Melville Resident Sworn in as Women's Advisory Commission Representative

A Melville resident was recently appointed to serve as the 17th Legislative District’s representative on the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission.

Cheryl Haiken was sworn into her three-year term by Legislator Lou D’Amaro at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge on Feb. 2. She will replace Susan Friedman of Dix Hills who recently completed her term.

“For more than two decades, Cheryl Haiken has been developing innovative programs that identify needs and improve the lives of women and children locally and throughout the region,” D’Amaro said in a press release. “She is a real leader and a role model for the entire community. I know Ms. Haiken will be as an exemplary representative, as her predecessor Ms. Friedman was, and I thank her for agreeing to serve in this volunteer position.”

When she’s not serving the 17th Legislative District, Haiken is a behavioral therapist and a special educator/evaluator. She serves as the advisory board chair of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and has held a variety of leadership positions in both the South Huntington Jewish Center and the Half Hollow Hills Central School District PTA.

Haiken graduated from Boston University and Hofstra University, where she earned dual Masters degrees in education. She is currently pursuing a doctoral in behavioral science at SUNY Stony Brook.

About the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission:

The commission, established in 2000, allows each Suffolk County Legislator to appoint one member to represent his or her district with the remainder of the board coming from appointments by the Presiding Officer, the County Executive, the Division of Human Rights and the chair of the Commission. The Commission, acting in an advocacy role, makes recommendations to the Suffolk County Division of Women’s Services, the County Executive and the Legislature for executive or legislative action to:

• Eliminate discrimination against women
• Insure equal opportunity for women
• Promote the status of women in both the private and public sectors

Image via Office of Suffolk County Legislator Lou D’Amaro