asked for a better capstone to my career than having the opportunity to lead the amazing team at WRI for more than eight years. Everyone connected to the organization has a commitment to excellence in all that they do, and compassion to everyone they serve.”
WRI Board President Ellen Conklin celebrated “Darlene’s significant contributions to the growth of the agency, burnishing its reputation and leaving Janine the legacy of a creative and resilient, high-performing team.”
Janine plans to continue WRI’s great work and support for state agencies and other nonprofits and hopes to expand its already robust qualifications in community-engaged work and research and evaluation.
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