STAFF: Senior Leadership

Ingrid N. Floyd
Executive Director
Ingrid Floyd, M.B.A., has been Executive Director of Iris House since 2006, having previously served as Deputy Director since 2005. As Executive Director she is responsible for administrative and fiscal oversight of the agency, its programs and its staff. Ms. Floyd has ensured the agency has been able to sustain funding levels and enhance funding through expansion to new foundations and private fundraising efforts. In 2010 alone, Ms. Floyd was able to secure $3.95M in federal funding for a 5 year period. She has successfully secured funds from private foundations and has implemented many special events for fundraising, both large and small. Since Ms. Floyd has joined Iris House she has improved the agency’s policies and procedures and introduced new programs to the agency such as the HIV Testing and Counseling, Harm Reduction, substance abuse screenings and condom distribution initiatives along with programs to engage gay and heterosexual men. Ms. Floyd also oversaw the development and implementation of a social marketing campaign launched in Harlem and New Jersey in 2012 entitled ‘Love Your Life/Keep it 100”. Under Ms. Floyd’s direction the agency has improved its visibility in the community with the introduction of the Women as the Face of AIDS Summit, held for the past seven years to bring increased awareness to policymakers, funders and providers on the needs of women living with HIV/AIDS.

She brings more than 10 years of experience in the business sector as a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting and Manager in Residential Properties. Ms. Floyd has extensive management experience working with small to large organizations implementing organization change, improving operations and enhancing customer service and marketing. While at Deloitte, Ms. Floyd managed projects with upwards of 120 staff in 4 countries with a budget of $50M. Ms. Floyd is dedicated to improving the lives of underserved women and families, especially those impacted by HIV. Ms. Floyd is also a board member of the National Women and AIDS Collective NWAC, a member of the NJ HIV Prevention Group, and is a member of Black Agency Executives.

Michael Smirlock, Ph.D. 
Deputy Executive Director
Michael Smirlock has responsibilities that include, Human Resources, budget management and grant writing as well as overseeing all Food and Nutrition and New York-based prevention services. He brings 20 plus years experience in the academic, private and
non-profit sectors in financial education and institutions. His non-profit experience includes holding the Executive Director position at STRIVE, an international workforce development agency. Dr. Smirlock has a Ph.D. in economics from Washington University.

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Ofelia Barrios
Senior Director of Community Health Initiatives
Ofelia Barrios has worked in the area of HIV/AIDS for over fifteen years. Ms. Barrios has expertise in HIV program planning, prevention education, behavioral interventions, coalition-building, evaluation, strategic planning, advocacy, policy, grant writing, capacity building and request for proposal process. Ms. Barrios holds a Masters Degree from the University of New Mexico, a Bachelors Degree from Middlebury College and is also a graduate of the CDC/ASPH Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership.

Nichole Benjamin
Director of Development
​​Nichole Benjamin is a strategist and fundraiser, specializing in grant writing, relationship-building, and events planning; in the calendar year of 2020 and during the height of COVID-19, she raised $1/2M for Iris House via individual giving and institutional funding. ​​Prior to joining the Iris House family, Nichole has worked in advocacy, the arts, and culinary institutions. A relationship-builder by nature, Nichole has managed connections with existing as well as prospective individual donors, plus secured increases in annual individual giving at 35% and corporate sponsorship at over 40% in her previous roles.

Her development career materialized in 2012 as a Campaign Manager with the Archdiocese of New York. There, she governed the fundraising efforts for Cardinal Dolan’s annual fund $20M goal. Nichole holds a B.S. in legal studies and an M.A. in Sociology from St. John’s University. She brings to her work a dedication to marginalized communities in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS.

​Ken DeJesus
Director of Testing and Outreach
​Ken has served on the NYC Prevention Planning Group 2007 – 2010, chair 2009-2010, the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services UCHAPS and has also served on the NYS Prevention Planning Group.  A graduate of SUNY/Old Westbury College American Studies/Psychology, Ken has an extensive background in HIV, Hepatitis C and STI testing and program implementation. Ken is proud to work in his own community of Harlem. 

Harry Gibbs
Director of Housing Programs
Harry Gibbs has been working in the HIV/AIDS field  for non-profit organizations , New York City public Hospital and in the private sector  in the New York City metro area for  twenty years.  He has been responsible for monitoring the care provided to patients, served as a Compliance Officer and Director of Funded programs. Currently, Harry Gibbs has been serving as the Housing Director for Iris House Scatter Site programs for over 10 years. 

Serge M. Jean
Director of Food & Nutrition Services​
Serge M. Jean has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS Organizations for over 21 years. Currently, he serves as the Program Director for the Food and Nutrition Services Department at Iris House, Inc.  In this position, he oversees day-to-day management of the program, including creation of monthly purchasing and narrative reports, scheduling and monitoring intervention delivery, administrative and fiscal matters, as well as overseeing and supervision of program staff and volunteers;  Mr. Jean earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Philosophy and English from The City College of New York (2005), and received a Master of Science in Special Education also from The City College of New York (2010). ​Previous experience includes conducting community needs assessment, strategic planning, HIV/AIDS program development and implementation, as well as running support groups for men and women to enhance quality of life

Nathalie Menard
Program Manager, Housing Programs
Nathalie Menard is a program manager for Iris House’s Housing department and holds a Masters degree in Community Health with a concentration in Healthcare Management.  Nathalie has worked as a professional in the HIV field for over 10 years and has held various Case Management positions.  Prior to her recent promotion to program manager, she spent ten years as a Clinical Supervisor collaborating with the Director of Scatter Site Housing to develop and implement SSHP goals and objectives, and regularly reviewed clients’ charts to ensure compliance with HASA requirements. She provides back-up support to staff during scheduled or unscheduled absences of Program Director, and provides regular clinical supervision to housing department staff members.



Audria Russell
Program Manager, New Jersey Programs
Ms. Russell has held varied positions in her career, ranging from Public Health Educator and Health Specialist within the New York City jail system. Currently, she is a Program Manager with Iris House. Notably, she has served as a member of the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene HIV Prevention Planning Group, as the Chairperson for the Substance Users/Mental Health and the Immigrant Workgroups. Ms. Russell holds two Masters Degrees in Thanatology from Brooklyn College, and a second degree in Social Work from Fordham University; she is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.