In Honor of Arab American Heritage Month: Mariam Youssef’s Journey of Leadership, Community, and Opportunity
For Mariam Youssef, her career at NYCHA has never been just a job — it has been a journey of growth, service, and connection, shaped by a life that began thousands of miles away.
“I was born in Alexandria, Egypt,” Ms. Youssef said. “It’s a coastal city, so life revolves around the beach. Anywhere you are, you can be at the beach in five minutes — that was really a highlight of our lives growing up.”
In 1994, at the age of 22, Ms. Youssef made a life-changing move. “I had just graduated, gotten married, and then moved – to the USA…to Bergen County!” she said. “My husband was already living in this country, so it was a natural step. But it was also about opportunity — education, stability, and building a better future.”
Like many immigrant families, Ms. Youssef and her husband arrived without an extended support system. “We didn’t have family here,” she said. “It was just the two of us. So we built our own small family — and over time, NYCHA really did become like a second family.”
Today, Ms. Youssef leads Capital Planning and Business Administration within NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division.
“I joined NYCHA’s Design Department 25 years ago as an assistant architect,” she said. “From there, I moved into construction project management and later led the Physical Needs Assessment team. I then transitioned into planning, where I served as Senior Director of Capital Planning and Administration overseeing financial planning, cost estimating, and Physical Needs Assessment teams. I have had the opportunity to work in different areas — design, construction, needs assessment, capital planning — and that’s really the beauty of working here. You can grow in so many directions.”
“At any given time, we have over 600 projects moving forward,” she said. “We’re working with funding from federal, State, City sources and other grants, helping project teams navigate financial processes from budgeting through construction. It’s a huge system, but also very meaningful work because every project we complete has an impact on our residents’ lives.”
Earlier this month Ms. Youssef stepped into her current role; she now leads both the Capital Planning and Business Operations departments for a division of hundreds of employees. “It’s an expanded responsibility,” she said, “but it’s also a great opportunity – to continue supporting the work that NYCHA does every day.”
a division of the Authority that comprises hundreds of NYCHA staff.
(Ms. Youssef is standing in the back, wearing a light blue jacket.)
“I learned everything here — not just technical skills, but how to work with people and appreciate every culture,” she said. “You meet amazing people if you keep your heart open and listen to them. That’s one of the greatest things about NYCHA.”
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Ms. Youssef takes real joy and pride in the life she and her husband have built for their family in the United States.
“They’ve had access to so many different experiences,” Ms. Youssef said. “They have friends from all over the world, and they’ve been able to grow up open to different cultures and ideas. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
At the same time, Ms. Youssef has remained deeply connected to her cultural and religious roots as a member of the Coptic Orthodox Christian community.
“When it comes to holidays like Christmas and Easter, we celebrate at different times,” she said. “I like to share that with my coworkers. I bring traditional food — especially Easter cookies — and they love it! And I also love to hear about how they celebrate with their families and communities.”
“Food is a big connection,” she said. “But it’s also about being curious — sharing your traditions, and learning about others.”
For Ms. Youssef, that spirit of openness is at the heart of her experience.
“Egypt is an ancient community, and very traditional,” she said. “Here, you have the chance to connect with people from everywhere, to learn, to grow. It opens a whole new world.”
“This is such a wonderful place to build a life,” she said. “To raise a family, to grow in your career, and to be part of something bigger. I consider myself very lucky, and very blessed.”
